San Rafael Swell National Heritage and Conservation Act

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area

Title II: San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area

Subtitle A: Establishment of Conservation Area

Subtitle B: Wilderness Areas Within Conservation Area

Subtitle C: Other Special Management Areas

Title III: General Management Provisions

San Rafael Swell National Heritage and Conservation Act - Title I: San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area - San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the San Rafael Swell National Heritage Area in Utah.

(Sec. 104) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make grants for specified uses, but not for acquisition of real property or any interest in real property.

(Sec. 105) Prescribes necessary elements of: (1) any compact with respect to the Area entered into by the Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Governor of Utah, in coordination with the Heritage Council established by this title; and (2) the heritage plan setting forth the strategy to implement the goals and objectives of the Area.

(Sec. 106) Establishes the Heritage Council to manage the Area and develop a heritage plan in accordance with the compact.

(Sec. 107) Sets forth disclaimers with respect to land use regulation.

(Sec. 108) Authorizes appropriations.

Title II: San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area - Subtitle A: Establishment of Conservation Area - Establishes the San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area, which the Secretary of the Interior shall manage to conserve, protect, and enhance its resources.

(Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to develop a comprehensive plan for the long-range management and protection of the Conservation Area.

(Sec. 205) Establishes a San Rafael Swell National Conservation Area Advisory Council.

Subtitle B: Wilderness Areas Within Conservation Area - Designates the following areas within the Conservation Area as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Crack Canyon Wilderness Area; (2) Mexican Mountain Wilderness Area; (3) Muddy Creek Wilderness Area; and (4) San Rafael Reef Wilderness Area.

(Sec. 223) Declares that grazing of livestock within designated wilderness areas: (1) shall be administered according to specified law and guidelines; and (2) shall not be reduced, increased, or withdrawn, except based solely on scientific analyses of range conditions.

(Sec. 224) Declares that any public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management within the Conservation Area in Emery County, Utah, that is not designated as wilderness by this subtitle: (1) shall not be subject to management for preservation as wilderness; but (2) shall be managed for multiple uses and in accordance with certain land management plans.

Subtitle C: Other Special Management Areas - Establishes within the Conservation Area a San Rafael Swell Desert Bighorn Sheep Management Area to provide for the prudent management of Desert Bighorn Sheep and their habitat in the Sid's Mountain area of the Conservation Area.

(Sec. 231) Prescribes requirements for management and use of the Management Area. Directs the Secretary to include a management plan for the Area in the Conservation Area management plan.

(Sec. 232) Directs the Secretary to designate within the Conservation Area certain semi-primitive nonmotorized use areas, which shall provide opportunities for: (1) isolation from the sights and sounds of humans (including their motorized vehicles); (2) a high degree of interaction with the natural environment; and (3) the practice of outdoor skills in settings that present moderate challenge and risk.

(Sec. 233) Directs the Secretary to designate within the Conservation Area a specified scenic visual area of critical environmental concern to preserve the scenic value of the Interstate Route 70 corridor.

Title III: General Management Provisions - Requires the Secretary to permit domestic livestock grazing within areas of the Conservation Area where grazing was established before enactment of this Act, except in wilderness areas.

(Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to authorize the discovery of, protect, and (at the Secretary's discretion) interpret cultural or paleontological resources within the Conservation Area.

(Sec. 303) Provides for the exchange of Federal lands or interests in lands with the State of Utah for any school and institutional trust lands of the State whose value or economic potential may be diminished by establishment of the Conservation Area.

(Sec. 304) Declares that there is no express or implied Federal reservation of water or water rights arising from the designation of any area as part of the Conservation Area or as a wilderness or semi-primitive area under this Act.

Authorizes the United States to acquire and exercise, in accordance with State law, such water rights as necessary to carry out its responsibilities on any land designated as part of the Conservation Area.

(Sec. 305) Declares that nothing in this Act affects the State jurisdiction or responsibilities with respect to fish and wildlife management activities.

Declares that the Congress does not intend that the designation of the Conservation Area or any wilderness or semi-primitive area lead to the creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around the area, but only within it.

Provides for: (1) the set back of boundaries from roads and rights-of-way; and (2) acquisition of land from non-governmental entities by exchange or purchase only.