Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Act - Establishes the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area in Washington and Oregon. Designates special management and urban areas within such scenic area.
Provides for the establishment by Oregon and Washington of the Columbia Gorge Commission to manage such area. Includes representatives from affected counties within both States on the Commission. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish such Commission as a Federal agency if the States fail to establish or adequately empower such Commission to perform its required obligations.
Directs the Commission to prepare a management plan for the Scenic Area within two years. Requires such plan to include: (1) a resource inventory; (2) land use designations; (3) guidelines for the adoption of zoning ordinances; and (4) a cooperative recreation plan. Sets forth standards for determining land use. Requires intergovernmental involvement in and Secretarial approval of such plan. Provides for plan revision and amendment.
Requires each affected county to submit to the Commission zoning ordinances consistent with prescribed guidelines. Sets forth submittal, approval, and amendment procedures for such ordinances.
Directs the Secretary to administer the Federal lands within the special management areas according to forest and multiple-use management regulations applicable to the national forests. Requires the Secretary to develop land use designations within such areas within two years.
Requires the Secretary to develop a plan for acquiring non-Federal lands within such special management areas. Requires the Secretary to report periodically to the appropriate congressional committees on the status of land acquisitions. Limits the use of eminent domain in acquiring such lands.
Directs the Secretary to adopt interim guidelines for land use activities within the special management areas and for the governance of land use activities in the rest of the National Scenic Area, except for the identified urban areas.
Authorizes the Secretary to make loans to the Columbia Gorge Development Corporation for low interest loans for use in counties which have adopted management plan implementation measures. Sets forth other loan terms and restrictions.
Directs the Secretary to prepare a program to preserve and restore the Old Columbia River Highway for public use as a National Historic Road.
Prohibits the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from licensing the construction of any project under the Federal Power Act without the Commission's approval within the special management areas or the Scenic Area.
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to include a segment of the White Salmon River, Washington.
Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance and grants to counties to develop implementation measures under this Act. Sets forth terms and restrictions on the making and use of such grants. Directs the Secretary to provide the States of Washington and Oregon with land acquisition grants for such purpose within the National Scenic Area.
Requires the Commission to monitor activities of counties pursuant to this Act, empowering the Commission to institute civil actions to enforce the requirements of this Act. Authorizes citizen suits as specified. Establishes civil penalties for violations and grants U.S. district courts in Oregon and Washington jurisdiction over civil actions and appeals brought pursuant to this Act.
Authorizes appropriations.
States which rights and responsibilities remain unchanged by this Act.
States that the validity of provisions under this Act is severable.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Referred to Subcommittee on Forest, Family Farms, and Energy.
Referred to Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation.
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From USDA.
For Further Action See H.R.5625.
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