Amendment maintains access to National Forest System lands for snowmobilers while a winter travel management rule for National Forests is finalized.

1. Adds TITLE IX--SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SNOWMOBILES ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS at the end of the bill

   Adds a title

   Inserted: TITLE IX--SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SNOWMOBILES ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS

   Inserted: SEC. 901. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

   Inserted: (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:

   Inserted: (1) The clear identification of roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle use in each National Forest will improve management of National Forest System lands and protect these national treasures, enhance opportunities, and address access for motorized recreation experiences on National Forest System lands and preserve areas of opportunity in each National Forest for non-motorized travel and experiences.

   Inserted: (2) The sport of snowmobiling supports thousands of jobs across the country and provides a variety of enriching recreational opportunities for both families and individuals.

   Inserted: (3) In 2005, the Forest Service promulgated a Travel Management Rule that required travel management plans for off-road vehicles, with the exception of snowmobiles, on all lands managed by the Forest Service.

   Inserted: (4) Under the 2005 Travel Management Rule, the Department of Agriculture deemed that the use of snowmobiles on National Forest System lands presented a different set of management issues and environmental impacts on National Forest System lands than the use of other types of motor vehicles. Therefore, the final rule exempted snowmobiles from the mandatory designation scheme provided for under section 212.51 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, but retained the National Forest System's ability to allow, restrict or prohibit snowmobile travel, as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis.

   Inserted: (5) In 2013, the Ninth U.S. District Court of Idaho ruled in the case captioned as Winter Wildlands Alliance v. US Forest Service, Case No. 1:11-cv-00586-REB, ruled that the Forest Service must promulgate travel management rules that include snowmobiles. The Ninth U.S. District Court of Idaho required that the final rule be promulgated by September 14, 2014, barring no additional extension.

   Inserted: (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Forest Service should continue to allow snowmobiles access to National Forest System lands at the same levels as were allowed as of March 28, 2013, subject to closures for public health and safety at the discretion of the respective agencies, until a final travel management rule is promulgated for snowmobiles.

   Original wording

   At the end of the bill, add the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed