Text of Senate Amendment 6002

Quick facts

Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Amendments
Chamber: Senate
Date: June 23, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

Linked context

People mentioned: Bennet, Michael F.
Bills and resolutions: H.R. 5487 (96th Congress), H.R. 2570 (119th Congress), H.R. 5487 (119th Congress)
Committees: Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Readable version of the official text

SA 6002. Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end, add the following:

DIVISION E—COLORADO OUTDOOR RECREATION AND ECONOMY ACT

SEC. 5001. SHORT TITLE.

This division may be cited as the “Colorado Outdoor

Recreation and Economy Act”.

SEC. 5002. DEFINITION OF STATE.

In this division, the term “State” means the State of

Colorado.

TITLE I—CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

SEC. 5101. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:

(1) Covered area.—The term “covered area” means any area

designated as wilderness by the amendments to section 2(a) of

the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note;

Public Law 103-77) made by section 5102(a).

(2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Agriculture.

(3) Wildlife conservation area.—The term “Wildlife

Conservation Area” means, as applicable—

(A) the Porcupine Gulch Wildlife Conservation Area

designated by section 5104(a);

(B) the Williams Fork Mountains Wildlife Conservation Area

designated by section 5105(a); and

designated by section 5106(a).

SEC. 5102. COLORADO WILDERNESS ADDITIONS.

(a) Designation.—Section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness

Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103-77) is

amended—

(1) in paragraph (18), by striking “1993,” and inserting

“1993, and certain Federal land within the White River

National Forest that comprises approximately 6,896 acres, as

generally depicted as `Proposed Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness

Additions' on the map entitled `Proposed Ptarmigan Peak

Wilderness Additions' and dated June 24, 2019,”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(23) Holy cross wilderness addition.—Certain Federal

land within the White River National Forest that comprises

approximately 3,866 acres, as generally depicted as `Proposed

Megan Dickie Wilderness Addition' on the map entitled `Holy

Cross Wilderness Addition Proposal' and dated June 24, 2019,

which shall be incorporated into, and managed as part of, the

Holy Cross Wilderness designated by section 102(a)(5) of

Public Law 96-560 (94 Stat. 3266).

“(24) Hoosier ridge wilderness.—Certain Federal land

within the White River National Forest that comprises

approximately 5,235 acres, as generally depicted as `Proposed

Hoosier Ridge Wilderness' on the map entitled `Tenmile

Proposal' and dated May 1, 2023, which shall be known as the

`Hoosier Ridge Wilderness'.

“(25) Tenmile wilderness.—Certain Federal land within the

White River National Forest that comprises approximately

7,624 acres, as generally depicted as `Proposed Tenmile

Wilderness' on the map entitled `Tenmile Proposal' and dated

May 1, 2023, which shall be known as the `Tenmile

Wilderness'.

“(26) Eagles nest wilderness additions.—Certain Federal

land within the White River National Forest that comprises

approximately 7,634 acres, as generally depicted as `Proposed

Freeman Creek Wilderness Addition' and `Proposed Spraddle

Creek Wilderness Addition' on the map entitled `Eagles Nest

Wilderness Additions Proposal' and dated April 26, 2022,

which shall be incorporated into, and managed as part of, the

Eagles Nest Wilderness designated by Public Law 94-352 (90

Stat. 870).”.

(b) Applicable Law.—Any reference in the Wilderness Act

(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) to the effective date of that Act

shall be considered to be a reference to the date of

enactment of this Act for purposes of administering a covered

area.

section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)),

the Secretary may carry out any activity in a covered area

that the Secretary determines to be necessary for the control

of fire, insects, and diseases, subject to such terms and

conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(d) Grazing.—The grazing of livestock on a covered area,

if established before the date of enactment of this Act,

shall be permitted to continue subject to such reasonable

regulations as are considered to be necessary by the

Secretary, in accordance with—

(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.

1133(d)(4)); and

(2) the guidelines set forth in the report of the Committee

on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of

Representatives accompanying H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress

(H. Rept. 96-617).

(e) Coordination.—For purposes of administering the

Federal land designated as wilderness by paragraph (26) of

section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16

U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103-77) (as added by subsection

(a)(2)), the Secretary shall, as determined to be appropriate

for the protection of watersheds, coordinate the activities

of the Secretary in response to fires and flooding events

with interested State and local agencies.

SEC. 5103. WILLIAMS FORK MOUNTAINS POTENTIAL WILDERNESS.

(a) Designation.—In furtherance of the purposes of the

Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain Federal land

in the White River National Forest in the State, comprising

approximately 8,036 acres, as generally depicted as

“Proposed Williams Fork Mountains Wilderness” on the map

entitled “Williams Fork Mountains Proposal” and dated June

24, 2019, is designated as a potential wilderness area.

(b) Management.—Subject to valid existing rights and

except as provided in subsection (d), the potential

wilderness area designated by subsection (a) shall be managed

in accordance with—

(1) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and

(2) this section.

(1) In general.—Not later than 3 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, in accordance with applicable laws

(including regulations), the Secretary shall publish a

determination regarding whether to authorize livestock

grazing or other use by livestock on the vacant allotments

known as—

(A) the “Big Hole Allotment”; and

(B) the “Blue Ridge Allotment”.

(2) Modification of allotments.—In publishing a

determination pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary may

modify or combine the vacant allotments referred to in that

paragraph.

(3) Permit or other authorization.—Not later than 1 year

after the date on which a determination of the Secretary to

authorize livestock grazing or other use by livestock is

published under paragraph (1), if applicable, the Secretary

shall grant a permit or other authorization for that

livestock grazing or other use in accordance with applicable

laws (including regulations).

(d) Range Improvements.—

(1) In general.—If the Secretary permits livestock grazing

or other use by livestock on the potential wilderness area

under subsection (c), the Secretary, or a third party

authorized by the Secretary, may use motorized or mechanized

transport or equipment for purposes of constructing or

rehabilitating such range improvements as are necessary to

obtain appropriate livestock management objectives (including

habitat and watershed restoration).

(2) Termination of authority.—The authority provided by

this subsection terminates on the date that is 2 years after

the date on which the Secretary publishes a positive

determination under subsection (c)(3).

(e) Designation as Wilderness.—

(1) Designation.—The potential wilderness area designated

by subsection (a) shall be designated as wilderness, to be

known as the “Williams Fork Mountains Wilderness”—

(A) effective not earlier than the date that is 180 days

after the date of enactment this Act; and

(B) on the earliest of—

(i) the date on which the Secretary publishes in the

Federal Register a notice that the construction or

rehabilitation of range improvements under subsection (d) is

complete;

(ii) the date described in subsection (d)(2); and

(iii) the effective date of a determination of the

Secretary not to authorize livestock grazing or other use by

livestock under subsection (c)(1).

(2) Administration.—Subject to valid existing rights, the

Secretary shall manage the Williams Fork Mountains Wilderness

in accordance with the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16

U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103-77), except that any

reference in that Act to the effective date of that Act shall

be considered to be a reference to the date on which the

Williams Fork Mountains Wilderness is designated in

accordance with paragraph (1).

SEC. 5104. PORCUPINE GULCH WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREA.

(a) Designation.—Subject to valid existing rights, the

approximately 8,287 acres of Federal land located in the

White River National Forest, as generally depicted as

“Proposed Porcupine Gulch Wildlife Conservation Area” on

the map entitled “Porcupine Gulch Wildlife Conservation Area

Proposal” and dated June 24, 2019, are designated as the

“Porcupine Gulch Wildlife Conservation Area” (referred to

in this section as the “Wildlife Conservation Area”).

(b) Purposes.—The purposes of the Wildlife Conservation

Area are—

(1) to conserve and protect a wildlife migration corridor

over Interstate 70; and

(2) to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and

enjoyment of present and future generations the wildlife,

scenic, roadless, watershed, and ecological resources of the

Wildlife Conservation Area.

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall manage the Wildlife

Conservation Area—

(A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the

purposes described in subsection (b); and

(B) in accordance with—

(i) the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning

Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.);

(ii) any other applicable laws (including regulations); and

(iii) this section.

(2) Uses.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall only allow such uses

of the Wildlife Conservation Area as the Secretary determines

would further the purposes described in subsection (b).

(B) Recreation.—The Secretary may permit such recreational

activities in the Wildlife Conservation Area that the

Secretary determines are consistent with the purposes

described in subsection (b).

temporary roads.—

(i) Motorized vehicles and mechanized transport.—Except as

provided in clause (iii), the use of motorized vehicles and

mechanized transport in the Wildlife Conservation Area shall

be prohibited.

(ii) New or temporary roads.—Except as provided in clause

(iii) and subsection (e), no new or temporary road shall be

constructed within the Wildlife Conservation Area.

(iii) Exceptions.—Nothing in clause (i) or (ii) prevents

the Secretary from—

(I) authorizing the use of motorized vehicles or mechanized

transport for administrative purposes;

(II) constructing temporary roads or permitting the use of

motorized vehicles or mechanized transport to carry out pre-

or post-fire watershed protection projects;

(III) authorizing the use of motorized vehicles or

mechanized transport to carry out activities described in

subsection (d) or (e); or

(IV) responding to an emergency.

(D) Commercial timber.—

(i) In general.—Subject to clause (ii), no project shall

be carried out in the Wildlife Conservation Area for the

purpose of harvesting commercial timber.

(ii) Limitation.—Nothing in clause (i) prevents the

Secretary from harvesting or selling a merchantable product

that is a byproduct of an activity authorized under this

section.

(d) Fire, Insects, and Diseases.—The Secretary may carry

out any activity, in accordance with applicable laws

(including regulations), that the Secretary determines to be

necessary to manage wildland fire and treat hazardous fuels,

insects, and diseases in the Wildlife Conservation Area,

subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary

determines to be appropriate.

(e) Regional Transportation Projects.—Nothing in this

section or section 5110(f) precludes the Secretary from

authorizing, in accordance with applicable laws (including

regulations) and subject to valid existing rights, the use of

the subsurface of the Wildlife Conservation Area to

construct, realign, operate, or maintain regional

transportation projects, including Interstate 70 and the

Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels.

(f) Water.—Section 3(e) of the James Peak Wilderness and

Protection Area Act (Public Law 107-216; 116 Stat. 1058)

shall apply to the Wildlife Conservation Area.

SEC. 5105. WILLIAMS FORK MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

AREA.

(a) Designation.—Subject to valid existing rights, the

approximately 3,528 acres of Federal land in the White River

National Forest in the State, as generally depicted as

“Proposed Williams Fork Mountains Wildlife Conservation

Area” on the map entitled “Williams Fork Mountains

Proposal” and dated June 24, 2019, are designated as the

“Williams Fork Mountains Wildlife Conservation Area”

(referred to in this section as the “Wildlife Conservation

Area”).

(b) Purposes.—The purposes of the Wildlife Conservation

Area are to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit

and enjoyment of present and future generations the wildlife,

scenic, roadless, watershed, recreational, and ecological

resources of the Wildlife Conservation Area.

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall manage the Wildlife

Conservation Area—

(A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the

purposes described in subsection (b); and

(B) in accordance with—

(i) the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning

Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.);

(ii) any other applicable laws (including regulations); and

(iii) this section.

(2) Uses.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall only allow such uses

of the Wildlife Conservation Area as the Secretary determines

would further the purposes described in subsection (b).

(B) Motorized vehicles.—

(i) In general.—Except as provided in clause (iii), the

use of motorized vehicles in the Wildlife Conservation Area

shall be limited to designated roads and trails.

(ii) New or temporary roads.—Except as provided in clause

(iii), no new or temporary road shall be constructed in the

Wildlife Conservation Area.

(iii) Exceptions.—Nothing in clause (i) or (ii) prevents

the Secretary from—

(I) authorizing the use of motorized vehicles for

administrative purposes;

(II) authorizing the use of motorized vehicles to carry out

activities described in subsection (d); or

(III) responding to an emergency.

Conservation Area shall be limited to designated roads and

trails.

(D) Commercial timber.—

(i) In general.—Subject to clause (ii), no project shall

be carried out in the Wildlife Conservation Area for the

purpose of harvesting commercial timber.

(ii) Limitation.—Nothing in clause (i) prevents the

Secretary from harvesting or selling a merchantable product

that is a byproduct of an activity authorized under this

section.

(E) Grazing.—The laws (including regulations) and policies

followed by the Secretary in issuing and administering

grazing permits or leases on land under the jurisdiction of

the Secretary shall continue to apply with regard to the land

in the Wildlife Conservation Area, consistent with the

purposes described in subsection (b).

(d) Fire, Insects, and Diseases.—The Secretary may carry

out any activity, in accordance with applicable laws

(including regulations), that the Secretary determines to be

necessary to manage wildland fire and treat hazardous fuels,

insects, and diseases in the Wildlife Conservation Area,

subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary

determines to be appropriate.

(e) Water.—Section 3(e) of the James Peak Wilderness and

Protection Area Act (Public Law 107-216; 116 Stat. 1058)

shall apply to the Wildlife Conservation Area.

SEC. 5106. SPRADDLE CREEK WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREA.

(a) Designation.—Subject to valid existing rights, the

approximately 2,674 acres of Federal land in the White River

National Forest in the State, as generally depicted as

“Proposed Spraddle Creek Wildlife Conservation Area” on the

map entitled “Eagles Nest Wilderness Additions Proposal”

and dated April 26, 2022, are designated as the “Spraddle

Creek Wildlife Conservation Area” (referred to in this

section as the “Wildlife Conservation Area”).

(b) Purposes.—The purposes of the Wildlife Conservation

Area are to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit

and enjoyment of present and future generations the wildlife,

scenic, roadless, watershed, recreational, and ecological

resources of the Wildlife Conservation Area.

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall manage the Wildlife

Conservation Area—

(A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the

purposes described in subsection (b); and

(B) in accordance with—

(i) the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning

Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.);

(ii) any other applicable laws (including regulations); and

(iii) this title.

(2) Uses.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall only allow such uses

of the Wildlife Conservation Area as the Secretary determines

would further the purposes described in subsection (b).

(B) Motorized vehicles and mechanized transport.—Except as

necessary for administrative purposes or to respond to an

emergency, the use of motorized vehicles and mechanized

transport in the Wildlife Conservation Area shall be

prohibited.

(i) In general.—Except as provided in clause (ii), no road

shall be constructed in the Wildlife Conservation Area.

(ii) Exceptions.—Nothing in clause (i) prevents the

Secretary from—

(I) constructing a temporary road as the Secretary

determines to be necessary as a minimum requirement for

carrying out a vegetation management project in the Wildlife

Conservation Area; or

(II) responding to an emergency.

(iii) Decommissioning of temporary roads.—Not later than 3

years after the date on which the applicable vegetation

management project is completed, the Secretary shall

decommission any temporary road constructed under clause

(ii)(I) for the applicable vegetation management project.

(D) Commercial timber.—

(i) In general.—Subject to clause (ii), no project shall

be carried out in the Wildlife Conservation Area for the

purpose of harvesting commercial timber.

(ii) Limitation.—Nothing in clause (i) prevents the

Secretary from harvesting or selling a merchantable product

that is a byproduct of an activity authorized in the Wildlife

Conservation Area under this section.

(d) Fire, Insects, and Diseases.—The Secretary may carry

out any activity, in accordance with applicable laws

(including regulations), that the Secretary determines to be

necessary to manage wildland fire and treat hazardous fuels,

insects, and diseases in the Wildlife Conservation Area,

subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary

determines to be appropriate.

(e) Water.—Section 3(e) of the James Peak Wilderness and

Protection Area Act (Public Law 107-216; 116 Stat. 1058)

shall apply to the Wildlife Conservation Area.

SEC. 5107. SANDY TREAT OVERLOOK.

The interpretive site located beside United States Route 24

within the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument, at

39.431N 106.323W, is designated as the “Sandy Treat

Overlook”.

SEC. 5108. WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST BOUNDARY MODIFICATION.

(a) In General.—The boundary of the White River National

Forest is modified to include the approximately 120 acres

comprised of the SW\1/4\, the SE\1/4\, and the NE\1/4\ of the

SE\1/4\ of sec. 1, T. 2 S., R. 80 W., 6th Principal Meridian,

in Summit County in the State.

(b) Land and Water Conservation Fund.—For purposes of

section 200306 of title 54, United States Code, the

boundaries of the White River National Forest, as modified by

subsection (a), shall be considered to be the boundaries of

the White River National Forest as in existence on January 1,

SEC. 5109. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK POTENTIAL WILDERNESS

BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.

(a) Purpose.—The purpose of this section is to provide for

the ongoing maintenance and use of portions of the Trail

River Ranch and the associated property located within Rocky

Mountain National Park in Grand County in the State.

(b) Boundary Adjustment.—Section 1952(b) of the Omnibus

Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11; 123

Stat. 1070) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(3) Boundary adjustment.—The boundary of the Potential

Wilderness is modified to exclude the area comprising

approximately 15.5 acres of land identified as `Potential

Wilderness to Non-wilderness' on the map entitled `Rocky

Mountain National Park Proposed Wilderness Area Amendment'

and dated January 16, 2018.”.

SEC. 5110. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

(a) Fish and Wildlife.—Nothing in this title affects the

jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with respect to

fish and wildlife in the State.

(b) No Buffer Zones.—

(1) In general.—Nothing in this title or an amendment made

by this title establishes a protective perimeter or buffer

zone around—

(A) a covered area;

(B) a wilderness area or potential wilderness area

designated by section 5103; or

(2) Outside activities.—The fact that a nonwilderness

activity or use on land outside of an area described in

paragraph (1) can be seen or heard from within the applicable

area described in paragraph (1) shall not preclude the

activity or use outside the boundary of the applicable area

described in paragraph (1).

(1) Treaty rights.—Nothing in this title affects the

treaty rights of an Indian Tribe.

(2) Traditional tribal uses.—Subject to any terms and

conditions that the Secretary determines to be necessary and

in accordance with applicable law, the Secretary shall allow

for the continued use of the areas described in subsection

(b)(1) by members of Indian Tribes—

(A) for traditional ceremonies; and

(B) as a source of traditional plants and other materials.

(d) Maps and Legal Descriptions.—

(1) In general.—As soon as practicable after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare maps and

legal descriptions of each area described in subsection

(b)(1) with—

(A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of

Representatives; and

(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the

Senate.

(2) Force of law.—Each map and legal description prepared

under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as

if included in this title, except that the Secretary may—

(A) correct any typographical errors in the maps and legal

descriptions; and

(B) in consultation with the State, make minor adjustments

to the boundaries of the Porcupine Gulch Wildlife

Conservation Area designated by section 5104(a) and the

Williams Fork Mountains Wildlife Conservation Area designated

by section 5105(a) to account for potential highway or

multimodal transportation system construction, safety

measures, maintenance, realignment, or widening.

(3) Public availability.—Each map and legal description

prepared under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available

for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the

Forest Service.

(e) Acquisition of Land.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary may acquire any land or

interest in land within the boundaries of an area described

in subsection (b)(1) by donation, purchase from a willing

seller, or exchange.

(2) Management.—Any land or interest in land acquired

under paragraph (1) shall be incorporated into, and

administered as a part of, the wilderness area or Wildlife

Conservation Area, as applicable, in which the land or

interest in land is located.

(f) Withdrawal.—Subject to valid existing rights, the

areas described in subsection (b)(1) are withdrawn from—

(1) entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public

land laws;

(2) location, entry, and patent under mining laws; and

(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials,

and geothermal leasing laws.

(g) Military Overflights.—Nothing in this title or an

amendment made by this title restricts or precludes—

(1) any low-level overflight of military aircraft over any

area subject to this title or an amendment made by this

title, including military overflights that can be seen,

heard, or detected within such an area;

(2) flight testing or evaluation over an area described in

paragraph (1); or

(3) the use or establishment of—

(A) any new unit of special use airspace over an area

described in paragraph (1); or

(B) any military flight training or transportation over

such an area.

(h) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that

military aviation training on Federal public land in the

State, including the training conducted at the High-Altitude

Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, is critical to

the national security of the United States and the readiness

of the Armed Forces.

TITLE II—SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS

SEC. 5201. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:

(1) Covered land.—The term “covered land” means—

(A) land designated as wilderness under paragraphs (27)

through (29) of section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act

of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103-77) (as added by

section 5202); and

(B) a Special Management Area.

(2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Agriculture.

(3) Special management area.—The term “Special Management

Area” means each of—

(A) the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area designated

by section 5203(a)(1); and

(B) the Liberty Bell East Special Management Area

designated by section 5203(a)(2).

SEC. 5202. ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION

SYSTEM.

Section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16

U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103-77) (as amended by section

5102(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(27) Lizard head wilderness addition.—Certain Federal

land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National

Forests comprising approximately 3,141 acres, as generally

depicted on the map entitled `Proposed Wilson, Sunshine,

Black Face and San Bernardo Additions to the Lizard Head

Wilderness' and dated September 6, 2018, which is

incorporated in, and shall be administered as part of, the

Lizard Head Wilderness.

“(28) Mount sneffels wilderness additions.—

“(A) Liberty bell and last dollar additions.—Certain

Federal land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison

National Forests comprising approximately 7,235 acres, as

generally depicted on the map entitled `Proposed Liberty Bell

and Last Dollar Additions to the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness,

Liberty Bell East Special Management Area'

and dated September 6, 2018, which is incorporated in, and

shall be administered as part of, the Mount Sneffels

Wilderness.

“(B) Whitehouse additions.—Certain Federal land in the

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests

comprising approximately 12,465 acres, as generally depicted

on the map entitled `Proposed Whitehouse Additions to the Mt.

Sneffels Wilderness' and dated September 6, 2018, which is

incorporated in, and shall be administered as part of, the

Mount Sneffels Wilderness.

“(29) Mckenna peak wilderness.—Certain Federal land in

the State of Colorado comprising approximately 8,884 acres of

Bureau of Land Management land, as generally depicted on the

map entitled `Proposed McKenna Peak Wilderness Area' and

dated September 18, 2018, to be known as the `McKenna Peak

Wilderness'.”.

SEC. 5203. SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.

(a) Designation.—

(1) Sheep mountain special management area.—The Federal

land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison and San

Juan National Forests in the State comprising approximately

21,663 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled

“Proposed Sheep Mountain Special Management Area” and dated

September 19, 2018, is designated as the “Sheep Mountain

Special Management Area”.

(2) Liberty bell east special management area.—The Federal

land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National

Forests in the State comprising approximately 792 acres, as

generally depicted on the map entitled “Proposed Liberty

Bell and Last Dollar Additions to the Mt. Sneffels

Wilderness, Liberty Bell East Special Management Area” and

dated September 6, 2018, is designated as the “Liberty Bell

East Special Management Area”.

(b) Purpose.—The purpose of the Special Management Areas

is to conserve and protect for the benefit and enjoyment of

present and future generations the geological, cultural,

archaeological, paleontological, natural, scientific,

recreational, wilderness, wildlife, riparian, historical,

educational, and scenic resources of the Special Management

Areas.

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall manage the Special

Management Areas in a manner that—

(A) conserves, protects, and enhances the resources and

values of the Special Management Areas described in

subsection (b);

(B) subject to paragraph (3), maintains or improves the

wilderness character of the Special Management Areas and the

suitability of the Special Management Areas for potential

inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System; and

(i) the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C.

1600 et seq.);

(ii) this title; and

(iii) any other applicable laws.

(2) Prohibitions.—The following shall be prohibited in the

Special Management Areas:

(A) Permanent roads.

(B) Except as necessary to meet the minimum requirements

for the administration of the Federal land, to provide access

for abandoned mine cleanup, and to protect public health and

safety—

(i) the use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or

mechanical transport (other than as provided in paragraph

(3)); and

(ii) the establishment of temporary roads.

(3) Authorized activities.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary may allow any activities

(including helicopter access for recreation and maintenance

and the competitive running event permitted since 1992) that

have been authorized by permit or license as of the date of

enactment of this Act to continue within the Special

Management Areas, subject to such terms and conditions as the

Secretary may require.

(B) Permitting.—The designation of the Special Management

Areas by subsection (a) shall not affect the issuance of

permits relating to the activities covered under subparagraph

(A) after the date of enactment of this Act.

in—

(i) the portion of the Sheep Mountain Special Management

Area identified as “Ophir Valley Area” on the map entitled

“Proposed Sheep Mountain Special Management Area” and dated

September 19, 2018; and

(ii) the portion of the Liberty Bell East Special

Management Area identified as “Liberty Bell Corridor” on

the map entitled “Proposed Liberty Bell and Last Dollar

Additions to the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, Liberty Bell East

Special Management Area” and dated September 6, 2018.

(d) Applicable Law.—Water and water rights in the Special

Management Areas shall be administered in accordance with

section 8 of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (Public Law

103-77; 107 Stat. 762), except that, for purposes of this

title—

(1) any reference contained in that section to “the lands

designated as wilderness by this Act”, “the Piedra,

Roubideau, and Tabeguache areas identified in section 9 of

this Act, or the Bowen Gulch Protection Area or the Fossil

Ridge Recreation Management Area identified in sections 5 and

6 of this Act”, or “the areas described in sections 2, 5,

6, and 9 of this Act” shall be considered to be a reference

to “the Special Management Areas”; and

(2) any reference contained in that section to “this Act”

shall be considered to be a reference to “the Colorado

Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act”.

(e) Sheep Mountain Special Management Area Nordic Ski

Safety Study.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with

interested parties, shall complete a study on ensuring safe

access for Nordic skiing in the vicinity of the Sheep

Mountain Special Management Area, consistent with the

purposes of the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area.

(2) Requirement.—In conducting the study under paragraph

(1), the Secretary, in coordination with San Miguel County in

the State, the State Department of Transportation, and other

interested stakeholders, shall identify a range of reasonable

actions that could be taken by the Secretary to provide or

facilitate off-highway parking areas along State Highway 145

to facilitate safe access for Nordic skiing in the vicinity

of the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area.

SEC. 5204. RELEASE OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.

(a) Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Study Area.—Subtitle E of

title II of Public Law 111-11 is amended—

(1) by redesignating section 2408 (16 U.S.C. 460zzz-7) as

section 2409; and

(2) by inserting after section 2407 (16 U.S.C. 460zzz-6)

the following:

“SEC. 2408. RELEASE.

“(a) In General.—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 portions of the Dominguez

Canyon Wilderness Study Area not designated as wilderness by

this subtitle have been adequately studied for wilderness

designation.

“(b) Release.—Any public land referred to in subsection

(a) that is not designated as wilderness by this subtitle—

“(1) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal

Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c));

and

“(2) shall be managed in accordance with this subtitle and

any other applicable laws.”.

(b) McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area.—

(1) In general.—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 portions of the McKenna Peak

Wilderness Study Area in San Miguel County in the State not

designated as wilderness by paragraph (29) of section 2(a) of

the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note;

Public Law 103-77) (as added by section 5202) have been

adequately studied for wilderness designation.

(2) Release.—Any public land referred to in paragraph (1)

that is not designated as wilderness by paragraph (29) of

section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16

U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103-77) (as added by section

5202)—

(A) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal

Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c));

and

(B) shall be managed in accordance with applicable laws.

SEC. 5205. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

(a) Fish and Wildlife.—Nothing in this title affects the

jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with respect to

fish and wildlife in the State.

(b) No Buffer Zones.—

(1) In general.—Nothing in this title establishes a

protective perimeter or buffer zone around covered land.

(2) Activities outside wilderness.—The fact that a

nonwilderness activity or use on land outside of the covered

land can be seen or heard from within covered land shall not

preclude the activity or use outside the boundary of the

covered land.

(1) Treaty rights.—Nothing in this title affects the

treaty rights of any Indian Tribe, including rights under the

Agreement of September 13, 1873, ratified by the Act of April

29, 1874 (18 Stat. 36, chapter 136).

(2) Traditional tribal uses.—Subject to any terms and

conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary and in

accordance with applicable law, the Secretary shall allow for

the continued use of the covered land by members of Indian

Tribes—

(A) for traditional ceremonies; and

(B) as a source of traditional plants and other materials.

(d) Maps and Legal Descriptions.—

(1) In general.—As soon as practicable after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary or the Secretary of the

Interior, as appropriate, shall file a map and a legal

description of each wilderness area designated by paragraphs

(27) through (29) of section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness

Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103-77) (as

added by section 5202) and the Special Management Areas

with—

(A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of

Representatives; and

(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the

Senate.

(2) Force of law.—Each map and legal description filed

under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as

if included in this title, except that the Secretary or the

Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, may correct any

typographical errors in the maps and legal descriptions.

(3) Public availability.—Each map and legal description

filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for

public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of

Land Management and the Forest Service.

(e) Acquisition of Land.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary or the Secretary of the

Interior, as appropriate, may acquire any land or interest in

land within the boundaries of a Special Management Area or

the wilderness designated under paragraphs (27) through (29)

of section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16

U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 103-77) (as added by section

5202) by donation, purchase from a willing seller, or

exchange.

(2) Management.—Any land or interest in land acquired

under paragraph (1) shall be incorporated into, and

administered as a part of, the wilderness or Special

Management Area in which the land or interest in land is

located.

(f) Grazing.—The grazing of livestock on covered land, if

established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall

be permitted to continue subject to such reasonable

regulations as are considered to be necessary by the

Secretary with jurisdiction over the covered land, in

accordance with—

(1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.

1133(d)(4)); and

(2) the applicable guidelines set forth in Appendix A of

the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs

of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the

101st Congress (H. Rept. 101-405) or H.R. 5487 of the 96th

Congress (H. Rept. 96-617).

(g) Fire, Insects, and Diseases.—In accordance with

section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)),

the Secretary with jurisdiction over a wilderness area

designated by paragraphs (27) through (29) of section 2(a) of

the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note;

Public Law 103-77) (as added by section 5202) may carry out

any activity in the wilderness area that the Secretary

determines to be necessary for the control of fire, insects,

and diseases, subject to such terms and conditions as the

Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(h) Withdrawal.—Subject to valid existing rights, the

covered land and the approximately 6,590 acres generally

depicted on the map entitled “Proposed Naturita Canyon

Mineral Withdrawal Area” and dated September 6, 2018, is

withdrawn from—

(1) entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public

land laws;

(2) location, entry, and patent under mining laws; and

(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials,

and geothermal leasing laws.

TITLE III—THOMPSON DIVIDE

SEC. 5301. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this title are—

(1) subject to valid existing rights, to withdraw certain

Federal land in the Thompson Divide area from mineral and

other disposal laws in order to protect the agricultural,

ranching, wildlife, air quality, recreation, ecological, and

scenic values of the area; and

(2) to promote the capture of fugitive methane emissions

that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.

SEC. 5302. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:

(1) Fugitive methane emissions.—The term “fugitive

methane emissions” means methane gas from the Federal land

or interests in Federal land in Garfield, Gunnison, Delta, or

Pitkin County in the State, within the boundaries of the

“Fugitive Coal Mine Methane Use Pilot Program Area”, as

generally depicted on the pilot program map, that would leak

or be vented into the atmosphere from—

(A) an active or inactive coal mine subject to a Federal

coal lease; or

(B) an abandoned underground coal mine or the site of a

former coal mine—

(i) that is not subject to a Federal coal lease; and

(ii) with respect to which the Federal interest in land

includes mineral rights to the methane gas.

(2) Pilot program.—The term “pilot program” means the

Greater Thompson Divide Fugitive Coal Mine Methane Use Pilot

Program established by section 5305(a)(1).

(3) Pilot program map.—The term “pilot program map”

means the map entitled “Greater Thompson Divide Fugitive

Coal Mine Methane Use Pilot Program Area” and dated April

29, 2022.

(4) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of the Interior.

(5) Thompson divide lease.—

(A) In general.—The term “Thompson Divide lease” means

any oil or gas lease in effect on the date of enactment of

this Act within the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection

Area.

(B) Exclusions.—The term “Thompson Divide lease” does

not include any oil or gas lease that—

(i) is associated with a Wolf Creek Storage Field

development right; or

(ii) before the date of enactment of this Act, has expired,

been cancelled, or otherwise terminated.

(6) Thompson divide map.—The term “Thompson Divide map”

means the map entitled “Greater Thompson Divide Legislative

Boundary Area Map” and dated September 19, 2023.

(7) Thompson divide withdrawal and protection area.—The

term “Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Area” means

the Federal land and minerals within the area generally

depicted as the “Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection

Area” on the Thompson Divide map.

(8) Wolf creek storage field development right.—

(A) In general.—The term “Wolf Creek Storage Field

development right” means a development right for any of the

Federal mineral leases numbered COC 0007496, COC 0007497, COC

0007498, COC 0007499, COC 0007500, COC 0007538, COC 0008128,

COC 0015373, COC 0128018, COC 0051645, and COC 0051646, as

generally depicted on the Thompson Divide map as “Wolf Creek

Storage Agreement”.

(B) Exclusions.—The term “Wolf Creek Storage Field

development right” does not include any storage right or

related activity within the area described in subparagraph

(A).

SEC. 5303. THOMPSON DIVIDE WITHDRAWAL AND PROTECTION AREA.

(a) Withdrawal.—Subject to valid existing rights, the

Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Area is withdrawn

from—

(1) entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public

land laws;

(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials,

and geothermal leasing laws.

(b) Surveys.—The exact acreage and legal description of

the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Area shall be

determined by surveys approved by the Secretary, in

consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture.

administration of grazing in the Thompson Divide Withdrawal

and Protection Area.

SEC. 5304. THOMPSON DIVIDE LEASE CREDITS.

(a) In General.—In exchange for the relinquishment by a

leaseholder of all Thompson Divide leases of the leaseholder,

the Secretary may issue to the leaseholder credits for any

bid, royalty, or rental payment due under any Federal oil or

gas lease on Federal land in the State, in accordance with

subsection (b).

(b) Amount of Credits.—

(1) In general.—Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of

the credits issued to a leaseholder of a Thompson Divide

lease relinquished under subsection (a) shall—

(A) be equal to the sum of—

(i) the amount of the bonus bids paid for the applicable

Thompson Divide leases;

(ii) the amount of any rental paid for the applicable

Thompson Divide leases as of the date on which the

leaseholder submits to the Secretary a notice of the decision

to relinquish the applicable Thompson Divide leases; and

(iii) the amount of any reasonable expenses incurred by the

leaseholder of the applicable Thompson Divide leases in the

preparation of any drilling permit, sundry notice, or other

related submission in support of the development of the

applicable Thompson Divide leases as of January 28, 2019,

including any expenses relating to the preparation of any

analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and

(B) require the approval of the Secretary.

(2) Exclusion.—The amount of a credit issued under

subsection (a) shall not include any expenses paid by the

leaseholder of a Thompson Divide lease for—

(A) legal fees or related expenses for legal work with

respect to a Thompson Divide lease; or

(B) any expenses incurred before the issuance of a Thompson

Divide lease.

section, and without any additional action by the Secretary,

a Thompson Divide lease—

(1) shall be permanently cancelled; and

(2) shall not be reissued.

(d) Conditions.—

(1) Applicable law.—Except as otherwise provided in this

section, each exchange under this section shall be conducted

in accordance with—

(A) this title; and

(B) other applicable laws (including regulations).

(2) Acceptance of credits.—The Secretary shall accept

credits issued under subsection (a) in the same manner as

cash for the payments described in that subsection.

(3) Applicability.—The use of a credit issued under

subsection (a) shall be subject to the laws (including

regulations) applicable to the payments described in that

subsection, to the extent that the laws are consistent with

this section.

(4) Treatment of credits.—All amounts in the form of

credits issued under subsection (a) accepted by the Secretary

shall be considered to be amounts received for the purposes

of—

(A) section 35 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 191);

and

(B) section 20 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30

U.S.C. 1019).

(e) Wolf Creek Storage Field Development Rights.—

(1) Conveyance to secretary.—As a condition precedent to

the relinquishment of a Thompson Divide lease under this

section, any leaseholder with a Wolf Creek Storage Field

development right shall permanently relinquish, transfer, and

otherwise convey to the Secretary, in a form acceptable to

the Secretary, all Wolf Creek Storage Field development

rights of the leaseholder.

(2) Credits.—

(A) In general.—In consideration for the transfer of

development rights under paragraph (1), the Secretary may

issue to a leaseholder described in that paragraph credits

for any reasonable expenses incurred by the leaseholder in

acquiring the Wolf Creek Storage Field development right or

in the preparation of any drilling permit, sundry notice, or

other related submission in support of the development right

as of January

28, 2019, including any reasonable expenses relating to the

preparation of any analysis under the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

(B) Approval.—Any credits for a transfer of the

development rights under paragraph (1), shall be subject to—

(i) the exclusion described in subsection (b)(2);

(ii) the conditions described in subsection (d); and

(iii) the approval of the Secretary.

(3) Limitation of transfer.—Development rights acquired by

the Secretary under paragraph (1)—

(A) shall be held for as long as the parent leases in the

Wolf Creek Storage Field remain in effect; and

(B) shall not be—

(i) transferred;

(ii) reissued; or

(iii) otherwise used for mineral extraction.

SEC. 5305. GREATER THOMPSON DIVIDE FUGITIVE COAL MINE METHANE

USE PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) Fugitive Coal Mine Methane Use Pilot Program.—

(1) Establishment.—There is established in the Bureau of

Land Management a pilot program, to be known as the “Greater

Thompson Divide Fugitive Coal Mine Methane Use Pilot

Program”.

(2) Purpose.—The purpose of the pilot program is to

promote the capture, beneficial use, mitigation, and

sequestration of fugitive methane emissions—

(A) to reduce methane emissions;

(B) to promote economic development;

(D) to improve public safety.

(3) Plan.—

(A) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a plan—

(i) to complete an inventory of fugitive methane emissions

in accordance with subsection (b);

(ii) to provide for the leasing of fugitive methane

emissions in accordance with subsection (c); and

(iii) to provide for the capping or destruction of fugitive

methane emissions in accordance with subsection (d).

(B) Coordination.—In developing the plan under this

paragraph, the Secretary shall coordinate with—

(i) the State;

(ii) Garfield, Gunnison, Delta, and Pitkin Counties in the

State;

(iii) lessees of Federal coal within the counties referred

to in clause (ii);

(iv) interested institutions of higher education in the

State; and

(v) interested members of the public.

(b) Fugitive Methane Emissions Inventory.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an

inventory of fugitive methane emissions.

(2) Conduct.—

(A) Collaboration.—The Secretary may conduct the inventory

under paragraph (1) through, or in collaboration with—

(i) the Bureau of Land Management;

(ii) the United States Geological Survey;

(iii) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(iv) the United States Forest Service;

(v) State departments or agencies;

(vi) Garfield, Gunnison, Delta, or Pitkin County in the

State;

(vii) the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District;

(viii) institutions of higher education in the State;

(ix) lessees of Federal coal within a county referred to in

subparagraph (F);

(x) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(xi) the National Center for Atmospheric Research; or

(xii) other interested entities, including members of the

public.

(B) Federal split estate.—

(i) In general.—In conducting the inventory under

paragraph (1) for Federal minerals on split estate land, the

Secretary shall rely on available data.

(ii) Limitation.—Nothing in this section requires or

authorizes the Secretary to enter or access private land to

conduct the inventory under paragraph (1).

(3) Contents.—The inventory conducted under paragraph (1)

shall include—

(A) the general location and geographic coordinates of

vents, seeps, or other sources producing significant fugitive

methane emissions;

(B) an estimate of the volume and concentration of fugitive

methane emissions from each source of significant fugitive

methane emissions, including details of measurements taken

and the basis for that emissions estimate;

(i) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(ii) the Mine Safety and Health Administration;

(iii) the Colorado Department of Natural Resources;

(iv) the Colorado Public Utility Commission;

(v) the Colorado Department of Health and Environment; and

(vi) the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and

Enforcement; and

(D) such other information as may be useful in advancing

the purposes of the pilot program.

(4) Public participation; disclosure.—

(A) Public participation.—The Secretary shall, as

appropriate, provide opportunities for public participation

in the conduct of the inventory under paragraph (1).

(B) Availability.—The Secretary shall make the inventory

conducted under paragraph (1) publicly available.

Secretary to publicly release information that—

(i) poses a threat to public safety;

(ii) is confidential business information; or

(iii) is otherwise protected from public disclosure.

(5) Impact on coal mines subject to lease.—

(A) In general.—For the purposes of conducting the

inventory under paragraph (1), for land subject to a Federal

coal lease, the Secretary shall use readily available methane

emissions data.

(B) Effect.—Nothing in this section requires the holder of

a Federal coal lease to report additional data or information

to the Secretary.

(6) Use.—The Secretary shall use the inventory conducted

under paragraph (1) in carrying out—

(A) the leasing program under subsection (c); and

(B) the capping or destruction of fugitive methane

emissions under subsection (d).

Sequestration.—

(1) In general.—Subject to valid existing rights and in

accordance with this section, not later than 1 year after the

date of completion of the inventory required under subsection

(b), the Secretary shall carry out a program to encourage the

use and destruction of fugitive methane emissions.

(2) Fugitive methane emissions from coal mines subject to

lease.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall authorize the holder

of a valid existing Federal coal lease for a mine that is

producing fugitive methane emissions to capture for use or

destroy the fugitive methane emissions.

(B) Conditions.—The authority under subparagraph (A) shall

be subject to—

(i) valid existing rights; and

(ii) such terms and conditions as the Secretary may

require.

(1) shall only include fugitive methane emissions that can be

captured for use or destroyed in a manner that does not—

(i) endanger the safety of any coal mine worker; or

(ii) unreasonably interfere with any ongoing operation at a

coal mine.

(D) Cooperation.—

(i) In general.—The Secretary shall work cooperatively

with the holders of valid existing Federal coal leases for

mines that produce fugitive methane emissions to encourage—

(I) the capture of fugitive methane emissions for

beneficial use, such as generating electrical power,

producing usable heat, transporting the methane to market, or

transforming the fugitive methane emissions into a different

marketable material; or

(II) if the beneficial use of the fugitive methane

emissions is not feasible, the destruction of the fugitive

methane emissions.

(ii) Guidance.—In support of cooperative efforts with

holders of valid existing Federal coal leases to capture for

use or destroy fugitive methane emissions, not later than 1

year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary

shall issue guidance to the public for the implementation of

authorities and programs to encourage the capture for use and

destruction of fugitive methane emissions, while minimizing

impacts on natural resources or other public interest values.

(E) Royalties.—The Secretary shall determine whether any

fugitive methane emissions used or destroyed pursuant to this

paragraph are subject to the payment of a royalty under

applicable law.

(3) Fugitive methane emissions from land not subject to a

federal coal lease.—

(A) In general.—Except as otherwise provided in this

section, notwithstanding section 5303 and subject to valid

existing rights and any other applicable law, the Secretary

shall, for land not subject to a Federal coal lease—

(i) authorize the capture for use or destruction of

fugitive methane emissions; and

(ii) make available for leasing such fugitive methane

emissions as the Secretary determines to be in the public

interest.

(B) Source.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall

offer for lease, individually or in combination, each

significant source of fugitive methane emissions on land not

subject to a Federal coal lease.

emissions under this paragraph shall specify whether the

prospective lessee intends—

(i) to capture the fugitive methane emissions for

beneficial use, such as generating electrical power,

producing usable heat, transporting the methane to market, or

transforming the fugitive methane emissions into a different

marketable material;

(ii) to destroy the fugitive methane emissions; or

(iii) to employ a specific combination of—

(I) capturing the fugitive methane emissions for beneficial

use; and

(II) destroying the fugitive methane emissions.

(D) Priority.—

(i) In general.—If there is more than 1 qualified bid for

a lease under this paragraph, the Secretary shall select the

bid that the Secretary determines is likely to most

significantly advance the public interest.

(ii) Considerations.—In determining the public interest

under clause (i), the Secretary shall take into

consideration—

(I) the overall decrease in the fugitive methane emissions;

(II) the impacts to other natural resource values,

including wildlife, water, and air; and

(III) other public interest values, including scenic,

economic, recreation, and cultural values.

(E) Lease form.—

(i) In general.—The Secretary shall develop and provide to

prospective bidders a lease form for leases issued under this

paragraph.

(ii) Due diligence.—The lease form developed under clause

(i) shall include terms and conditions requiring the leased

fugitive methane emissions to be put to beneficial use or

destroyed by not later than 3 years after the date of

issuance of the lease.

(F) Royalty rate.—The Secretary shall develop a minimum

bid, as the Secretary determines to be necessary, and royalty

rate for leases under this paragraph.

(d) Sequestration.—If, by not later than 4 years after the

date of completion of the inventory under subsection (b), any

significant fugitive methane emissions are not leased under

subsection (c)(3), the Secretary shall, subject to the

availability of appropriations and in accordance with

applicable law, take all reasonable measures—

(1) to provide incentives for new leases under subsection

(c)(3);

(2) to cap those fugitive methane emissions at the source

in any case in which the cap will result in the long-term

sequestration of all or a significant portion of the fugitive

methane emissions; or

(3) to destroy the fugitive methane emissions, if

incentivizing leases under paragraph (1) or sequestration

under paragraph (2) is not feasible, with priority for

locations that destroy the greatest quantity of fugitive

methane emissions at the lowest cost.

(e) Report to Congress.—Not later than 4 years after the

date of enactment of this Act 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 detailing—

(1) the economic and environmental impacts of the pilot

program, including information on increased royalties and

estimates of avoided greenhouse gas emissions; and

(2) any recommendations of the Secretary on whether the

pilot program could be expanded to include—

(A) other significant sources of emissions of fugitive

methane located outside the boundaries of the area depicted

as “Fugitive Coal Mine Methane Use Pilot Program Area” on

the pilot program map; and

(B) the leasing of natural methane seeps under the

activities authorized pursuant to subsection (c)(3).

SEC. 5306. EFFECT.

Except as expressly provided in this title, nothing in this

title—

(1) expands, diminishes, or impairs any valid existing

mineral leases, mineral interest, or other property rights

wholly or partially within the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and

Protection Area, including access to the leases, interests,

rights, or land in accordance with applicable Federal, State,

and local laws (including regulations);

(2) prevents the capture of methane from any active,

inactive, or abandoned coal mine covered by this title, in

accordance with applicable laws; or

(3) prevents access to, or the development of, any new or

existing coal mine or lease in Delta or Gunnison County in

the State.

TITLE IV—CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

SEC. 5401. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:

(1) Map.—The term “map” means the map entitled

“Curecanti National Recreation Area, Proposed Boundary”,

numbered 616/100,485D, and dated April 25, 2022.

(2) National recreation area.—The term “National

Recreation Area” means the Curecanti National Recreation

Area established by section 5402(a).

(3) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of the Interior.

SEC. 5402. CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

(a) Establishment.—Effective beginning on the earlier of

the date on which the Secretary approves a request under

subsection (c)(2)(B)(i)(I) and the date that is 1 year after

the date of enactment of this Act, there shall be established

as a unit of the National Park System the Curecanti National

Recreation Area, in accordance with this division, consisting

of approximately 50,300 acres of land in the State, as

generally depicted on the map as “Curecanti National

Recreation Area Proposed Boundary”.

(b) Availability of Map.—The map shall be on file and

available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of

the National Park Service.

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall administer the

National Recreation Area in accordance with—

(A) this title; and

(B) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable

to units of the National Park System, including section

100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752,

100753, and 102101 of title 54, United States Code.

(2) Dam, power plant, and reservoir management and

operations.—

(A) In general.—Nothing in this title affects or

interferes with the authority of the Secretary—

(i) to operate the Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation Project

under the reclamation laws;

(ii) to operate the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit of the Colorado

River Storage Project under the Act of April 11, 1956

(commonly known as the “Colorado River Storage Project

Act”) (43 U.S.C. 620 et seq.); or

(iii) under the Federal Water Project Recreation Act (16

U.S.C. 460l-12 et seq.).

(B) Reclamation land.—

(i) Submission of request to retain administrative

jurisdiction.—If, before the date that is 1 year after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of

Reclamation submits to the Secretary a request for the

Commissioner of Reclamation to retain administrative

jurisdiction over the minimum quantity of land within the

land identified on the map as “Lands withdrawn or acquired

for Bureau of Reclamation projects” that the Commissioner of

Reclamation identifies as necessary for the effective

operation of Bureau of Reclamation water facilities, the

Secretary may—

(I) approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the

request; and

(II) if the request is approved under subclause (I), make

any modifications to the map that are necessary to reflect

that the Commissioner of Reclamation retains management

authority over the minimum quantity of land required to

fulfill the reclamation mission.

(ii) Transfer of land.—

(I) In general.—Administrative jurisdiction over the land

identified on the map as “Lands withdrawn or acquired for

Bureau of Reclamation projects”, as modified pursuant to

clause (i)(II), if applicable, shall be transferred from the

Commissioner of Reclamation to the Director of the National

Park Service by not later than the date that is 1 year after

the date of enactment of this Act.

(II) Access to transferred land.—

(aa) In general.—Subject to item (bb), the Commissioner of

Reclamation shall retain access to the land transferred to

the Director of the National Park Service under subclause (I)

for reclamation purposes, including for the operation,

maintenance, and expansion or replacement of facilities.

(bb) Memorandum of understanding.—The terms of the access

authorized under item (aa) shall be determined by a

memorandum of understanding entered into between the

Commissioner of Reclamation and the Director of the National

Park Service not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act.

(3) Management agreements.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary may enter into management

agreements, or modify management agreements in existence on

the date of enactment of this Act, relating to the authority

of the Director of the National Park Service, the

Commissioner of Reclamation, the Director of the Bureau of

Land Management, or the Chief of the Forest Service to manage

Federal land within or adjacent to the boundary of the

National Recreation Area.

(B) State land.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative

management agreements for any land administered by the State

that is within or adjacent to the National Recreation Area,

in accordance with the cooperative management authority under

section 101703 of title 54, United States Code.

(4) Recreational activities.—

(A) Authorization.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B),

the Secretary shall allow boating, boating-related

activities, hunting, and fishing in the National Recreation

Area in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws.

(B) Closures; designated zones.—

(i) In general.—The Secretary, acting through the

Superintendent of the National Recreation Area, may designate

zones in which, and establish periods during which, no

boating, hunting, or fishing shall be permitted in the

National Recreation Area under subparagraph (A) for reasons

of public safety, administration, or compliance with

applicable laws.

(ii) Consultation required.—Except in the case of an

emergency, any closure proposed by the Secretary under clause

(i) shall not take effect until after the date on which the

Superintendent of the National Recreation Area consults

with—

(I) the appropriate State agency responsible for hunting

and fishing activities; and

(II) the Board of County Commissioners in each county in

which the zone is proposed to be designated.

(5) Landowner assistance.—On the written request of an

individual that owns private land located within the area

generally depicted as “Conservation Opportunity Area” on

the map entitled “Preferred Alternative” in the document

entitled “Report to Congress: Curecanti Special Resource

Study” and dated June 2009, the Secretary may work in

partnership with the individual to enhance the long-term

conservation of natural, cultural, recreational, and scenic

resources in and around the National Recreation Area—

(A) by acquiring all or a portion of the private land or

interests in private land within the Conservation Opportunity

Area by purchase, exchange, or donation, in accordance with

section 5403;

(B) by providing technical assistance to the individual,

including cooperative assistance;

(D) by supporting conservation easement opportunities.

(6) Incorporation of acquired land and interests.—Any land

or interest in land acquired by the United States under

paragraph (5) shall—

(A) become part of the National Recreation Area; and

(B) be managed in accordance with this title.

(7) Withdrawal.—Subject to valid existing rights, all

Federal land within the National Recreation Area, including

land acquired pursuant to this section, is withdrawn from—

(A) entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public

land laws;

(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

and geothermal leasing laws.

(8) Grazing.—

(A) State land subject to a state grazing lease.—

(i) In general.—If State land acquired under this title is

subject to a State grazing lease in effect on the date of

acquisition, the Secretary shall allow the grazing to

continue for the remainder of the term of the lease, subject

to the related terms and conditions of user agreements,

including permitted stocking rates, grazing fee levels,

access rights, and ownership and use of range improvements.

(ii) Access.—A lessee of State land may continue to use

established routes within the National Recreation Area to

access State land for purposes of administering the lease if

the use was permitted before the date of enactment of this

Act, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary

may require.

(B) State and private land.—The Secretary may, in

accordance with applicable laws, authorize grazing on land

acquired from the State or private landowners under section

5403, if grazing was established before the date of

acquisition.

5403 for the National Recreation Area on which authorized

grazing is occurring before the date of enactment of this

Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the lessee, may

allow the continuation and renewal of grazing on the land

based on the terms of acquisition or by agreement between the

Secretary and the lessee, subject to applicable law

(including regulations).

(D) Federal land.—The Secretary shall—

(i) allow, consistent with the grazing leases, uses, and

practices in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act,

the continuation and renewal of grazing on Federal land

located within the boundary of the National Recreation Area

on which grazing is allowed before the date of enactment of

this Act, unless the Secretary determines that grazing on the

Federal land would present unacceptable impacts (as defined

in section 1.4.7.1 of the National Park Service document

entitled “Management Policies 2006: The Guide to Managing

the National Park System”) to the natural, cultural,

recreational, and scenic resource values and the character of

the land within the National Recreation Area; and

(ii) retain all authorities to manage grazing in the

National Recreation Area.

(E) Termination of leases.—Within the National Recreation

Area, the Secretary may—

(i) accept the voluntary termination of a lease or permit

for grazing; or

(ii) in the case of a lease or permit vacated for a period

of 3 or more years, terminate the lease or permit.

(9) Water rights.—Nothing in this title—

(A) affects any use or allocation in existence on the date

of enactment of this Act of any water, water right, or

interest in water;

(B) affects any vested absolute or decreed conditional

water right in existence on the date of enactment of this

Act, including any water right held by the United States;

the date of enactment of this Act;

(D) shall be considered to be a relinquishment or reduction

of any water right reserved or appropriated by the United

States in the State on or before the date of enactment of

this Act; or

(E) constitutes an express or implied Federal reservation

of any water or water rights with respect to the National

Recreation Area.

(10) Fishing easements.—

(A) In general.—Nothing in this title diminishes or alters

the fish and wildlife program for the Aspinall Unit developed

under section 8 of the Act of April 11, 1956 (commonly known

as the “Colorado River Storage Project Act”) (70 Stat. 110,

chapter 203; 43 U.S.C. 620g), by the United States Fish and

Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Colorado

Division of Wildlife (including any successor in interest to

that division) that provides for the acquisition of public

access fishing easements as mitigation for the Aspinall Unit

(referred to in this paragraph as the “program”).

(B) Acquisition of fishing easements.—The Secretary shall

continue to fulfill the obligation of the Secretary under the

program to acquire 26 miles of class 1 public fishing

easements to provide to sportsmen access for fishing within

the Upper Gunnison Basin upstream of the Aspinall Unit,

subject to the condition that no existing fishing access

downstream of the Aspinall Unit shall be counted toward the

minimum mileage requirement under the program.

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a plan for

fulfilling the obligation of the Secretary described in

subparagraph (B) by the date that is 10 years after the date

of enactment of this Act.

(D) Reports.—Not later than each of 2 years, 5 years, and

8 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the

Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes

the progress made in fulfilling the obligation of the

Secretary described in subparagraph (B).

(d) Tribal Rights and Uses.—

(1) Treaty rights.—Nothing in this title affects the

treaty rights of any Indian Tribe.

(2) Traditional tribal uses.—Subject to any terms and

conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary and in

accordance with applicable law, the Secretary shall allow for

the continued use of the National Recreation Area by members

of Indian Tribes—

(A) for traditional ceremonies; and

(B) as a source of traditional plants and other materials.

SEC. 5403. ACQUISITION OF LAND; BOUNDARY MANAGEMENT.

(a) Acquisition.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary may acquire any land or

interest in land within the boundary of the National

Recreation Area.

(2) Manner of acquisition.—

(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (B), land

described in paragraph (1) may be acquired under this

subsection by—

(i) donation;

(ii) purchase from willing sellers with donated or

appropriated funds;

(iii) transfer from another Federal agency; or

(iv) exchange.

(B) State land.—Land or interests in land owned by the

State or a political subdivision of the State may only be

acquired by purchase, donation, or exchange.

(b) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.—

(1) Forest service land.—

(A) In general.—Administrative jurisdiction over the

approximately 2,500 acres of land identified on the map as

“U.S. Forest Service proposed transfer to the National Park

Service” is transferred to the Secretary, to be administered

by the Director of the National Park Service as part of the

National Recreation Area.

(B) Boundary adjustment.—The boundary of the Gunnison

National Forest shall be adjusted to exclude the land

transferred to the Secretary under subparagraph (A).

(2) Bureau of land management land.—Administrative

jurisdiction over the approximately 6,100 acres of land

identified on the map as “Bureau of Land Management proposed

transfer to National Park Service” is transferred from the

Director of the Bureau of Land Management to the Director of

the National Park Service, to be administered as part of the

National Recreation Area.

(3) Withdrawal.—Administrative jurisdiction over the land

identified on the map as “Proposed for transfer to the

Bureau of Land Management, subject to the revocation of

Bureau of Reclamation withdrawal” shall be transferred to

the Director of the Bureau of Land Management on

relinquishment of the land by the Bureau of Reclamation and

revocation by the Bureau of Land Management of any withdrawal

as may be necessary.

(1) In general.—The withdrawal for reclamation purposes of

the land identified on the map as “Potential exchange

lands” shall be relinquished by the Commissioner of

Reclamation and revoked by the Director of the Bureau of Land

Management and the land shall be transferred to the National

Park Service.

(2) Exchange; inclusion in national recreation area.—On

transfer of the land described in paragraph (1), the

transferred land—

(A) may be exchanged by the Secretary for private land

described in section 5402(c)(5)—

(i) subject to a conservation easement remaining on the

transferred land, to protect the scenic resources of the

transferred land; and

(ii) in accordance with the laws (including regulations)

and policies governing National Park Service land exchanges;

and

(B) if not exchanged under subparagraph (A), shall be added

to, and managed as a part of, the National Recreation Area.

(d) Addition to National Recreation Area.—Any land within

the boundary of the National Recreation Area that is acquired

by the United States shall be added to, and managed as a part

of, the National Recreation Area.

SEC. 5404. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are

made available to carry out this title, the Director of the

National Park Service, in consultation with the Commissioner

of Reclamation, shall prepare a general management plan for

the National Recreation Area in accordance with section

100502 of title 54, United States Code.

SEC. 5405. BOUNDARY SURVEY.

The Secretary (acting through the Director of the National

Park Service) shall prepare a boundary survey and legal

description of the National Recreation Area.

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