[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 415 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 887
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 415
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 17, 2008
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the
Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a component of
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.
Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(__) Taunton River, Massachusetts.--The main stem of the Taunton
River from its headwaters at the confluence of the Town and Matfield
Rivers in the Town of Bridgewater downstream 40 miles to the confluence
with the Quequechan River at the Route 195 Bridge in the City of Fall
River, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior in
cooperation with the Taunton River Stewardship Council as follows:
``(A) The 18-mile segment from the confluence of the Town
and Matfield Rivers to Route 24 in the Town of Raynham, as a
scenic river.
``(B) The 5-mile segment from Route 24 to 0.5 miles below
Weir Bridge in the City of Taunton, as a recreational river.
``(C) The 8-mile segment from 0.5 miles below Weir Bridge
to Muddy Cove in the Town of Dighton, as a scenic river.
``(D) The 9-mile segment from Muddy Cove to the confluence
with the Quequechan River at the Route 195 Bridge in the City
of Fall River, as a recreational river.''.
SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT OF TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.
(a) Taunton River Stewardship Plan.--
(1) In general.--Each river segment added to section 3(a)
of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this Act
shall be managed in accordance with the Taunton River
Stewardship Plan, dated July 2005 (including any amendment to
the Taunton River Stewardship Plan that the Secretary of the
Interior (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'')
determines to be consistent with this Act).
(2) Effect.--The Taunton River Stewardship Plan described
in paragraph (1) shall be considered to satisfy each
requirement relating to the comprehensive management plan
required under section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
(16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).
(b) Cooperative Agreements.--To provide for the long-term
protection, preservation, and enhancement of each river segment added
to section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this
Act, pursuant to sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e) and 1282(b)(1)), the Secretary may enter
into cooperative agreements (which may include provisions for financial
and other assistance) with--
(1) the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (including political
subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts);
(2) the Taunton River Stewardship Council; and
(3) any appropriate nonprofit organization, as determined
by the Secretary.
(c) Relation to National Park System.--Notwithstanding section
10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), each river
segment added to section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by
section 1 of this Act shall not be--
(1) administered as a unit of the National Park System; or
(2) subject to the laws (including regulations) that govern
the administration of the National Park System.
(d) Land Management.--
(1) Zoning ordinances.--The zoning ordinances adopted by
the Towns of Bridgewater, Halifax, Middleborough, Raynham,
Berkley, Dighton, Freetown, and Somerset, and the Cities of
Taunton and Fall River, Massachusetts (including any provision
of the zoning ordinances relating to the conservation of
floodplains, wetlands, and watercourses associated with any
river segment added to section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act by section 1 of this Act), shall be considered to
satisfy each standard and requirement described in section 6(c)
of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)).
(2) Villages.--For the purpose of section 6(c) of the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)), each town described
in paragraph (1) shall be considered to be a village.
(3) Acquisition of land.--
(A) Limitation of authority of secretary.--With
respect to each river segment added to section 3(a) of
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this
Act, the Secretary may only acquire parcels of land--
(i) by donation; or
(ii) with the consent of the owner of the
parcel of land.
(B) Prohibition relating to acquisition of land by
condemnation.--In accordance with section 6(c) of the
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)), with
respect to each river segment added to section 3(a) of
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this
Act, the Secretary may not acquire any parcel of land
by condemnation.
SEC. 3. ENERGY AND CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.
The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary
of Energy and private industry, shall complete and submit to the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and Senators
and Representatives from the States affected by the designation, a
report using the best available data and regarding the energy resources
available on the lands and waters included in the segments of the
Taunton River designated under section 2 of this Act. The report
shall--
(1) contain the best available description of the energy
resources available on the land and report on the specific
amount of energy withdrawn from possible development; and
(2) identify cubic feet of natural gas, natural gas
transmission and storage potential, megawatts of geothermal,
wind and solar energy that could be commercially produced,
annual available biomass for energy production, and any
megawatts of hydropower resources available, including tidal,
traditional dams, and in-stream flow turbines.
SEC. 4. HUNTING, FISHING, TRAPPING, AND RECREATIONAL SHOOTING.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the authority,
jurisdiction, or responsibility of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to
manage, control, or regulate fish and resident wildlife under State law
or regulations, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, trapping,
and recreational shooting. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
limiting access for hunting, fishing, trapping, or recreational
shooting.
SEC. 5. DOMESTICALLY-PRODUCED ENERGY RESOURCES.
Nothing in this Act shall impact the supply of domestically-
produced energy resources.
Passed the House of Representatives July 16, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.
By Robert F. Reeves,
Deputy Clerk.
Calendar No. 887
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 415
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the
Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a component of
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 17, 2008
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar