S. 973Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Tennessee Wilderness Act

Introduced April 27, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC

The Tennessee Wilderness Act would add several parcels of federal land in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, to the National Wilderness Preservation System. By designating these areas as wilderness, the bill places them under the protections of the Wilderness Act, while still allowing the state to manage hunting, fishing, and trapping. The changes affect the U.S. Forest Service and the public lands in the specified forest region.

Key Provisions

  • Designates about 9,038 acres as the new Upper Bald River Wilderness and adds roughly 9,000 additional acres to existing wilderness areas (Big Frog, Little Frog Mountain, Sampson Mountain, Big Laurel Branch, and Joyce Kilmer‑Slickrock).
  • Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to file official maps and legal descriptions of the new wilderness areas for public inspection.
  • Mandates that the newly designated lands be managed under the Wilderness Act, with the enactment date of this bill serving as the effective date.
  • Clarifies that state authority over fish and wildlife (including hunting, fishing, and trapping) remains unchanged in the new wilderness areas.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

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

April 27, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 27, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

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

April 27, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 27, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 973

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 27, 2017

Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mr. Corker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To designate as wilderness certain public land in the Cherokee National Forest in the State of Tennessee, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Tennessee Wilderness Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Map

The term Map means the map entitled Proposed Wilderness Areas and Additions-Cherokee National Forest and dated January 20, 2010.

(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(3)

State

The term State means the State of Tennessee.

3.

Additions to Cherokee National Forest

(a)

Designation of wilderness

In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following parcels of Federal land in the Cherokee National Forest in the State of Tennessee are designated as wilderness and as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System:

(1)

Certain land comprising approximately 9,038 acres, as generally depicted as the Upper Bald River Wilderness on the Map and which shall be known as the Upper Bald River Wilderness.

(2)

Certain land comprising approximately 348 acres, as generally depicted as the Big Frog Addition on the Map and which shall be incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Big Frog Wilderness.

(3)

Certain land comprising approximately 630 acres, as generally depicted as the Little Frog Mountain Addition NW on the Map and which shall be incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Little Frog Mountain Wilderness.

(4)

Certain land comprising approximately 336 acres, as generally depicted as the Little Frog Mountain Addition NE on the Map and which shall be incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Little Frog Mountain Wilderness.

(5)

Certain land comprising approximately 2,922 acres, as generally depicted as the Sampson Mountain Addition on the Map and which shall be incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Sampson Mountain Wilderness.

(6)

Certain land comprising approximately 4,446 acres, as generally depicted as the Big Laurel Branch Addition on the Map and which shall be incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness.

(7)

Certain land comprising approximately 1,836 acres, as generally depicted as the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Addition on the Map and which shall be incorporated in, and shall be considered to be a part of, the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness.

(b)

Maps and legal descriptions

(1)

In general

As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file maps and legal descriptions of the wilderness areas designated by subsection (a) with the appropriate committees of Congress.

(2)

Public availability

The maps and legal descriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Chief of the Forest Service and the office of the Supervisor of the Cherokee National Forest.

(3)

Force of law

The maps and legal descriptions filed under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct typographical errors in the maps and descriptions.

(c)

Administration

(1)

In general

Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land designated as wilderness by subsection (a) shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2)

Fish and wildlife management

In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and wildlife management (including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping) in the wilderness areas designated by subsection (a).