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A legislator from Connecticut introduces a bill for the Wildlands Project for ID, MT, OR, WA and WY. Out of 69 Cosponsors only one is from one of the 5 states. The list includes only 5 Rs and 1 Ind.

HR 488 IH

107th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 488

To designate as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national park and preserve study areas, wild land recovery areas, and biological connecting corridors certain public lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 6, 2001

Mr. SHAYS, R, CT (for himself, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. SIMMONS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. OLVER, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. WEXLER, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. CAPUANO, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. ALLEN, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. WEINER, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. LEE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. ROTHMAN, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. EVANS, Ms. BALDWIN, and Mr. SERRANO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

CO SPONSORS (red is Democrats)

Rep Allen, Thomas H. ME - 2/6/2001 Rep Andrews, Robert E. NJ - 3/13/2001

Rep Baldwin, Tammy WI - 2/6/2001 Rep Berkley, Shelley NV- 2/13/2001

Rep Berman, Howard L. CA - 3/13/2001 Rep Blumenauer, Earl OR - 2/6/2001

Rep Bonior, David E. MI - 2/6/2001 Rep Borski, Robert A. PA - 3/1/2001

Rep Brown, Sherrod OH- 2/6/2001 Rep Capps, Lois CA- 2/6/2001

Rep Capuano, Michael E. MA- 2/6/2001 Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy MO- 2/13/2001

Rep Conyers, John, Jr. MI- 2/6/2001 Rep Coyne, William J. PA- 2/27/2001

Rep Delahunt, William D. MA - 2/6/2001 Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. CT- 3/1/2001

Rep Engel, Eliot L. NY - 3/7/2001 Rep Eshoo, Anna G. CA - 3/7/2001

Rep Evans, Lane IL- 2/6/2001 Rep Filner, Bob CA - 2/8/2001

Rep Frank, Barney MA - 2/8/2001 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. NY- 2/6/2001

Rep Hoeffel, Joseph M. PA - 3/6/2001 Rep Holt, Rush D. NJ - 3/7/2001

Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. IL- 3/1/2001 Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila TX - 3/6/2001

Rep Johnson, Eddie TX- 2/6/2001 Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. MI- 2/6/2001

Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. OH - 2/6/2001 Rep Lantos, Tom CA - 2/8/2001

Rep Leach, James A. IA- 5/3/2001 Rep Lee, Barbara CA- 2/6/2001

Rep Lewis, John GA- 2/6/2001 Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. NJ - 5/3/2001

Rep Lowey, Nita M. NY- 3/21/2001 Rep Luther, Bill MN- 3/7/2001

Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. NY- 2/6/2001 Rep Markey, Edward J. MA- 2/6/2001

Rep McCarthy, Carolyn NY- 3/13/2001 Rep McGovern, James P. MA- 2/6/2001

Rep McKinney, Cynthia GA - 2/6/2001 Rep Millender-McDonald, Juanita CA- 3/7/2001

Rep Miller, George CA- 2/6/2001 Rep Moran, James P. VA- 2/6/2001

Rep Morella, Constance MD 2/6/2001 Rep Nadler, Jerrold NY- 2/13/2001

Rep Napolitano, Grace CA - 4/4/2001 Rep Neal, Richard E. MA- 3/6/2001

Rep Olver, John W. MA- 2/6/2001 Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr.NJ - 2/6/2001

Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. NJ- 3/7/2001 Rep Payne, Donald M. NJ- 2/13/2001

Rep Pelosi, Nancy CA- 2/6/2001 Rep Price, David E. NC- 2/6/2001

Rep Rangel, Charles B. NY- 2/6/2001 Rep Rothman, Steve R. NJ- 2/6/2001

Rep Sanders, Bernard VT I- 2/6/2001 Rep Serrano, Jose E. NY - 2/6/2001

Rep Simmons, Rob CT - 2/6/2001 Rep Slaughter, Louise NY 2/27/2001

Rep Smith, Christopher H. NJ - 2/6/2001 Rep Solis, Hilda L. CA- 5/3/2001

Rep Tierney, John F. MA- 2/6/2001 Rep Towns, Edolphus NY- 2/6/2001

Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. NY - 5/3/2001 Rep Walsh, James T.NY - 2/13/2001

Rep Weiner, Anthony D. NY- 2/6/2001 Rep Wexler, Robert FL- 2/6/2001

Rep Wynn, Albert MD - 3/6/2001

A BILL

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 2001'.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Findings.

Sec. 3. Purposes.

Sec. 4. Definitions.

TITLE I--DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS

Sec. 101. Designation of certain National Forest System lands and other public lands as wilderness.

Sec. 102. Greater Glacier/Northern Continental Divide ecosystem.

Sec. 103. Greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

Sec. 104. Greater Salmon/Selway ecosystem.

Sec. 105. Greater Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk ecosystem.

Sec. 106. Islands in the Sky Wilderness.

Sec. 107. Administration.

Sec. 108. Blackfeet Wilderness.

Sec. 109. Water.

TITLE II--BIOLOGICAL CONNECTING CORRIDORS

Sec. 201. Findings.

Sec. 202. Designation of biological connecting corridors.

Sec. 203. Treatment of biological connecting corridors.

Sec. 204. Applicability of title.

Sec. 205. Cooperative agreements and land trades and acquisitions.

Sec. 206. Exemption of certain roads and highways.

TITLE III--NATIONAL PARKS, PRESERVES, AND RELATED STUDIES

Sec. 301. Hells Canyon/Chief Joseph National Preserve.

Sec. 302. Flathead National Park and Preserve study.

TITLE IV--WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS DESIGNATIONS

Sec. 401. Designation of wild and scenic rivers in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

TITLE V--NATIONAL WILDLAND RESTORATION AND RECOVERY SYSTEM

Sec. 501. Findings.

Sec. 502. National Wildland Restoration and Recovery System.

Sec. 503. Management of Recovery System.

Sec. 504. National Wildland Recovery Corps.

TITLE VI--IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING

Sec. 601. Implementation report.

Sec. 602. Interagency team.

Sec. 603. Roadless lands evaluation.

Sec. 604. Native American uses.

Sec. 605. Cultural resources.

TITLE VII--RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Sec. 701. Water rights.

Sec. 702. Future designations.

Sec. 703. Indian tribes.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:

(1) Many areas of undeveloped National Forest System lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming possess outstanding natural characteristics which give them high values as wilderness, parks, and wild and scenic rivers and will, if properly preserved, be an enduring resource of wilderness, wild land areas, and biodiversity for the benefit of the American people.

(2) The Northern Rockies Bioregion contains the most diverse array of wild lands remaining south of Canada, providing sanctuary for a host of species listed as threatened or endangered under section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)). These national interest public lands are among the most popular wild lands in the Nation, embracing greater ecosystems and national treasures such as the Greater Yellowstone, Greater Glacier/Northern Continental Divide, Greater Hells Canyon/Wallowa, Greater Salmon/Selway, and Greater Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk ecosystems. The headwaters for nearly two-thirds of the rivers of North

America originate in the Northern Rockies, sending waters to three oceans and providing critical supplies of clean water for wildlife and other users.

(3) The wildlife treasures of the Northern Rockies are of international significance and contain remarkably intact large mammalian fauna and rare and unique plant life.

(4) Wildlife habitat fragmentation due to roadbuilding, timber harvest, mining, oil and gas exploration, lack of interagency cooperation, and other activities has severe effects on the wildlife populations (including those listed as threatened or endangered under section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c))) and their habitat, the water quality, the ancient forests, and the greater ecosystems of the Northern Rockies Bioregion. Continued fragmentation and development of the remaining roadless and essentially roadless ecosystems and biological connectors of the Northern Rockies would cause a loss to the Nation of an entire wild land region and of the only remaining areas south of Canada still pristine enough to support populations of caribou, gray wolves, grizzly bears, anadromous fish, and numerous other rare and endangered plant and animal life all in one intact bioregion.

(5) Since the 1936 roadless area inventory completed by Bob Marshall, millions of acres of roadless wild lands have been developed in the Northern Rockies. Extensive fragmentation of wild lands and wildlife habitat has resulted in the listing of several species as threatened or endangered and reduced the numbers and range of many others, including anadromous fish.

(6) A review of the current situation in the Northern Rockies has revealed the urgent need for an ecological reserve system for the Northern Rockies Bioregion, which includes core ecosystem reserve areas and biological connecting corridors necessary to ensure wildlife movements and genetic interchange between the core reserve areas.

(7) The economic value to the Nation of most of these undeveloped areas, left in their natural state, greatly exceeds any potential return to the Treasury of the United States from timber harvest and development. If current Federal land management in the Northern Rockies continues to result in the development of roadless areas, the American public will be using its tax dollars to fund permanent reductions in wilderness, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and species and biological diversity.

(8) The congressional review of roadless areas within National Forest System lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming has identified areas which, on the basis of their land form, ecosystem, associated fish and wildlife, economic value, and location will help to fulfill the role of the United States Forest Service to ensure a quality National Wilderness Preservation System. The review has identified other areas which may have outstanding values as national parks and preserves and wild and scenic rivers. The review has also identified areas which may not possess outstanding wilderness attributes and should not now be designated as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, but which should be studied to determine their role in maintaining biological diversity in the Northern Rockies.

(9) Many areas of National Forest System lands have been damaged and their productivity reduced by unwise development practices which have also impaired ecosystem function and biological diversity. The Island Park area adjacent to Yellowstone National Park contains large clear-cut areas right up to the park boundary. Efforts should be made to return these areas to their former ecological health and native diversity by designating them as National Wildland Restoration and Recovery areas. These efforts should seek to ensure that vital ecosystem components are restored, especially in areas where wildlife travel corridors and native fish and wildlife populations have been damaged or eliminated. Restoration efforts should seek to ensure and maintain genetic interchange, biological diversity, and restoration of native species diversity throughout the Northern Rockies Bioregion.

(10) Federal agencies entrusted with managing the natural resources of the Northern Rockies Bioregion operate under contradictory congressional mandates, and thus are in dissension over management policies which involve common resources and greater ecosystems. Existing agency structures and regulatory mechanisms have proven unsatisfactory for responsible management of nationally important ecosystems on public lands. Existing laws and regulations have not been sufficient to establish and maintain agency accountability for public resources.

(11) This Act does not affect lands that are in private ownership.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

(a) DESIGNATIONS- The purposes of this Act are--

(1) to designate certain National Forest System lands and Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System;

(2) to designate certain National Forest System lands in the States of Montana, Oregon, and Idaho as national park and preserve study areas;

(3) to designate certain National Forest System lands and watercourses in the States of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;

(4) to establish a pilot system of National Wildland Restoration and Recovery Areas and a Wildlands Recovery Corps to help restore biological diversity and native species; and

(5) to establish a system of biological connecting corridors between the core ecosystems in the Northern Rockies Bioregion.

(b) PURPOSE OF DESIGNATIONS- The designations made by this Act are made in order to--

(1) promote, perpetuate, and preserve the wilderness character of the land;

(2) protect water quality, watersheds, and wildlife habitat, including that of species listed as threatened or endangered under section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c));

(3) protect the ecological integrity and contiguity of major wild land ecosystems and their interconnecting corridors identified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other sources;

(4) protect and maintain biological and native species diversity;

(5) promote and ensure interagency cooperation in the implementation of integrated, holistic ecosystem management and protection of the ecosystems and corridors covered by this Act based upon principles from conservation biology;

(6) preserve scenic, historic, and cultural resources;

(7) promote scientific research, primitive recreation, solitude, physical and mental challenge, and inspiration for the benefit of all of the American people;

(8) avoid the misinvestment of scarce capital in lands of marginal timber value; and

(9) promote ecologically and economically sustainable management in the Northern Rockies Bioregion.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:

(1) DEVELOPMENT- The term `development' means activities that eliminate the roadless and wilderness characteristics of the land and includes ski resort facilities and such activities as roadbuilding, timber harvest, mining, and oil and gas drilling.

(2) ENTRY- The term `entry' means to enter a roadless area for purposes of development and associated activities, such as roadbuilding, timber harvest, mining, or other such activities which eliminate the roadless character of the land.

(3) GREATER ECOSYSTEM- The term `greater ecosystem', when used in conjunction with the specific ecosystems protected under this Act, means the ecological land units of sufficient scale to support and maintain populations of large vertebrate species and the other native plant and animal species of the area. These units are comprised of lands which are similar in regards to topography, climate, and plant and animal species. The ecosystems in the Northern Rockies are also defined in terms of the habitat of wildlife indicator species listed as threatened or endangered under section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)), including grizzly bear, gray wolf, bald eagle, and caribou, and have been depicted on maps published by Federal agencies.

(4) NORTHERN ROCKIES BIOREGION- The term `Northern Rockies Bioregion' means the portion of the Northern Rocky Mountains in the States of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington, so referred to on maps referred to in this Act.

(5) RECOVERY- The term `recovery' means the restoration of lands damaged by land management activities to a condition as close as possible to the condition of the lands as existed prior to entry and development of the lands.

(6) RECOVERY SYSTEM- The term `Recovery System' means the National Wildland Restoration and Recovery System established in title V.

TITLE I--DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS

SEC. 101. DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS AS WILDERNESS.

In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the National Forest System lands and other public lands described in this title in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming are hereby designated as wilderness and, therefore, as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

SEC. 102. GREATER GLACIER/NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ECOSYSTEM.

(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds the following:

(1) The core of the Greater Glacier/Northern Continental Divide ecosystem region is Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness, which was the first wilderness area in the United States.

(2) This ecosystem includes unique lands, such as the Rocky Mountain Front, where grizzlies still roam the prairies and America's largest herd of bighorn sheep scales the craggy peaks.

(3) The Swan and Mission mountain ranges contain some of Montana's largest old growth forests

and pristine bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout spawning runs.

(4) The Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf is making a comeback in this ecosystem, and the ecosystem is home to the largest grizzly population in the lower 48 States.

(b) DESIGNATION- In order to protect the unique Greater Glacier/Northern Continental Divide ecosystem, the areas specified in the table in subsection (c), which together comprise approximately 1,102,535 acres as generally depicted on the maps with titles corresponding to each area and dated January 2001, are hereby designated as wilderness. Each wilderness area shall either be incorporated into the wilderness area indicated or shall be known by the name given it in the table. Each map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.

GREATER GLACIER/NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ECOSYSTEM

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Name of Wilderness Area                                                                                                                     Approximate Acreage Location

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Choteau Mountain/Teton High Peaks/Deep Creek                                                                                                            106,272 Lewis & Clark National Forest/Bureau of Land Management

Renshaw