H.R. 4849 (112th): Sequoia and King Canyon National Parks Backcountry Access Act

112th Congress, 2011–2013. Text as of Jan 01, 2012 (Passed Congress/Enrolled Bill).

Status & Summary | PDF | Source: GPO

H.R.4849

One Hundred Twelfth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the third day of January, two thousand and twelve

An Act

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue commercial use authorizations to commercial stock operators for operations in designated wilderness within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ‘Sequoia and King Canyon National Parks Backcountry Access Act’.

SEC. 2. COMMERCIAL SERVICES AUTHORIZATIONS IN WILDERNESS WITHIN THE SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS.

    (a) Continuation of Authority- Until the date on which the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the ‘Secretary’) completes any analysis and determination required under the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary shall continue to issue authorizations to provide commercial services for commercial stock operations (including commercial use authorizations and concession contracts) within any area designated as wilderness in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (referred to in this section as the ‘Parks)’ at use levels determined by the Secretary to be appropriate and subject to any terms and conditions that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

    (b) Wilderness Stewardship Plan- Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a wilderness stewardship plan with respect to the Parks.

    (c) Termination of Authority- The authority of the Secretary to issue authorizations under subsection (a) shall terminate on the earlier of--

      (1) the date on which the Secretary begins to issue authorizations to provide commercial services for commercial stock operations within any areas designated as wilderness in the Parks, as provided in a record of decision issued in accordance with a wilderness stewardship plan completed under subsection (b); or

      (2) the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.