[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1170 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1170
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation
Area.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave
National Conservation Area Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Conservation area.--The term ``Conservation Area''
means the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation
Area established by section 3(a).
(2) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means
the management plan developed for the Conservation Area under
section 4(c).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of
Land Management.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FORT STANTON-SNOWY RIVER CAVE NATIONAL
CONSERVATION AREA.
(a) Establishment; Purposes.--There is established the Fort
Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area in Lincoln County,
New Mexico, to protect, conserve, and enhance the unique and nationally
important historic, cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural, and
educational subterranean cave resources of the Fort Stanton-Snowy River
cave system.
(b) Area Included.--The Conservation Area shall include the area
within the boundaries depicted on the map entitled ``Fort Stanton-Snowy
River Cave National Conservation Area'' and dated November 2005.
(c) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
map and legal description of the Conservation Area.
(2) Effect.--The map and legal description of the
Conservation Area shall have the same force and effect as if
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct any
minor errors in the map and legal description.
(3) Public availability.--The map and legal description of
the Conservation Area shall be available for public inspection
in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSERVATION AREA.
(a) Management.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the
Conservation Area--
(A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and
enhances the resources and values of the Conservation
Area, including the resources and values described in
section 3(a); and
(B) in accordance with--
(i) this Act;
(ii) the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
(iii) any other applicable laws.
(2) Uses.--The Secretary shall only allow uses of the
Conservation Area that are consistent with the protection of
the cave resources.
(3) Requirements.--In administering the Conservation Area,
the Secretary shall provide for--
(A) the conservation and protection of the natural
and unique features and environs for scientific,
educational, and other appropriate public uses of the
Conservation Area;
(B) public access, as appropriate, while providing
for the protection of the cave resources and for public
safety;
(C) the continuation of other existing uses or
other new uses of the Conservation Area that do not
impair the purposes for which the Conservation Area is
established;
(D) management of the surface area of the
Conservation Area in accordance with the Fort Stanton
Area of Critical Environmental Concern Final Activity
Plan dated March, 2001, or any amendments to the plan,
consistent with this Act; and
(E) scientific investigation and research
opportunities within the Conservation Area, including
through partnerships with colleges, universities,
schools, scientific institutions, researchers, and
scientists to conduct research and provide educational
and interpretive services within the Conservation Area.
(b) Withdrawals.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal
surface and subsurface land within the Conservation Area and all land
and interests in the land that are acquired by the United States after
the date of enactment of this Act for inclusion in the Conservation
Area, are withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under
the general land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal
leasing laws.
(c) Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a
comprehensive plan for the long-term management of the
Conservation Area.
(2) Purposes.--The management plan shall--
(A) describe the appropriate uses and management of
the Conservation Area;
(B) incorporate, as appropriate, decisions
contained in any other management or activity plan for
the land within or adjacent to the Conservation Area;
(C) take into consideration any information
developed in studies of the land and resources within
or adjacent to the Conservation Area; and
(D) provide for a cooperative agreement with
Lincoln County, New Mexico, to address the historical
involvement of the local community in the
interpretation and protection of the resources of the
Conservation Area.
(d) Activities Outside Conservation Area.--The establishment of the
Conservation Area shall not--
(1) create a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the
Conservation Area; or
(2) preclude uses or activities outside the Conservation
Area that are permitted under other applicable laws, even if
the uses or activities are prohibited within the Conservation
Area.
(e) Research and Interpretive Facilities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish facilities
for--
(A) the conduct of scientific research; and
(B) the interpretation of the historical, cultural,
scientific, archaeological, natural, and educational
resources of the Conservation Area.
(2) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may, in a manner
consistent with this Act, enter into cooperative agreements
with the State of New Mexico and other institutions and
organizations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(f) Water Rights.--Nothing in this Act constitutes an express or
implied reservation of any water right.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this Act. To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave
National Conservation Area.
Passed the Senate November 16, 2005.
Attest:
Secretary.
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1170
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation
Area.