II
Calendar No. 214
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1240
[Report No. 114–134]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 7, 2015
Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Udall) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
September 9, 2015
Reported by Ms. Murkowski, with amendments
Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic
A BILL
To designate the Cerro del Yuta and Río San Antonio Wilderness Areas in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Cerros del Norte Conservation Act
.
Definitions
In this Act:
Map
The term map means the map entitled Río Grande del Norte National Monument Proposed Wilderness Areas
and dated May 2, 2013 July 28, 2015.
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Wilderness area
The term wilderness area
means a wilderness area designated by section 3(a).
Designation of Cerro del Yuta and Río San Antonio Wilderness Areas
In general
In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the Río Grande del Norte National Monument are designated as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
Cerro del yuta wilderness
Certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Taos County, New Mexico, comprising approximately 13,420 acres as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known as the Cerro del Yuta Wilderness
.
Río san antonio wilderness
Certain land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in Río Arriba County, New Mexico, comprising approximately 8,000 8,120 acres, as generally depicted on the map, which shall be known as the Río San Antonio Wilderness
.
Management of wilderness areas
Subject to valid existing rights, the wilderness areas shall be administered in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this Act, except that with respect to the wilderness areas designated by this Act—
any reference to the effective date of the Wilderness Act shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act; and
any reference in the Wilderness Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary.
Incorporation of acquired land and interests in land
Any land or interest in land within the boundary of the wilderness areas that is acquired by the United States shall—
become part of the wilderness area in which the land is located; and
be managed in accordance with—
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.);
this Act; and
any other applicable laws.
Grazing
Grazing of livestock in the wilderness areas, where established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be administered in accordance with—
section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and
the guidelines set forth in appendix A of the Report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to accompany H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (H. Rept. 101–405).
Buffer zones
In general
Nothing in this Act creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the wilderness areas.
Activities outside wilderness areas
The fact that an activity or use on land outside a wilderness area can be seen or heard within the wilderness area shall not preclude the activity or use outside the boundary of the wilderness area.
Release of wilderness study areas
Congress finds that, for purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the public land within the San Antonio Wilderness Study Area not designated as wilderness by this section—
has been adequately studied for wilderness designation;
is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and
shall be managed in accordance with this Act.
Maps and legal descriptions
In general
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file the map and legal descriptions of the wilderness areas with—
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
Force of law
The map and legal descriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct errors in the legal description and map.
Public availability
The map and legal descriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
National landscape conservation system
The wilderness areas shall be administered as components of the National Landscape Conservation System.
Fish and wildlife
Nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the State of New Mexico with respect to fish and wildlife located on public land in the State.
Withdrawals
Subject to valid existing rights, any Federal land within the wilderness areas designated by subsection (a), including any land or interest in land that is acquired by the United States after the date of enactment of this Act, is withdrawn from—
entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
Treaty rights
Nothing in this Act enlarges, diminishes, or otherwise modifies any treaty rights.
September 9, 2015
Reported with amendments
