View all text of Subchapter I [§ 471 - § 539s]
The term “Conservation Management Area” means the Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Management Area established by subsection (b)(1)(A).
The term “district” means the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of the Lewis and Clark National Forest.
The term “map” means the map entitled “Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act” and dated October 27, 2011.
The term “nonmotorized recreation trail” means a trail designed for hiking, bicycling, or equestrian use.
The term “State” means the State of Montana.
Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Management Area in the State.
The Conservation Management Area shall consist of approximately 195,073 acres of Federal land managed by the Forest Service and 13,087 acres of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the State, as generally depicted on the map.
The purposes of the Conservation Management Area are to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the recreational, scenic, historical, cultural, fish, wildlife, roadless, and ecological values of the Conservation Management Area.
The Secretary shall only allow such uses of the Conservation Management Area that the Secretary determines would further the purposes described in paragraph (2).
The use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Management Area shall be permitted only on existing roads, trails, and areas designated for use by such vehicles as of December 19, 2014.
(II) New or temporary roadsExcept as provided in subclause (III), no new or temporary roads shall be constructed within the Conservation Management Area.
(III) ExceptionsNothing in subclause (I) or (II) prevents the Secretary from—(aa) rerouting or closing an existing road or trail to protect natural resources from degradation, as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary;(bb) constructing a temporary road on which motorized vehicles are permitted as part of a vegetation management project in any portion of the Conservation Management Area located not more than ¼ mile from the Teton Road, South Teton Road, Sun River Road, Beaver Willow Road, or Benchmark Road;(cc) authorizing the use of motorized vehicles for administrative purposes (including noxious weed eradication or grazing management); or(dd) responding to an emergency.(IV) Decommissioning of temporary roadsThe Secretary shall decommission any temporary road constructed under subclause (III)(bb) not later than 3 years after the date on which the applicable vegetation management project is completed.
The designation of the Conservation Management Area shall not create a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Conservation Management Area.
The fact that activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within the Conservation Management Area shall not preclude the conduct of the activities or uses outside the boundary of the Conservation Management Area.
Certain land in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, comprising approximately 50,401 acres, as generally depicted on the map, which shall be added to and administered as part of the Bob Marshall Wilderness designated under section 3 of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1132).
Certain land in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, comprising approximately 16,711 acres, as generally depicted on the map, which shall be added to and administered as part of the Scapegoat Wilderness designated by the first section of Public Law 92–395 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note).
Subject to valid existing rights, the land designated as wilderness additions by paragraph (1) shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall be deemed to be a reference to December 19, 2014.
In accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), within the wilderness additions designated by this subsection, the Secretary may take any measures that the Secretary determines to be necessary to control fire, insects, and diseases, including, as the Secretary determines appropriate, the coordination of those activities with a State or local agency.
The designation of a wilderness addition by this subsection shall not create any protective perimeter or buffer zone around the wilderness area.
The fact that nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within a wilderness addition designated by this subsection shall not preclude the conduct of those activities or uses outside the boundary of the wilderness area.
As soon as practicable after December 19, 2014, the Secretary shall prepare maps and legal descriptions of the Conservation Management Area and the wilderness additions designated by subsections (b) and (c), respectively.
The maps and legal descriptions prepared under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this section, except that the Secretary may correct typographical errors in the map and legal descriptions.
The maps and legal descriptions prepared under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2014, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare a comprehensive management strategy for preventing, controlling, and eradicating noxious weeds in the district.
Not later than 2 years after December 19, 2014, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with interested parties, shall conduct a study to improve nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities (including mountain bicycling) on land not designated as wilderness within the district.
Nothing in this section affects the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and wildlife management (including the regulation of hunting and fishing) on public land in the State.
Nothing in this section affects the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to the airspace above the wilderness or the Conservation Management Area.
Nothing in this section affects the continued use, maintenance, and repair of the Benchmark (3U7) airstrip.
Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the Zook Creek and Buffalo Creek wilderness study areas in the State have been adequately studied for wilderness designation.
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the review is completed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes the oil and gas potential for the wilderness study areas.