H.R. 404 – National Landscape Conservation System Act

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 404

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2009

Mr. Grijalva (for himself, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Inslee, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Pallone, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Farr, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Pastor of Arizona, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Holt, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Reichert, Mr. Berman, Mr. Price of North Carolina, and Mr. Gordon of Tennessee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To establish the National Landscape Conservation System, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Landscape Conservation System Act.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(2)

System

The term system means the National Landscape Conservation System established by section 3(a).

Establishment of the National Landscape Conservation System

(a)

Establishment

In order to conserve, protect, and restore nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations, there is established in the Bureau of Land Management the National Landscape Conservation System.

(b)

Components

The system shall include each of the following areas administered by the Bureau of Land Management:

(1)

Each area that is designated as—

(A)

a national monument;

(B)

a national conservation area;

(C)

a wilderness study area;

(D)

a National Scenic Trail or National Historic Trail designated as a component of the National Trails System;

(E)

a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; or

(F)

a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

(2)

Any area designated by Congress to be administered for conservation purposes, including—

(A)

the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area, as designated under section 101(a) of the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 460nnn–11(a));

(B)

the Headwaters Forest Reserve;

(C)

the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area;

(D)

public land within the California Desert Conservation Area administered by the Bureau of Land Management for conservation purposes; and

(E)

any additional area designated by Congress for inclusion in the system.

(c)

Management

The Secretary shall manage the system—

(1)

in accordance with each applicable law (including regulations) relating to each component of the system included under subsection (b); and

(2)

in a manner that protects the values for which the components of the system were designated.

Statutory construction

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to enhance, diminish, or modify any law or proclamation (or regulations related to such law or proclamation) under which the components of the system identified in section 3(b) were established, or are managed, including, but not limited to, the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.), the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). In addition, nothing in this Act creates a Federal cause of action based on inclusion within the National Landscape Conservation System. Moreover, nothing in this Act is intended to additionally restrict or hinder energy development within the system.

National Landscape Conservation System Act

Legislative Activity

Bill Text