H.R. 145 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 145 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2013 Mr. Simpson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To establish certain wilderness areas in central Idaho and to authorize various land conveyances involving National Forest System land and Bureau of Land Management land in central Idaho. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act. (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. TITLE I—Wilderness designations Sec. 101. Additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Sec. 102. Administration. Sec. 103. Water rights. Sec. 104. Military overflights. Sec. 105. Adjacent management. Sec. 106. Native American cultural and religious uses. Sec. 107. Acquisition of land and interests in land. Sec. 108. Wilderness review. TITLE II—Land conveyances for public purposes Sec. 201. Blaine County, Idaho. Sec. 202. Custer County, Idaho. Sec. 203. City of Clayton, Idaho. Sec. 204. Terms and conditions of permits or land conveyances. TITLE III—Travel management Sec. 301. Trail management. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Secretary The term Secretary means— (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land administered by the Forest Service; or (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. (2) Wilderness area The term wilderness area means any of the areas designated as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System by section 101(a). I Wilderness designations 101. Additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System (a) In general In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State of Idaho are designated as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Hemingway-boulders wilderness Certain Federal land in the Sawtooth and Challis National Forests, comprising approximately 110,370 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Hemingway-Boulders Proposed Wilderness and dated October 20, 2008, which shall be known as the Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness. (2) White clouds wilderness Certain Federal land in the Sawtooth and Challis National Forests, comprising approximately 90,888 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled White Clouds Proposed Wilderness and dated October 20, 2008, which shall be known as the White Clouds Wilderness. (3) Jerry peak wilderness Certain Federal land in the Challis National Forest and Challis District of the Bureau of Land Management, comprising approximately 131,670 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled Jerry Peak Wilderness and dated August 30, 2006, which shall be known as the Jerry Peak Wilderness. (b) Maps and legal descriptions (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a map and legal description for each wilderness area. (2) Effect Each map and legal description submitted under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct minor errors in the map or legal description. (3) Availability Each map and legal description submitted under paragraph (1) shall be available in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. (c) Inclusion in national landscape conservation system Land administered by the Bureau of Land Management which is designated as wilderness by this section shall be included in the National Landscape Conservation System. 102. Administration (a) In general Subject to valid existing rights, each wilderness area shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that— (1) any reference in that Act to the effective date shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) with respect to wilderness areas that are administered by the Secretary of the Interior, any reference in the Wilderness Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of the Interior. (b) Consistent interpretation The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall seek to ensure that the wilderness areas are interpreted for the public as an overall complex linked by— (1) common location in the Boulder-White Cloud Mountains; and (2) common identity with the natural and cultural history of the State of Idaho and the Native American and pioneer heritage of the State. (c) Comprehensive wilderness management plan Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall collaboratively develop wilderness management plans for the wilderness areas. (d) Fire, insects, and disease Within the wilderness areas, the Secretary may take such measures as the Secretary determines to be necessary for the control of fire, insects, and disease in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131(d)(1)). (e) Livestock (1) In general Within the wilderness areas, the grazing of livestock in which grazing is established before the date of enactment of this Act shall be allowed to continue, subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary determines to be necessary, in accordance with— (A) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131(d)(4)); (B) with respect to wilderness areas administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, the guidelines described in House Report 96–617 of the 96th Congress; and (C) with respect to wilderness areas administered by the Secretary of the Interior, the guidelines described in appendix A of House Report 101–405 of the 101st Congress. (2) Donation of grazing permits and leases (A) Acceptance by secretary (i) In general The Secretary shall accept the donation of any valid existing leases or permits authorizing grazing on public land or National Forest System land, all or a portion of which are within the area depicted as the Boulder White Clouds Grazing Area on the map entitled Boulder White Clouds Grazing Area Map and dated January 27, 2010. (ii) Partial donation A person holding a valid grazing permit or lease for a grazing allotment partially within the area described in clause (i) may elect to donate only the portion of the grazing permit or lease that is within the area. (B) Termination With respect to each permit or lease donated under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall— (i) terminate the grazing permit or lease or portion of the permit or lease; and (ii) except as provided in subparagraph (C), ensure a permanent end to grazing on the land covered by the permit or lease or portion of the permit or lease. (C) Common allotments (i) In general If the land covered by a permit or lease donated under subparagraph (A) is also covered by another valid grazing permit or lease that is not donated, the Secretary shall reduce the authorized level on the land covered by the permit or lease to reflect the donation of the permit or lease under subparagraph (A). (ii) Authorized level To ensure that there is a permanent reduction in the level of grazing on the land covered by the permit or lease donated under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall not allow grazing use to exceed the authorized level established under clause (i). (D) Partial donation If a person holding a valid grazing permit or lease donates less than the full amount of grazing use authorized under the permit or lease, the Secretary shall— (i) reduce the authorized grazing level to reflect the donation; and (ii) modify the permit or lease to reflect the revised level or area of use. (f) Outfitting and guide activities In accordance with section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)), commercial services (including authorized outfitting and guide activities) within the wilderness areas are authorized to the extent necessary for activities which are proper for realizing the recreational or other wilderness purposes of the wilderness areas. (g) Fish and wildlife (1) In general Nothing in this title affects the jurisdiction of the State of Idaho with respect to the management of fish and wildlife on public land in the State, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping within the wilderness areas. (2) Limitations The Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate State agency (except in an emergency), may designate areas in which, and establish periods during which, no hunting, fishing, or trapping is permitted within the wilderness areas for reasons of public safety, administration, or compliance with existing laws. (h) Access In accordance with section 5(a) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1134(a)), the Secretary shall provide the owner of State or private property within the boundary of a wilderness area adequate access to the property. 103. Water rights (a) Statutory construction Nothing in this title— (1) shall constitute either an express or implied reservation by the United States of any water rights with respect to the wilderness areas designated by section 101; (2) affects any water rights— (A) in the State of Idaho existing on the date of enactment of this Act, including any water rights held by the United States; or (B) decreed in the Snake River Basin Adjudication, including any stipulation approved by the court in such adjudication between the United States and the State of Idaho with respect to such water rights; or (3) (A) establishes a precedent with regard to any future wilderness designations; or (B) limits, alters, modifies, or amends section 9 of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460aa–8). (b) New projects (1) Prohibition Except as otherwise provided in this Act, on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, neither the President nor any other officer, employee, or agent of the United States shall fund, assist, authorize, or issue a license or permit for the development of any new water resource facility inside any of the wilderness areas designated by section 101. (2) Definition In this subsection, the term water resource facility means irrigation and pumping facilities, reservoirs, water conservation works, aqueducts, canals, ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects, and transmission and other ancillary facilities, and other water diversion, storage, and carriage structures. 104. Military overflights Nothing in this title restricts or precludes— (1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the wilderness areas, including military overflights that can be seen or heard within the wilderness areas; (2) flight testing and evaluation; or (3) the designation or creation of new units of special use airspace, or the establishment of military flight training routes, over the wilderness areas. 105. Adjacent management (a) In general Nothing in this title creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around a wilderness area. (b) Activities outside wilderness area 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. 106. Native American cultural and religious uses Nothing in this title diminishes the treaty rights of any Indian tribe. 107. Acquisition of land and interests in land (a) Acquisition (1) In general The Secretary may acquire any land or interest in land within the boundaries of the wilderness areas by donation, exchange, or purchase from a willing seller. (2) Land exchange Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall seek to complete an exchange for State land located within the boundaries of the wilderness areas designated by this title. (b) Incorporation in wilderness area Any land or interest in land located inside the boundary of a wilderness area that is acquired by the United States after the date of enactment of this Act shall be added to, and administered as part of the, wilderness area. 108. Wilderness review (a) National forest system land Section 5 of Public Law 92–400 (16 U.S.C. 460aa–4) is repealed. (b) Public land (1) Finding Congress finds that, for purposes of section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782), the public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in the following wilderness study areas have been adequately studied for wilderness designation: (A) Jerry Peak Wilderness Study Area. (B) Jerry Peak West Wilderness Study Area. (C) Corral-Horse Basin Wilderness Study Area. (D) Boulder Creek Wilderness Study Area. (2) Release Any public land within the areas described in paragraph (1) that is not designated as wilderness by this title— (A) shall not be subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and (B) shall be managed in accordance with land management plans adopted under section 202 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1712). II Land conveyances for public purposes 201. Blaine County, Idaho (a) Smiley creek rural fire protection district (1) Fire station (A) In general The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this subsection as the Secretary), in consultation with the Smiley Creek Rural Fire Protection District, shall identify an appropriate site (not to exceed 2 acres) in the vicinity of the Smiley Creek community, for construction and use of a fire station for the Smiley Creek Rural Fire Protection District. (B) Use The Secretary may provide for the use of the site identified under subparagraph (A) through a special use permit or conveyance to the Smiley Creek Rural Fire Protection District, without consideration. (2) Well site The Secretary may issue a special use permit to the Smiley Creek Rural Fire Protection District for development of a well to be used for fire protection and other public purposes on land identified by the Secretary and the Fire Protection District as appropriate for development of a well. (b) School bus turnaround The Secretary of Agriculture shall issue a special use permit or convey, without consideration, to Blaine County, Idaho, not to exceed 1 acre of land for use as a school bus turnaround, as generally depicted on the map entitled Blaine County Conveyance—Eagle Creek Parcel—Proposed and dated October 1, 2006. 202. Custer County, Idaho (a) Park and campground The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to Custer County, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 114 acres of land depicted as Parcel A on the map entitled Custer County and City of Mackay Conveyances and dated April 6, 2010, for use as a public park and campground, consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). (b) Fire hall The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to Custer County, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 10 acres of land depicted as Parcel B on the map entitled Custer County and City of Mackay Conveyances and dated April 6, 2010, for use as a fire hall, consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). (c) Shooting range The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to Custer County, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 201 acres of land depicted as Parcel A on the map entitled Custer County and City of Challis Conveyances and dated February 2, 2010, to be used for a public shooting range, consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). (d) Waste transfer site The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to Custer County, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 80 acres of land depicted as Parcel C on the map entitled Custer County and City of Mackay Conveyances and dated April 6, 2010, to be used for a waste transfer site, consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). (e) Public purposes The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the City of Challis, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 460 acres of land within the area generally depicted as Parcel B on the map entitled Custer County and City of Challis Conveyances and dated February 2, 2010, to be used for public purposes consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). 203. City of Clayton, Idaho (a) Cemetery The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the City of Clayton, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 23 acres of land depicted as Parcel A on the map entitled City of Clayton Conveyances and dated April 6, 2010, for use as a public cemetery. (b) Park The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the City of Clayton, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 2 acres of land depicted as Parcel B on the map entitled City of Clayton Conveyances and dated April 6, 2010, for use as a public park or other public purpose consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). (c) Water tower The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the City of Clayton, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 2 acres of land depicted as Parcel C on the map entitled City of Clayton Conveyances and dated April 6, 2010, for location of a water tower, consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). (d) Wastewater treatment facility The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the City of Clayton, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 6 acres of land depicted as Parcel D on the map entitled City of Clayton Conveyances and dated April 6, 2010 (including any necessary access right-of-way across the river), for use as a wastewater treatment facility, consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). (e) Fire hall The Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the City of Clayton, Idaho, without consideration, approximately 2 acres of land depicted as Parcel E on the map entitled City of Clayton Conveyances and dated April 6, 2010, for use as a fire hall and related purposes, consistent with uses allowed under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act), (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). 204. Terms and conditions of permits or land conveyances (a) Terms and conditions The issuance of a special use permit or the conveyance of land under this title shall be subject to any terms and conditions that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (b) Reversionary interest If any parcel of land conveyed under this title ceases to be used for the public purpose for which the parcel was conveyed, the parcel shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, based on a determination that reversion is in the best interests of the United States, revert to the United States. III Trail management 301. Trail management (a) Germania creek trail (1) In general The Secretary shall maintain a trail for single track, 2-wheeled motorized and mechanized travel between the Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness designated by section 101(a)(1) and the White Clouds Wilderness designated by section 101(a)(2). (2) Management The Secretary shall manage the trail in accordance with applicable laws— (A) to provide for recreational travel; (B) to minimize any adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources; and (C) subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require. (3) Monitoring The Secretary shall monitor the trail to assess whether the trail is appropriately maintained— (A) to provide for recreational travel; and (B) to minimize any adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources. (4) Closure The Secretary may temporarily close the trail to any or all uses— (A) to minimize any adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources; (B) to protect public safety; (C) for maintenance or other administrative uses; or (D) to provide opportunities for nonmotorized uses. (b) Forest service trails 109 and 671 (1) Closure Subject to paragraph (2), the following Forest Service trails in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area shall be closed to motorized and mechanized travel: (A) The portion of Forest Service Trail 109 between the Phyllis Lake turnoff to 4th of July Lake and the south side of Washington Lake. (B) Forest Service Trail 671 down Warm Springs Creek from Forest Service Trail 646 to the wilderness boundary. (2) Exceptions On the trails identified in paragraph (1), the Secretary may permit— (A) use by over-snow vehicles when the snow cover is adequate— (i) to provide safe recreational travel; and (ii) to minimize any adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources; and (B) such administrative uses as the Secretary determines to be necessary. (c) Frog lake loop trail (1) In general Neither the designation of the White Clouds Wilderness by section 101(a)(2) nor the exclusion of portions of Forest Service trails 047 and 682 (commonly known as the Frog Lake Loop Trail) from the wilderness shall affect the management of those trails for motorized or mechanized travel in accordance with existing laws. (2) Limitation on use If the Secretary allows for motorized or mechanized travel on portions of Forest Service trails 047 and 682, the trails shall be limited to single track, 2-wheeled motorized and mechanized use. (d) Accessible trail The Secretary shall make such improvements as may be necessary to maintain the first mile of the Murdock Creek Trail as a primitive, nonpaved, and wheelchair-accessible trail.