A bill to enhance ecosystem protection and the range of outdoor opportunities protected by statute in the Skykomish River valley of the State of Washington by designating certain lower-elevation Federal lands as wilderness and for other purposes.
Directs the Secretary to establish a hiking trail plan. Authorizes the use of helicopter access to construct and maintain a Forest Service communication repeater site to provide improved communication for safety and health purposes.
Authorizes the Secretary to acquire specified priority acquisition lands by purchase, donation, or exchange. Requires the boundaries of the Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wild Sky Wilderness to be adjusted to encompass any lands so acquired. Directs the Secretary to assure adequate access to private in-holdings within the Wild Sky Wilderness. States that valuation of private lands shall be determined without reference to any restrictions on access or use which arise out of designation as a wilderness area.
Requires the Secretary to exchange specified lands with the Chelan County Public Utility District if the District offers to the Secretary lands within the Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, in exchange for a permanent easement, including helicopter access, to maintain an existing snowtel site on land within the Wenatchee National Forest, Washington.
Provides for extinguishment of the easement and reversion of all conveyed rights to the United States if the District no longer needs to maintain a snowtel site.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 467.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 107-846.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 646.
checking server…
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line