Collapse to view only § 460vv-12. Advisory committee
- § 460vv. Findings and purposes
- § 460vv-1. Additions to National Wilderness Preservation System
- § 460vv-2. Maps and descriptions
- § 460vv-3. Administration
- § 460vv-4. Wilderness review
- § 460vv-5. Adjacent management
- § 460vv-6. Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area
- § 460vv-7. Botanical areas
- § 460vv-8. Indian Nations National Scenic and Wildlife Area
- § 460vv-9. Beech Creek National Scenic Area
- § 460vv-10. Nomenclature
- § 460vv-11. Timber management report
- § 460vv-12. Advisory committee
- § 460vv-13. Planning
- § 460vv-14. Fire, insect, and disease
- § 460vv-15. Grazing
- § 460vv-16. Fishing and wildlife
- § 460vv-17. Permits
- § 460vv-18. Land acquisition
- § 460vv-19. Acreages
As soon as practicable after October 18, 1988, the Secretary of Agriculture shall file the maps referred to in section 460vv–1 of this title and legal descriptions of each wilderness area designated by section 460vv–1 of this title with the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the United States Senate. Each such map and legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter; except that correction of clerical and typographical errors in such legal descriptions and maps may be made. Each such map and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
Subject to valid existing rights, each wilderness area designated by section 460vv–1 of this title shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964 [16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.] governing areas designated by that Act as wilderness areas, except that with respect to any area designated in section 460vv–1 of this title, any reference in such provisions to the effective date of the Wilderness Act of 1964 shall be deemed to be a reference to the effective date of this subchapter.
As used in this section, and as provided in section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 [16 U.S.C. 1604], as amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976, the term “revision” shall not include an “amendment” to a plan.
Congress does not intend that designation of wilderness areas in the State of Oklahoma lead to the creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around each wilderness area. The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within the wilderness shall not, of itself, preclude such activities or uses up to the boundary of the wilderness area.
In order to ensure the conservation and protection of certain natural, scenic, historic, pastoral, and fish and wildlife values and to provide for the enhancement of the recreational values associated therewith, there is hereby established the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area located in the Ouachita National Forest, Oklahoma.
The Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the “recreation area”) shall comprise approximately 26,445 acres as generally depicted on the map entitled “Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area—Proposed”, dated March 1988, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall, as soon as practicable after October 18, 1988, file a map and a legal description of the recreation area with the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the United States Senate and each such map and legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter; except that correction of clerical and typographical errors in such legal description and map may be made. The map and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
The Secretary shall administer the recreation area in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations applicable to the national forests in such manner as will best further the purposes of this section, as set forth in subsection (a). Management and utilization of natural resources within the recreation area shall be permitted to the extent such management and utilization is compatible with and does not impair the purposes for which the recreation area is established.
Any sales of timber from within the recreation area shall be designed so as to not detract from the scenic values of the recreation area. Management practices that would detract from the scenic quality and natural beauty within view from the Talimena Drive or the Holson Valley Road shall not be conducted in the recreation area. Unevenaged timber management shall be the timber management practice in the recreation area, except that the Secretary may use evenaged management practices in order to promote public safety, mitigate the effects of fire, insects, and disease, or allow scenic vistas and recreational development or if such practices result in irregular cuts behind geographic barriers blocking the view from the Talimena Drive and the Holson Valley Road.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall, as soon as practicable after October 18, 1988, file a map and a legal description of the botanical areas with the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the United States Senate. Each such map and legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter; except that correction of clerical and typographical errors in such legal description and map may be made. The map and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
The Secretary shall administer the botanical areas in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations applicable to the national forests in such manner as will best further the purposes of this section, as set forth in subsection (a). Except as provided in section 460vv–14 of this title, vegetative manipulation, including the cutting of trees, shall be permitted in such areas only when necessary for the protection and interpretation of the unique plant species and unique plant communities within the area. The Secretary may permit expansion of roads, improvements, and other facilities in the vicinity of the Robert S. Kerr Nature Center.
In order to protect and enhance certain scenery and wildlife within the Ouachita National Forest, Oklahoma, certain lands within such national forest, as generally depicted on a map entitled “Indian Nations National Scenic and Wildlife Area—Proposed”, dated March 1988, are hereby designated as the “Indian Nations National Scenic and Wildlife Area” (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “national scenic and wildlife area”).
The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall, as soon as practicable after October 18, 1988, file a map and a legal description of the national scenic and wildlife area with the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the United States Senate. Each such map and legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter; except that correction of clerical and typographical errors in such legal description and map may be made. The map and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
The Secretary shall administer the national scenic and wildlife area in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations applicable to the national forests in such manner as will best further the purposes of this section, as set forth in subsection (a). Management practices within the national scenic and wildlife area that would detract from the scenic quality and natural beauty of the Talimena Drive and Holson Valley Road viewsheds shall be prohibited. Timber management practices within the national scenic and wildlife area shall promote a mixed hardwood and conifer forest with species and age class diversity approximating natural succession and with significant mast production and den trees for wildlife. Unevenaged timber management shall be the timber management practice in the national scenic and wildlife area, except that the Secretary may use evenaged management practices in order to promote public safety, mitigate the effects of fire, insects, and disease, or if such practices result in irregular cuts behind geographic barriers blocking the view from the Talimena Drive and the Holson Valley Road.
In order to protect and enhance certain scenery and wildlife within the Ouachita National Forest, Oklahoma, certain lands within such national forest, as generally depicted on a map entitled “Beech Creek National Scenic Area—Proposed”, dated March 1988, are hereby designated as the “Beech Creek National Scenic Area” (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “national scenic area”).
The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall, as soon as practicable after October 18, 1988, file a map and a legal description of the national scenic area with the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the United States Senate. Each such map and legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter; except that correction of clerical and typographical errors in such legal description and map may be made. The map and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
The Secretary shall administer the national scenic area in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the national forests in such manner as will best further the purposes of this section, as set forth in subsection (a). Timber management practices within the area shall promote a mixed hardwood and conifer forest with species and age class diversity approximating natural succession and with significant mast production and den trees for wildlife. Unevenaged management shall be the timber management practice in the area, except that the Secretary is authorized to use evenaged management practices in order to promote public safety or to mitigate the effects of fire, insects, and disease.
The wilderness areas, the national recreation area, the national scenic and wildlife area, the national scenic area, and the botanical areas designated in this subchapter shall be referred to as the “Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area”.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the United States Senate a report on the timber management program on those lands of the Ouachita National Forest located in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, each year after October 18, 1988, for a period of 20 years. Each such report shall include information on timber management practices, sale preparation, harvest levels, reforestation, forest pest and damage problems, multiple use mitigation practices, including wildlife enhancement, recreation, protection of scenery, vegetation conversion, roads, and vegetative cover along streams, roads and trails. The report shall also include an economic impact statement of the Ouachita National Forest in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, on the timber industry and the tourism and recreation industry.
Pursuant to chapter 10 of title 5, no later than 90 days after October 18, 1988, the Secretary is directed to establish an advisory committee for Ouachita National Forest lands in Le Flore County, Oklahoma. The Committee’s purpose shall be advisory in nature and the Committee shall provide information and recommendations to the Secretary regarding the operation of the Ouachita National Forest in Le Flore County. The Committee shall be composed of representatives from the local area in which the Ouachita National Forest is located equally divided among conservation, timber, fish and wildlife, tourism and recreation, and economic development interests.
The Secretary shall amend the Ouachita National Forest land and resource management plan to include provisions regarding the wilderness areas, the botanical areas, the national recreation area, the national scenic and wildlife area, and the national scenic area designated by this subchapter. The amendment shall further the purposes for these areas as specified in this subchapter and shall be developed in accordance with the provisions of the National Forest Management Act, including provisions for public involvement. The Secretary shall consult with the local advisory committee established under section 460vv–12 of this title regarding the development and implementation of the amendment required under this subsection.
The plan shall include a section with provisions to promote tourism and recreation in ways consistent with the purposes for which the wilderness areas, the botanical areas, the national recreation area, the national scenic and wildlife area and the national scenic area are designated.
No later than 90 days after October 18, 1988, the Secretary shall designate a special advisory group from the local area in which the Ouachita National Forest is located to assist in the preparation of the tourism and recreation section of the amendment as required under subsection (b). The Secretary shall request the group to submit to the Secretary, within 12 months after its designation as an advisory group, a draft for such section. No later than 90 days after receiving such draft, the Secretary shall make any revisions and provide them to the group for review. The Secretary shall allow at least 60 days for the group to submit to the Secretary its comments on the revisions. The Secretary shall attempt to resolve any differences prior to his approval or disapproval of the amendment to the forest plan.
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $15,000,000 for tourism and recreation improvements related to the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area in Ouachita National Forest in Le Flore County, Oklahoma.
The Secretary is authorized and encouraged to seek local nonprofit entities and the private sector for development of tourism and recreation initiatives in implementing the tourism and recreation section of the plan.
Nothing in this subchapter shall preclude the Secretary of Agriculture from carrying out such measures in the recreation area, the national scenic and wildlife area, the national scenic area, or in the botanical areas established by this subchapter as the Secretary, in his discretion, deems necessary in the event of fire, or infestation of insects or disease or for public health and safety. As provided in section 1133(d)(1) of this title, the Secretary may take such measures as may be necessary to control fire, insects, and diseases within the wilderness areas designated by this subchapter.
Subject to such limitations, conditions, or regulations as he may prescribe, the Secretary of Agriculture shall permit grazing on lands within the Ouachita National Forest, Le Flore County, Oklahoma.
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State with respect to wildlife and fish in the areas designated by this subchapter.
The Secretary shall cooperate with other Federal agencies, with State and local public agencies and bodies, and with private individuals and organizations in the issuance of permits for facilities, services, and recreational facilities in the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area. In issuing such permits, the Secretary is authorized and encouraged to consider local nonprofit entities and the private sector.
The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, any lands or interests therein, which the Secretary determines are needed to establish and manage the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area.
In exercising the authority conferred by this section to acquire lands, the Secretary of Agriculture shall give prompt and careful consideration to any offer made by an individual owning any land, or interest in land, within the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area. In considering any such offer, the Secretary shall take into consideration any hardship to the owner which might result from any undue delay in acquiring the property.
The Secretary of Agriculture may acquire sites at locations outside such boundaries of the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation and Wilderness Area, as he determines necessary, for visitor orientation and the establishment of a lodge and additional facilities to enhance the quality of the area.
Notwithstanding the limitations contained in section 200306(a)(2) of title 54, the Secretary of Agriculture may acquire by purchase, exchange, donation or otherwise any right, title, and interest in lands in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, which are outside the boundaries of the Ouachita National Forest. No such right, title or interest may be acquired without the consent of the owner thereof. All lands and interests therein acquired under this subsection shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the Act of March 1, 1911, commonly referred to as the Weeks Act (36 Stat. 961) and in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations generally applicable to units of the national forest system. The Secretary of Agriculture shall extend the boundaries of the Ouachita National Forest to include such lands.
The acreage specified in this subchapter is approximate and in the event of discrepancies between cited acreage and the lands depicted on reference maps, the maps shall control.