Collapse to view only § 460mmm-3. Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness designation
- § 460mmm. Findings and purpose
- § 460mmm-1. Definitions
- § 460mmm-2. McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
- § 460mmm-3. Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness designation
- § 460mmm-4. Management
- § 460mmm-5. Maps and legal descriptions
- § 460mmm-6. Advisory Council
- § 460mmm-7. Public access
The purpose of this subchapter is to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the unique and nationally important values of the public lands described in section 460mmm–2(b) of this title, including geological, cultural, paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, environmental, biological, wilderness, wildlife education, and scenic resources of such public lands, by establishing the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness in the State of Colorado and the State of Utah.
The term “Conservation Area” means the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area established by section 460mmm–2(a) of this title.
The term “Council” means the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area Advisory Council established under section 460mmm–6 of this title.
The term “management plan” means the management plan developed for the Conservation Area under section 460mmm–4(h) of this title.
The term “Map” means the map entitled “Proposed Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area” and dated July 18, 2000.
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
The term “Wilderness” means the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness so designated in section 460mmm–3 of this title.
There is established the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area in the State of Colorado and the State of Utah.
The Conservation Area shall consist of approximately 122,300 acres of public land as generally depicted on the Map.
Certain lands in Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County, Utah, which comprise approximately 75,550 acres as generally depicted on the Map, are hereby designated as wilderness and therefore as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Such component shall be known as the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness.
The Secretary shall allow only such uses of the Conservation Area as the Secretary determines will further the purposes for which the Conservation Area is established.
Paragraph (1) shall not limit the use of motor vehicles in the Conservation Area as needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency.
Subject to valid existing rights, lands designated as wilderness by this subchapter shall be managed by the Secretary, as appropriate, in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this subchapter, except that, with respect to any wilderness areas designated by this subchapter, any reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to October 24, 2000.
Hunting, trapping, and fishing shall be allowed within the Conservation Area and the Wilderness in accordance with applicable laws and regulations of the United States and the States of Colorado and Utah.
The head of the Colorado Division of Wildlife (in reference to land within the State of Colorado), the head of the Utah Division of Wildlife (in reference to land within the State of Utah), or the Secretary after consultation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (in reference to land within the State of Colorado) or the head of the Utah Division of Wildlife (in reference to land within the State of Utah), may issue regulations designating zones where, and establishing limited periods when, hunting, trapping, or fishing shall be prohibited in the Conservation Area or the Wilderness for reasons of public safety, administration, or public use and enjoyment.
Except as provided by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall issue and administer any grazing leases or permits in the Conservation Area and the Wilderness in accordance with the same laws (including regulations) and Executive orders followed by the Secretary in issuing and administering grazing leases and permits on other land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.
Grazing of livestock in the Wilderness shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)), in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Appendix A of House Report 101–405 of the 101st Congress.
Not later than 3 years after October 24, 2000, the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive management plan for the long-range protection and management of the Conservation Area and the Wilderness and the lands described in paragraph (2)(E).
The Congress does not intend for the establishment of the Conservation Area or the Wilderness to lead to the creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around the Conservation Area or the Wilderness. The fact that there may be activities or uses on lands outside the Conservation Area or the Wilderness that would not be allowed in the Conservation Area or the Wilderness shall not preclude such activities or uses on such lands up to the boundary of the Conservation Area or the Wilderness consistent with other applicable laws.
The Secretary may acquire non-federally owned land within the exterior boundaries of the Conservation Area or the Wilderness only through purchase from a willing seller, exchange, or donation.
Land acquired under paragraph (1) shall be managed as part of the Conservation Area or the Wilderness, as the case may be, in accordance with this subchapter.
The Secretary may establish minimal interpretive facilities or sites in cooperation with other public or private entities as the Secretary considers appropriate. Any facilities or sites shall be designed to protect the resources referred to in section 460mmm(b) of this title.
The Secretary shall follow the procedural and substantive requirements of the law of the State of Colorado in order to obtain and hold any new water rights with respect to the Conservation Area and the Wilderness.
As soon as practicable after October 24, 2000, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a copy of the Map and a legal description of the Conservation Area and of the Wilderness.
The Map and legal descriptions shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in the Map and the legal descriptions.
Subject to section 460mmm–4(l)(3) 1
Not later than 6 months after October 24, 2000, the Secretary shall establish an advisory council to be known as the “McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area Advisory Council”.
The Council shall advise the Secretary with respect to preparation and implementation of the management plan, including budgetary matters, for the Conservation Area and the Wilderness.
The Secretary shall continue to allow private landowners reasonable access to inholdings in the Conservation Area and Wilderness.
The Secretary shall continue to allow public right of access, including commercial vehicles, to Glade Park, Colorado, in accordance with the decision in Board of County Commissioners of Mesa County v. Watt (634 F. Supp. 1265 (D.Colo.; May 2, 1986)).