H.R. 5636 — Introduced in House

I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5636 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 26, 2018Mr. Hill (for himself and Mr. Beyer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To designate additions to the Flatside Wilderness on the Ouachita National Forest, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Flatside Wilderness Enhancement Act. 2. Inventory and evaluation of certain lands adjacent to Flatside Wilderness (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct an inventory and evaluation of certain lands, as generally depicted on the map titled Flatside Wilderness Adjacent Inventory Areas and dated November 30, 2017, to determine the suitability of such lands for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. (b) Completion date The inventory and evaluation required under subsection (a) shall be completed not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section. (c) Determination of suitability (1) Wilderness designation If the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the lands inventoried and evaluated under subsection (a) are suitable for designation as wilderness— (A) the Secretary shall publish notice of such a determination in the Federal Register not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section; and (B) such lands shall be designated as wilderness and incorporated in the Flatside Wilderness under section 3(d) of the Arkansas Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98–508; 98 Stat. 2349) on the date that the Secretary publishes the notice described in subparagraph (A). (2) Lack of suitability (A) In general If the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the lands inventoried and evaluated under subsection (a) are not suitable for designation as wilderness, the Secretary shall manage the lands in accordance with the applicable land management plan. (B) Ecological restoration For purposes of ecological restoration (including the elimination of non-native species, removal of illegal, unused, or decommissioned roads, repair of skid tracks, and any other activities necessary to restore the natural ecosystems), the Secretary may use motorized equipment and mechanized transport in the lands described in subparagraph (A) until the date that is the earlier of the following: (i) The date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this section. (ii) The date on which the Secretary determines such lands are suitable for designation as wilderness. (C) Limitation In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall use the minimum tool or administrative practice necessary to accomplish ecological restoration with the least amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and resources. 3. Additions to Flatside Wilderness Section 3(d) of Arkansas Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98–508; 98 Stat. 2349) is amended by inserting and certain land in the Ouachita National Forest, which comprise approximately 640 acres, as generally depicted as Recommended Wilderness Additions on the map titled Revised Land and Resources Management Plan—Ouachita National Forest—Oklahoma and Arkansas, dated September 23, 2005 after 1984.