California Desert Protection Act of 1991 - Title I: Wilderness Additions - Designates as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System 73 wilderness areas within the California Desert Conservation Areas (CDCA), the Yuma District and the Bakersfield District of the Bureau of Land Management. Permits grazing in such areas. Prohibits the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture from approving any plan of operation prior to determining the validity of unpatented mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites affected by plans in such areas. States that non-designated areas within the CDCA, with specified exceptions, have been adequately studied for inclusion in the System and releases them from otherwise applicable restrictions. Withdraws the Avawatz Mountains Wilderness, South Avawatz Wilderness, Soda Mountains Wilderness--Proposed 1 and 2 from further exploitation under the mining laws.
Designates certain lands within the CDCA as the White Mountains Wilderness Study Area.
Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on current and planned exploration, development, or mining activities on, and suitability for future wilderness designation of, certain lands within the CDCA.
Designates certain lands in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, and the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, both in California, as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Title II: Death Valley National Park - Establishes the Death Valley National Historic Park which subsumes the Death Valley National Monument. Withdraws the additional lands from further exploitation under the mining laws. Requires the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to determine the validity of any unpatented mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites within such additional lands and whether the United States should acquire any mineral rights in such lands. Preserves grazing privileges on such lands for persons holding permits as of July 1, 1991. Terminates all grazing on July 1, 2016.
Directs the Secretary to make acquisition of such base property a priority as compared with the acquisition of other lands in such park if a permitee desires to convey property to the United States and specified conditions are met.
Title III: Joshua Tree National Park - Establishes the Joshua Tree National Park which subsumes the Joshua Tree National Monument. Withdraws the additional lands from further exploitation under the mining laws. Requires the Secretary to determine the validity of any unpatented mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites within such additional lands and whether the United States should acquire any mineral rights in such lands. Continues the validity of certain rights-of-way of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD).
Requires the Secretary to prepare plans for emergency access by the MWD to its lands and rights-of-way.
Title IV: Mojave National Park - Establishes the Mojave National Monument which subsumes the East Mojave National Scenic Area. Directs the Secretary to permit hunting on all lands within the Monument, except in certain zones, and during certain periods, as the Secretary may designate for specified reasons.
Withdraws Federal lands within the Monument from further exploitation under the mining laws. Requires the Secretary to determine the validity of any unpatented mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites within the Monument and whether the United States should acquire any mineral rights in such lands. Authorizes the Secretary to regulate mining in such Monument. Preserves grazing privileges on such lands for persons holding permits as of July 1, 1991. Terminates all grazing on July 1, 2016.
Continues, under specified conditions and for certain activities, the validity of the existing rights-of-way to the Southern California Edison Company (SCEC) and its potential adjacent right-of-way on lands included in the Monument, but outside lands designated as wilderness by this Act. Directs the Secretary to prepare plans for emergency access by SCEC to its rights-of-way.
Continues the validity of certain rights-of-way to the Southern California Gas company.
Directs the Secretary to submit a management plan for the Monument to specified congressional committees.
Designates the Granite Mountains Natural Reserve within the Monument.
Authorizes the Secretary to construct a visitors' center and acquire lands.
Title V: National Park Wilderness - Designates as wilderness the Death Valley National Park Wilderness, the Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Additions, and the Mojave National Monument Wilderness.
Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to transfer Red Rock Canyon State Park Additions in the CDCA to California.
Establishes the Desert Lily Sanctuary within the CDCA. Withdraws Federal lands within the Sanctuary from further exploitation under the mining laws.
Prohibits the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture from: (1) disposing of lands within the boundaries of any wilderness, park, or monument designated by this Act; (2) granting rights-of-way in lands within designated wilderness; and (3) making lands within such boundaries available for use by the MWD.
Directs the Secretary to insure access to the wilderness areas, parks, and monument designated by this Act for traditional Indian cultural and religious purposes.
Reserves Federal water rights for wilderness areas designated by this Act.
Authorizes appropriations.
Directs the Secretary, upon request of the California State Lands Commission (Commission), to enter into negotiations for an agreement to exchange certain Federal lands for California State School Lands located within the boundaries of one or more of the wilderness areas or park units designated by this Act. Sets forth procedures and guidelines for making such land exchange.
Requires the Secretary: (1) to adjust the appraised value of any remaining inholdings if all State School Lands exchanges are not completed by October 1, 1996; and (2) to establish an account in the name of the Commission in the amount of such appraised value.
Authorizes the Commission to use the credit in its account to bid for excess or surplus Federal property to be sold in California.
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for payment to the Commission for funds equivalent to the balance remaining in such account as of October 1, 2000, if such balance has not been reduced to zero.
Directs the Secretary, upon request of the Catellus Development Corporation in California, to enter into negotiations for an agreement or agreements to exchange certain Federal lands or interests for Catellus' lands or interest located within the boundaries of one or more of the wilderness areas or park units designated by this Act. Sets forth procedures and establishes guidelines for making such land exchanges.
Requires the Secretary to establish an exchange account in the name of Catellus, if all eligible Catellus lands have not been exchanged by October 1, 1996. Provides that after the transfer of title by Catellus to all or a portion of such remaining lands to the United States, the Secretary shall credit the exchange account in the amount of the appraised value of the transferred remaining lands at the time of such transfer.
Authorizes Catellus to use the credit in the exchange account to bid for certain federally-owned or controlled property.
Prohibits the Secretary from accepting title to any lands under this Act unless it includes all right, title, and interest in and to the fee estate.
Prohibits the Secretary from accepting title under this Act to lands which contain any hazardous waste, toxic waste, or radioactive waste which requires removal or remedial action under Federal or State law, unless such remedial action has been completed before the transfer.
Title VII: Definitions - Sets forth specified definitions.
Title VIII: Military Lands and Overflights - California Military Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1991 - Withdraws from appropriation under public land laws, and reserves for military training, research, and development activities by the Secretary of the Navy, specified lands in California known as the China Lake Naval Weapons Center in Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino Counties and Chocolate Mountain in Imperial County. Withdraws the China Lake lands from the mining and mineral leasing laws and withdraws the Chocolate Mountain lands from the mining, mineral, and geothermal leasing laws. Requires maps and legal descriptions of such lands to be published in the Federal Register, filed with specified congressional committees, and made available for public inspection.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, during the period of withdrawal, to manage such lands pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, permitting the continuation of grazing, the protection of wildlife and their habitats, the control of animals, recreation (for China Lake only), the prevention of brush and range fires, and geothermal leasing (for China Lake only). Subjects all nonmilitary uses of such lands to conditions and restrictions required for its military use. Allows parts of such lands to be closed to public use when determined necessary by the Secretary of the Navy for military reasons.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, to develop a plan for the management of each area so withdrawn.
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to take necessary precautions to prevent and suppress brush and range fires occurring on such lands as a result of military activities, with assistance from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and the Navy to enter into a memorandum of understanding to implement the management plan.
Authorizes lands so withdrawn to be used for defense-related purposes other than those previously specified, after notification from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of the Navy.
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to assign the management responsibility for the China Lake area to the Secretary of the Navy, who shall manage such lands in accordance with this Act and other cooperative arrangements entered into between the two Secretaries. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to be responsible for the issuance of any lease, easement, right-of-way, and other authorization with respect to any activity on the withdrawn lands.
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to: (1) prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Interior annual reports on the status of the natural and cultural resources and values of such lands; and (2) be responsible for, and take appropriate action with respect to, the management of wild horses and burros located on such lands.
Terminates land withdrawals under this Act 15 years after this Act's enactment. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to publish a draft environmental impact statement on the continued or renewed withdrawal of lands under this Act. Requires the Secretary to hold a public hearing in California before the withdrawal's termination.
Requires the Secretary of the Navy to maintain a decontamination program for such lands during their withdrawal. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on such decontamination efforts.
Requires the Secretary of the Navy to notify the Secretary of the Interior, at least three years before the termination of the withdrawal, whether an extension is going to be requested and, if not, to what extent such lands are contaminated with hazardous materials. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to decontaminate relinquished lands, but if such decontamination is not practicable or economically feasible, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to refuse to accept such lands. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to then: (1) warn the public of risks of entry; (2) conduct only decontamination activities on such lands after the expiration of the withdrawal; and (3) report to the Secretary of the Interior and the Congress on the status of such lands. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to publish the acceptance of withdrawn lands, indicating when such lands will be open and under what conditions.
Exempts the United States from liability for injuries or damages resulting from nonmilitary activity on withdrawn lands.
Authorizes an extension of the Navy's use of the El Centro Ranges in Imperial County, California, through 1993, subject to resource protection requirements. Terminates all military uses of such lands on January 1, 1994, unless authorized otherwise by Act of Congress.
States that nothing in this Act shall preclude, limit, or otherwise affect low-level overflights by military aircraft, designation of new units of special airspace, or the use or establishment of military flight training routes over the new units of the National Park or National Wilderness Preservation Systems (Systems) (or any additions to existing units of such Systems) designated by this Act.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) monitor the effects of aircraft overflights on the resources and values of the Systems designated or expanded by this Act and on visitor enjoyment of them; and (2) seek the assistance of the Secretary of Defense to resolve concerns related to such overflights and to prevent, eliminate, or minimize the derogation of resources, values, and of visitor enjoyment associated with them.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 279, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Dannemeyer amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 279, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Nichols amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 279, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Blaz amendment as modified.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 279, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Delay amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 279, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with twenty minutes of debate on the Miller of California amendments en bloc and as modified.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2929.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 297 - 136 (Roll no. 435).
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On passage Passed by recorded vote: 297 - 136 (Roll no. 435).
Roll Call #435 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2929.
Received in the Senate.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Referred to Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks.
Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks. Hearings held at Palm Desert, Ca. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 102-624.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, and Office of Management and Budget.
Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks. Hearings held.
Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 102-624.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources received executive comment from Department of the Interior. Unfavorable.