San Rafael Swell National Heritage and Conservation Act

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area Title II: San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area Subtitle A: Establishment of Conservation Area Subtitle B: Wilderness Areas Within Conservation Area Subtitle C: Other Special Management Areas Title III: Additional Wilderness Areas Outside of Conservation Area; Wilderness Administration Provisions Title IV: General Management Provisions San Rafael Swell National Heritage and Conservation Act - Title I: San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area - San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area in Utah. (Sec. 104) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to recognize a management entity for the Heritage Area to be known as the San Rafael Regional Heritage Council. Specifies eligibility requirements and general authorities of the Council. (Sec. 105) Directs the entity, within three years after enactment of this Act, to prepare (with appropriate public participation) and submit to the Secretary a Heritage Area management plan. Requires such plan to present comprehensive recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area. Requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove of such plan within 60 days after its receipt. (Sec. 106) Provides for implementation of an approved management plan which preserves the cultural, historical, natural, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area. (Sec. 107) Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the entity and, upon the entity's request, to units of government, nonprofit organizations, and other persons, to assist in plan preparation and implementation. Directs the Secretary to inform the public of the location and character of the Heritage Area. (Sec. 108) Outlines duties of other Federal agencies with respect to activities in the Heritage Area and their effect on plan implementation. Provides savings provisions. (Sec. 110) Authorizes appropriations for the Heritage Area. Prohibits Federal assistance provided under this title from exceeding 50 percent of required amounts. Title II: San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area - Subtitle A: Establishment of Conservation Area - Establishes the San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area to preserve and maintain heritage, tourism, recreational, historical, scenic, archaeological, paleontological, biological, cultural, scientific, educational, and economic resources. Withdraws the Federal lands within the Conservation Area from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, as well as from entry, application, and selection under related laws. Prohibits any commercial sale of trees and forest products located within the Conservation Area. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to prepare and begin implementation of a Conservation Area management plan. Directs the Secretary and the San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area Advisory Council (established under this title) to review such plan at least every ten years and make appropriate revisions. Requires such plan to be a multiple use, sustained yield management plan and to be consistent with the Heritage Area management plan. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) establish a visitors center to interpret the history and geological, ecological, natural, cultural, and other resources of the Conservation Area; and (2) provide for visitor use of the public lands in the Conservation Area. Prohibits the restriction of recognized agricultural practices or other activities on private land adjacent to or within the Conservation Area. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands and interests therein in order to further the purposes of this title and to utilize land exchanges to resolve land-use conflicts within the Conservation Area. (Sec. 205) Establishes the San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area Advisory Council to advise and assist the Secretary in Conservation Area management. (Sec. 207) States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary from installing communications equipment in the Conservation Area for public safety purposes. Subtitle B: Wilderness Areas Within Conservation Area - Designates specified areas within the Conservation Area as wilderness areas and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). Directs the Secretary to manage such areas and to prepare management plans for each area. Subtitle C: Other Special Management Areas - Establishes in the Conservation Area the San Rafael Swell Desert Bighorn Sheep Management area (Bighorn area) to provide for management of such sheep and their habitat, and related activities. Prohibits mechanized travel within the Bighorn area, with exceptions. Provides for Bighorn area management by the Secretary and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, including the public viewing of such animals in their natural habitat. Requires a management plan for the Bighorn area. (Sec. 232) Directs the Secretary to designate areas within the Heritage Area as semi-primitive nonmotorized use areas, with specified requirements. Requires a management plan for each area so designated. (Sec. 233) Directs the Secretary to designate areas within the Conservation Area as a scenic visual area of critical environmental concern in order to preserve the scenic value of the Interstate 70 corridor within the Conservation Area. Title III: Additional Wilderness Areas Outside of Conservation Area; Wilderness Administration Provisions - Designates certain areas in the Heritage Area outside of the Conservation Area as wilderness areas and components of the NWPS. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to administer such areas and to prepare management plans for each area. Allows the continuation of current livestock grazing in such areas. (Sec. 304) Finds and directs that public lands administered by BLM in Emery and Carbon counties, Utah, have been adequately studied for wilderness designation. Releases from wilderness consideration any such lands not already designated. Title IV: General Management Provisions - Directs the Secretary to permit domestic livestock grazing in the Conservation Area and in semi-primitive areas outside the Conservation Area where such grazing was established prior to the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary to: (1) allow for the discovery, protection, and interpretation of cultural or paleontological resources within the Conservation Area or within designated wilderness or semi-primitive areas; and (2) assure nonexclusive access to traditional cultural and religious sites within such Area or areas for Native Americans. (Sec. 404) States that nothing in this Act shall preclude low-level overflights over conservation, wilderness, or semi-primitive areas. (Sec. 405) Discontinues the reservation of Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 2 within the Desolation Canyon Wilderness Area and Big Horn Bench and Trail Canyon for oil shale purposes and requires it to be managed by BLM. (Sec. 406) Authorizes the Governor of Utah to identify, describe, and notify the Secretary of any school and institutional trust lands the value or economic potential of which is diminished by the establishment of the Conservation Area or the designation of a wilderness or semi-primitive area. Provides for a Federal-State exchange of lands in such cases. (Sec. 407) States that nothing in this Act shall constitute an express or implied Federal reservation of water arising from designations made. Authorizes the United States to exercise appropriate water rights under Utah State law. States that this Act shall not affect the: (1) Colorado River or its water works; or (2) jurisdiction or responsibilities of Utah with respect to fish and wildlife management activities.

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Timeline

1. 1 April 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 1 April 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 1 April 1998

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 3 April 1998

   Committee

   Executive Comment Requested from Interior.

   Source: Committee

5. 3 April 1998

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.

   Source: Committee

6. 23 April 1998

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

7. 7 May 1998

   Committee

   Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

   Source: Committee

8. 7 May 1998

   Committee

   Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

9. 22 July 1998

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

   Source: Committee

10. 22 July 1998

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

11. 7 August 1998

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 387.

    Source: Calendars

12. 7 August 1998

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 105-685.

    Source: Committee

13. 7 August 1998

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 105-685.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported in House · 7 August 1998 · Official file
• Introduced in House · 1 April 1998 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN · 7 August 1998

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• Reported in House (PDF)

  Reported in House · EN · 7 August 1998

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• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 7 August 1998

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 1 April 1998

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• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 1 April 1998

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 1 April 1998

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Sponsors

• Rep. Cannon, Chris [R-UT-3] · R · Sponsor
• · hsii00 · Standing

Related records

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