H.R. 3421

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To designate certain special management areas, wildlife conservation areas, protection areas, recreation areas, wilderness areas, and a scientific research and education area in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · May 15, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Hurd of Colorado · Committee: Committee on Natural Resources

Table of contents

• H.R. 3421
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Definitions
  • SEC. 3. Designation of special management areas
  • SEC. 4. Designation of wildlife conservation areas
  • SEC. 5. Designation of protection areas
  • SEC. 6. Designation of recreation management areas
  • SEC. 7. Designation of the Rocky Mountain Scientific Research and Education Area
  • SEC. 8. Designation of wilderness
  • SEC. 9. North Fork Valley Watershed
  • SEC. 10. Land to be held in trust for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
  • SEC. 11. General provisions

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Definitions

• In this Act:
  • The term , with respect to a project, means the project is developed and implemented through a collaborative process that— collaboratively developed
  • The term County means Gunnison County, Colorado.
  • The term covered area means each of the Special Management Areas, Wildlife Conservation Areas, Protection Areas, and Recreation Management Areas and the Scientific Research and Education Area.
  • The term , with respect to a road, means— decommission
  • The term ecological integrity has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
  • The term — off-highway vehicle
  • The term over-snow vehicle has the meaning given the term in section 212.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
  • The term Protection Area means a protection area designated by section 5(a).
  • The term Recreation Management Area means a recreation management area designated by section 6(a).
  • The term restore has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
  • The term Scientific Research and Education Area means the Rocky Mountain Scientific Research and Education Area designated by section 7(a).
  • The term Secretary means—
  • The term Special Management Area means a special management area designated by section 3(a).
  • The term State means the State of Colorado.
  • The term wilderness area means any area designated as wilderness by the amendments to section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 ( note; ) made by section 8(a). 16 U.S.C. 1132; Public Law 103–77
  • The term wildland-urban interface means land within a covered area that is within mile of the interface and intermix areas mapped as the wildland-urban interface in the document entitled and published by the Department of Agriculture in 2015. The term means land within a covered area that is within mile of the interface and intermix areas mapped as the wildland-urban interface in the document entitled and published by the Department of Agriculture in 2015. The 2010 Wildland-Urban Interface of the Conterminous United States
  • The term Wildlife Conservation Area means a wildlife conservation area designated by section 4(a).
  • The term winter travel management plan means a decision designating roads, trails, or areas for over-snow vehicle use in accordance with—

SEC. 3. Designation of special management areas

• (a) Designation
  • (1) American Flag Special Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 36,171 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . American Flag SMA Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek American Flag Special Management Area
  • (2) Beckwiths Special Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 24,031 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Beckwiths SMA Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass Beckwiths Special Management Area
  • (3) Clear Fork Special Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 37,998 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Clear Fork SMA Sheet 2: McClure Pass Clear Fork Special Management Area
  • (4) McIntosh Mountain Special Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service comprising approximately 22,497 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . McIntosh Mountain SMA Sheet 8: Gunnison Valley and Ohio Pass McIntosh Mountain Special Management Area
  • (5) North Poverty Gulch Special Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 5,476 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . North Poverty Gulch SMA Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass North Poverty Gulch Special Management Area
  • (6) Pilot Knob Special Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 16,973 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Pilot Knob SMA Sheet 2: McClure Pass Pilot Knob Special Management Area
  • (7) Signal Peak Special Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service comprising approximately 28,345 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the .

SEC. 4. Designation of wildlife conservation areas

• (a) Designation
  • (1) Cabin Creek Wildlife Conservation Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service comprising approximately 29,518 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Cabin Creek WCA Sheet 9: Cabin Creek Cabin Creek Wildlife Conservation Area
  • (2) Flat Top Wildlife Conservation Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 28,844 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Flat Top WCA Sheet 8: Gunnison Valley and Ohio Pass Flat Top Wildlife Conservation Area
  • (3) Lake Gulch and Cebolla Creek Wildlife Conservation Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 50,535 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Lake Gulch and Cebolla Creek WCA Sheet 11: Lake Fork Lake Gulch and Cebolla Creek Wildlife Conservation Area
  • (4) Matchless Wildlife Conservation Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 12,975 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Matchless WCA Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek Matchless Wildlife Conservation Area
  • (5) Munsey Creek Wildlife Conservation Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 3,281 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Munsey Creek WCA Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass Munsey Creek Wildlife Conservation Area
  • (6) Pinnacles Wildlife Conservation Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 27,935 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Pinnacles WCA Sheet 8: Gunnison Valley and Ohio Pass Pinnacles Wildlife Conservation Area
  • (7) Powderhorn Wildlife Conservation Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 27,668 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the .

SEC. 5. Designation of protection areas

• (a) Designation
  • (1) Castle Protection Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 6,390 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Castle Protection Area Sheet 8: Gunnison Valley and Ohio Pass
  • (2) Deer Creek Protection Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 3,136 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Deer Creek Protection Area Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass
  • (3) Granite Basin Protection Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 9,666 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Granite Basin Protection Area Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek
  • (4) South Poverty Gulch Protection Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management comprising approximately 1,350 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . South Poverty Gulch Protection Area Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass
• (b) Purposes
  • The purposes of the Protection Areas are—
    • to protect the natural and undeveloped character of the Protection Areas; and
    • to conserve and protect for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the natural, scenic, scientific, cultural, watershed, recreation, and wildlife resources of the Protection Areas.
• (c) Management
  • (1) In general
    • The Secretary shall manage the Protection Areas in a manner that—
      • furthers the purposes of the Protection Areas described in subsection (b); and
      • is in accordance with—
        • (i) this Act; and
        • (ii) other applicable laws.
  • (2) Uses
    • (A) In general
      • The Secretary shall only allow uses of the Protection Areas that the Secretary determines would further the purposes described in subsection (b).
    • (B) Vehicle use
      • (i) Except as provided in clause (ii), as needed for administrative purposes, or to respond to an emergency, the use of off-highway vehicles in the Protection Areas is prohibited.

SEC. 6. Designation of recreation management areas

• (a) Designation
  • (1) Double Top Recreation Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 14,734 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Double Top RMA Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek Double Top Recreation Management Area
  • (2) Horse Ranch Park Recreation Management Area
    • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land in the County managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 3,513 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Horse Ranch Park RMA Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass Horse Ranch Park Recreation Management Area
• (b) Purposes
  • The purposes of the Recreation Management Areas are—
    • to provide for, and improve the management of, recreation resources in the Recreation Management Areas for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generation; and
    • to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the natural, scenic, scientific, cultural, watershed, and wildlife resources of the Recreation Management Areas.
• (c) Management
  • (1) In general
    • The Secretary shall manage the Recreation Management Areas in a manner that—
      • furthers the purposes of the Recreation Management Areas described in subsection (b); and
      • is in accordance with—
        • (i) this Act; and
        • (ii) other applicable laws.
  • (2) Uses
    • (A) In general
      • The Secretary shall only allow uses of the Recreation Management Areas that the Secretary determines would further the purposes described in subsection (b).
    • (B) Vehicle and bicycle use
      • (i) Double top
        • Except as provided in subclause (II), the use of off-highway vehicles and bicycles in the Double Top Recreation Management Area designated by subsection (a)(1) shall be permitted only on roads and trails designated for the use on the date of enactment of this Act.
        • Except as provided in item (bb), the use of over-snow vehicles shall not be permitted in the Double Top Recreation Management Area designated by subsection (a)(1).
        • Nothing in this section limits the use of off-highway vehicles in the Double Top Recreation Management Area designated by subsection (a)(1) as necessary for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency (including as appropriate for administrative support and emergency response during the Grand Traverse skiing event, as permitted by the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests).

SEC. 7. Designation of the Rocky Mountain Scientific Research and Education Area

• (a) Designation
  • Subject to valid existing rights, certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service comprising approximately 12,250 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is designated as the . Rocky Mountain Scientific Research and Education Area Sheet 3: Kebler and Schofield Pass
• (b) Purposes
  • The purposes of the Scientific Research and Education Area are—
    • to encourage and preserve conditions necessary for ecological, evolutionary, geological, biogeochemical, climatological, biological, meteorological, and other natural science research and education;
    • to provide opportunities for the use of continually emerging techniques and methodologies in the conduct of the research and education described in paragraph (1); and
    • to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the natural, scenic, scientific, cultural, watershed, recreation, and wildlife resources of the Scientific Research and Education Area.
• (c) Management
  • (1) In general
    • The Secretary shall manage the Scientific Research and Education Area in a manner that—
      • furthers the purposes of the Scientific Research and Education Area described in subsection (b); and
      • is in accordance with—
        • (i) this Act; and
        • (ii) other applicable laws.
  • (2) Uses
    • (A) In general
      • The Secretary shall only allow uses of the Scientific Research and Education Area that the Secretary determines would further the purposes described in subsection (b).
    • (B) Vehicle use
      • Except as needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency, the use of off-highway vehicles in the Scientific Research and Education Area shall be permitted only on roads designated for the use on the date of enactment of this Act.
    • (C) Bicycles
      • The use of bicycles in the Scientific Research and Education Area shall be permitted only—
        • (i) on roads and trails designated for the use by the Secretary on the date of enactment of this Act; or
        • (ii) on trails designated for the use by the Secretary after the date of enactment of this Act if the Secretary determines that the use is consistent with the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b).
• (d) Effect
  • Nothing in this section limits the authority of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory to conduct scientific research or education activities inside or outside the boundaries of the Scientific Research and Education Area.

SEC. 8. Designation of wilderness

• (a) Designation
  • Section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 ( note; 107 Stat. 756; 114 Stat. 1955; 116 Stat. 1055; 128 Stat. 3823) is amended— 16 U.S.C. 1132
    • in paragraph (6), by striking and inserting ;
    • in paragraph (9)—
      • by striking Gunnisonand inserting Gunnison and White River; and
      • by striking and inserting ; and
      • (23) Matchless Wilderness
        • Certain Federal land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests comprising approximately 8,656 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August, 27, 2024, which shall be known as the . Matchless Wilderness Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek
      • (24) East Cement Wilderness
        • Certain Federal land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests comprising approximately 7,684 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, which shall be known as the . East Cement Wilderness Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek
      • (25) Star Peak Wilderness
        • Certain Federal land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison, and the White River National Forests comprising approximately 7,210 acres, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, which shall be known as the . Star Peak Wilderness Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek
      • (26) Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness addition
        • Certain Federal land in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests comprising approximately 3,321 acres, as generally depicted as and on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, which shall be incorporated in, and managed as part of, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. Deer Creek Wilderness Addition Ashcroft Wilderness Addition Sheet 4: Brush Creek, Cement Creek, and Spring Creek
      • (27) West Elk Wilderness addition
        • Certain Federal land in the Gunnison Field Office administered by the Bureau of Land Management, in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests and in the Curecanti National Recreation Area, comprising approximately 58,603 acres, as generally depicted as , , , , , , , and on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, which shall be incorporated in, and managed as part of, the West Elk Wilderness. Lamborn Wilderness Addition Castle Wilderness Addition Beaver Wilderness Addition Steuben Creek Wilderness Addition East Elk Creek Wilderness Addition Dillon Mesa Wilderness Addition Soap Creek Wilderness Addition Curecanti Wilderness Addition

SEC. 9. North Fork Valley Watershed

• (a) Withdrawal
  • (1) In general
    • Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land in Delta County, Colorado, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, is withdrawn from operation of the mineral leasing laws with respect to oil and gas. Oil and Gas Withdrawal Sheet 6: North Fork Valley
  • (2) Effect
    • Nothing in paragraph (1) prevents the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing the use or destruction of methane gas that would leak or be vented into the atmosphere from—
      • an active or inactive coal mine subject to a Federal coal lease; or
      • 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.
• (b) No surface occupancy restriction
  • Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land in Delta County, Colorado, as generally depicted as on the map entitled and dated August 27, 2024, shall be subject to a no surface occupancy restriction with respect to oil and gas exploration, development, production, and distribution. Oil and Gas No Surface Occupancy Sheet 1: Electric Mountain
• (c) Gunnison River motorized boats and boat ramp use
  • (1) In general
    • Notwithstanding the limitation on transfer in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Approved Resource Management Plan dated November 2004, the Secretary of the Interior, in accordance with the Wilderness Act () and subject to paragraph (2) and such terms and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior may require, may transfer the special recreation use permit for the use of motorized boats within the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area, if the use was established before the date of designation of the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area. 16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.
  • (2) Boat ramp
    • The Secretary of the Interior may only transfer the special recreation use permit described in paragraph (1) under that paragraph if the Secretary of the Interior determines that—
      • the right of the public to the permanent and reasonable use of the boat ramp for the Gunnison River at the Gunnison Forks Day Use Area in Delta County, Colorado, has been acquired by a Federal agency or a State or local government; and
      • any fees to be charged by the Federal agency or the State or local government for public use of the boat ramp described in subparagraph (A) would be reasonable.

SEC. 10. Land to be held in trust for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

• (a) Trust
  • (1) In general
    • Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and subject to valid existing rights, on request by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (referred to in this section as the ), the Secretary of the Interior shall take into trust for the benefit of the Tribe the approximately 19,080 acres of land in the County, owned in fee by the Tribe, as generally depicted on the map entitled and dated September 20, 2024. Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Pinecrest Ranch—Fee to Trust Legislation
  • (2) Administration
    • The land taken into trust by paragraph (1) shall—
      • be part of the reservation of the Tribe; and
      • be administered in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian Tribe.
  • (3) Restriction on use for gaming activities
    • The land taken into trust by paragraph (1) shall not be eligible for, or considered to have been taken into trust for, any gaming activity under any Federal law, including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act () and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior or the National Indian Gaming Commission under that Act. 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
• (b) Survey
  • Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, if any land is taken into trust under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall complete a survey to establish the boundaries of the land taken into trust under that subsection.
• (c) Effect
  • Nothing in this section shall affect the rights, title, interests, or jurisdiction of the County in County Road 25 or its right-of-way.

SEC. 11. General provisions

• (a) Maps and legal descriptions
  • (1) In general
    • As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a legal description of the covered areas and wilderness areas with—
      • the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
      • the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
  • (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 Act, except that the Secretary 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 or the Forest Service, as applicable.
• (b) Acquisition of land
  • (1) In general
    • The Secretary may acquire any land or interest in land within a covered area or wilderness area only through exchange, donation, or purchase from a willing seller.
  • (2) Management
    • Any land or interest in land acquired under paragraph (1) shall be incorporated in, and administered as a part of, the covered area or wilderness area in which the land or interest in land is located.
• (c) Withdrawal
  • Subject to valid existing rights, the covered areas and wilderness areas are withdrawn from—
    • all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;
    • location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
    • operation of the mineral leasing, mining materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
• (d) Fish and wildlife
  • Nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with respect to fish and wildlife in the State.
• (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 within a covered area.
• (f) Wildfire, insect, and disease management
  • In accordance with this Act, the Secretary may—
    • carry out any measures that the Secretary determines to be necessary to manage wildland fire, and treat hazardous fuels, insects, and diseases, in the covered areas; and
    • coordinate the measures with the appropriate State or local agency, as the Secretary determines to be necessary.
• (g) Vegetation management
  • (1) In general
    • No project shall be carried out in a covered area for the purpose of harvesting commercial timber.