Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act

Summary

Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Act - Establishes the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area in Washington and Oregon. Designates special management and urban areas within such scenic area. Provides for the establishment by Oregon and Washington of the Columbia Gorge Commission to manage such area. Includes representatives from affected counties within both States on the Commission. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish such Commission as a Federal agency if the States fail to establish or adequately empower such Commission to perform its required obligations. Directs the Commission to prepare a management plan for the Scenic Area within two years. Requires such plan to include: (1) a resource inventory; (2) land use designations; (3) guidelines for the adoption of zoning ordinances; and (4) a cooperative recreation plan. Sets forth standards for determining land use. Requires intergovernmental involvement in and Secretarial approval of such plan. Provides for plan revision and amendment. Requires each affected county to submit to the Commission zoning ordinances consistent with prescribed guidelines. Sets forth submittal, approval, and amendment procedures for such ordinances. Directs the Secretary to administer the Federal lands within the special management areas according to forest and multiple-use management regulations applicable to the national forests. Requires the Secretary to develop land use designations within such areas within two years. Requires the Secretary to develop a plan for acquiring non-Federal lands within such special management areas. Requires the Secretary to report periodically to the appropriate congressional committees on the status of land acquisitions. Limits the use of eminent domain in acquiring such lands. Directs the Secretary to adopt interim guidelines for land use activities within the special management areas and for the governance of land use activities in the rest of the National Scenic Area, except for the identified urban areas. Authorizes the Secretary to make loans to the Columbia Gorge Development Corporation for low interest loans for use in counties which have adopted management plan implementation measures. Sets forth other loan terms and restrictions. Directs the Secretary to prepare a program to preserve and restore the Old Columbia River Highway for public use as a National Historic Road. Prohibits the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from licensing the construction of any project under the Federal Power Act without the Secretary of Agriculture's approval within the special management areas or the Scenic Area. Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to include a segment of the White Salmon River, Washington. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance and grants to counties to develop implementation measures under this Act. Sets forth terms and restrictions on the making and use of such grants. Directs the Secretary to provide the States of Washington and Oregon with land acquisition grants for such purpose within the National Scenic Area. Requires the Commission to monitor activities of counties pursuant to this Act, empowering the Commission to institute civil actions to enforce the requirements of this Act. Authorizes citizen suits as specified. Establishes civil penalties for violations and grants U.S. district courts in Oregon and Washington jurisdiction over civil actions and appeals brought pursuant to this Act. Authorizes appropriations. States which rights and responsibilities remain unchanged by this Act. States that the validity of provisions under this Act are severable.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 6 February 1986

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 6 February 1986

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 19 February 1986

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Justice, and OMB.

   Source: Committee

4. 17 June 1986

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Public Lands and Reserved Water. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

5. 14 August 1986

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 850.

   Source: Calendars

6. 14 August 1986

   Reported

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

7. 14 August 1986

   Reported

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator McClure with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

   Source: Committee

8. 15 August 1986

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources received executive comment from Agriculture Department. Unfavorable.

   Source: Committee

9. 8 October 1986

   Floor

   Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

   Source: Floor

10. 8 October 1986

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

11. 10 October 1986

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.

    Source: IntroReferral

12. 14 October 1986

    Committee

    Executive Comment Received From Justice.

    Source: Committee

13. 15 October 1986

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Forest, Family Farms, and Energy.

    Source: Committee

14. 24 November 1986

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 8 October 1986

  Open at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 14 August 1986

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 6 February 1986

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Evans, Daniel J. [R-WA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Packwood, Bob [R-OR] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Hatfield, Mark O. [R-OR] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA] · R · Sponsor
• · hsii00 · Standing
• · hsag00 · Standing
• · sseg00 · Standing

Related records

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