115th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To designate additions to the Rich Hole Wilderness and the Rough Mountain Wilderness of the George Washington National Forest, and for other purposes.
October 17, 2017
Mr. Kaine (for himself and Mr. Warner) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To designate additions to the Rich Hole Wilderness and the Rough Mountain Wilderness of the George Washington National Forest, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Virginia Wilderness Additions Act of 2017”.
SEC. 2. Additions to Rough Mountain and Rich Hole Wildernesses.
Section 1 of Public Law 100–326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat. 1002) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(21) ROUGH MOUNTAIN ADDITION.—Certain land in the George Washington National Forest comprising approximately 1,000 acres, as generally depicted as the ‘Rough Mountain Addition’ on the map entitled ‘GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST – South half – Alternative I – Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions – Land and Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement’ and dated March 4, 2014, which is incorporated in the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area designated by paragraph (1).
“(A) DESIGNATION.—Certain land in the George Washington National Forest comprising approximately 4,600 acres, as generally depicted as the ‘Rich Hole Addition’ on the map entitled ‘GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST – South half – Alternative I – Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions – Land and Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement’ and dated March 4, 2014, which shall be incorporated in the Rich Hole Wilderness Area designated by paragraph (2) on the earlier of—
“(i) the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture publishes in the Federal Register notice that the activities permitted under subparagraph (C) have been completed; or
“(ii) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the Rich Hole and Rough Mountain Wilderness Additions Act.
“(B) MANAGEMENT.—Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall manage the wilderness area designated under subparagraph (A) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
“(C) WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES.—
“(i) IN GENERAL.—To enhance natural ecosystems within the Rich Hole Addition by implementing certain activities to improve water quality and aquatic passage, as set forth in the Forest Service document entitled ‘Decision Notice for the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project’ and dated December 2015, the Secretary of Agriculture may use motorized equipment and mechanized transport in the Rich Hole Addition under subparagraph (A) until the date on which the Rich Hole Addition is incorporated into the Rich Hole Wilderness under that subparagraph.
“(ii) REQUIREMENT.—In carrying out clause (i), the Secretary of Agriculture, to the maximum extent practicable, shall use the minimum tool or administrative practice necessary to carry out that clause with the least amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and resources.”.