[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 707 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 707
To establish the Mountaintown National Scenic Area in the Chattahoochee
National Forest, Georgia, and to designate additional National Forest
System land in the State of Georgia as components of the National
Wilderness Preservation System.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 29, 2007
Mr. Deal of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee
on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Mountaintown National Scenic Area in the Chattahoochee
National Forest, Georgia, and to designate additional National Forest
System land in the State of Georgia as components of the National
Wilderness Preservation System.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Chattahoochee National Forest Act of
2007''.
SEC. 2. MOUNTAINTOWN NATIONAL SCENIC AREA, CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL
FOREST, GEORGIA.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the
Chattahoochee National Forest in the State of Georgia the Mountaintown
National Scenic Area (in this section referred to as the ``scenic
area'') consisting of approximately 13,382 acres, as generally depicted
on the map entitled ``Mountaintown Proposed Scenic Area--Chattahoochee
National Forest, Georgia'' and dated May 3, 2006.
(b) Map and Descriptions.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to
Congress a final map and boundary description of the scenic area. The
map and description shall have the same force and effect as if included
in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and
typographical errors in the map and boundary description. The map and
boundary description shall be on file and available for public
inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service. In the
case of any discrepancy between the acreage and the map referred to in
subsection (a) and the map and boundary description required by this
subsection, the map and boundary description required by this
subsection shall control.
(c) Management.--
(1) Purposes.--The Secretary shall manage the scenic area
for the purposes of--
(A) ensuring the appropriate protection and
preservation of the scenic quality, water quality,
natural characteristics, and water resources of the
area;
(B) protecting and managing vegetation in the area
to provide wildlife and fish habitat, consistent with
subparagraph (A);
(C) providing parcels within the area that may
develop characteristics of old-growth forests; and
(D) providing a variety of recreation
opportunities, consistent with the preceding purposes.
(2) Priority.--In the case of a conflict between the
management purposes specified in paragraph (1) and the laws and
regulations generally applicable to the National Forest System,
the management purposes shall take precedence.
(d) Management Plan.--Not later than three years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a management
plan for the scenic area as an amendment to the land and resource
management plan for the Chattahoochee National Forest. The amendment
shall conform to the requirements of this section. Nothing in this
section shall require the Secretary to revise the land and resource
management plan for the Chattahoochee National Forest pursuant to
section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act
of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).
(e) Roads.--After the date of the enactment of this Act, no new
roads shall be constructed or established within the scenic area,
except that this prohibition shall not be construed to deny access to
private lands or interests therein in the scenic area.
(f) Vegetation Management.--No timber harvest shall be allowed
within the scenic area, except as may be necessary in the control of
fire, insects, and diseases and to provide for public safety and trail
access. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Secretary may engage in
vegetation manipulation practices for maintenance of existing wildlife
clearings and visual quality. Firewood may be harvested for personal
use along perimeter roads under such conditions as the Secretary may
impose.
(g) Motorized Travel.--Motorized travel shall not be permitted
within the scenic area, except that the Secretary may authorize
motorized travel within the scenic area as necessary for administrative
use in furtherance of the management purposes specified in subsection
(c)(1) and in support of wildlife management projects in existence as
of the date of the enactment of this Act.
(h) Fire.--Wildfires in the scenic area shall be suppressed in a
manner consistent with the management purposes specified in subsection
(c)(1), using such means as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(i) Insects and Disease.--Insect and disease outbreaks may be
controlled in the scenic area to maintain scenic quality, prevent tree
mortality, reduce hazards to visitors, or protect private lands.
(j) Water.--The scenic area shall be administered so as to maintain
or enhance existing water quality.
(k) Mining Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, all
federally owned lands in the scenic area are hereby withdrawn from
location, entry, and patent under the mining laws of the United States
and from leasing claims under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws
of the United States, including amendments to such laws.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND AS
WILDERNESS IN GEORGIA.
(a) Designation.--In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following lands in the State of
Georgia, which are administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as part
of the Chattahoochee National Forest and comprise approximately 8,448
acres, as generally depicted on the maps dated May 3, 2006, and
entitled ``Proposed Wilderness Additions--Chattahoochee National
Forest'', are hereby designated as wilderness and incorporated into the
existing wilderness area to which they adjoin:
(1) Three additions to the existing Southern Nantahala
Wilderness: Ben Gap, consisting of 1,294 acres, Shoal Branch,
consisting of 412, and Tate Branch, consisting of 1,085 acres.
(2) One addition to the existing Blood Mountain Wilderness:
Cedar Mountain, consisting of 561 acres.
(3) Two additions to the existing Brasstown Wilderness:
Duck Branch, consisting of 190 acres, and Wilson Cove,
consisting of 563 acres.
(4) One addition to the existing Ellicott Rock Wilderness:
Ellicott Rock Addition, consisting of 562 acres.
(5) Two additions to the existing Cohutta Wilderness:
Foster Branch, consisting of 165 acres, and Ken Mountain,
consisting of 527 acres.
(6) One addition to the existing Raven Cliffs Wilderness:
Helton Creek, consisting of 2,451 acres.
(7) One addition to the existing Tray Mountain Wilderness:
Tripp Branch, consisting of 638 acres.
(b) Maps and Legal Descriptions.--As soon as practicable after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress final maps and boundary descriptions of the lands designated
as wilderness by this section. The maps and descriptions shall have the
same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the
Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in the maps and
boundary descriptions. The maps and boundary descriptions shall be on
file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of
the Forest Service.
(c) Administration.--
(1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
Secretary shall administer the lands designated as wilderness
by this section in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this section.
(2) Effective date of wilderness act.--With respect to the
land designated as wilderness by this section, any reference in
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) to the effective
date of the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to
the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) Fish and wildlife.--As provided in section 4(d)(7) of
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this
section shall be construed as affecting the jurisdiction or
responsibilities of the State of Georgia with respect to fish
and wildlife in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
(4) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights in
existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal
land designated as wilderness by this section is withdrawn from
all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public
land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws;
and disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and
geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
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