Sponsors (2)
The bill secures long-term conservation, clearer maps, and enhanced nonmotorized recreation—benefiting wildlife, scenery, and local tourism—while trading off extractive development opportunities, some recreation modes, and imposing administrative and infrastructure-siting constraints that could reduce local revenues and add costs or delays.
Residents, visitors, and local/state governments gain clear, legally binding boundaries and maps for the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area and designated Wilderness Areas, improving transparency, land-use planning, reducing boundary disputes, and allowing the Secretary to make minor technical corrections without further legislation.
Residents, wildlife, and ecosystems benefit from long-term conservation: the bill designates wilderness and scenic protections and withdraws large tracts (including ~33,857 acres of wilderness and broader withdrawals affecting tens of thousands of acres) from mining, leasing, and certain development, protecting habitat (e.g., Cow Knob salamander), high-elevation ecosystems, water quality, and area
Recreation users and nearby communities gain protected trails, improved nonmotorized recreation opportunities and required trail/connection planning, helping sustain outdoor tourism and local businesses.
Rural communities, taxpayers, and local/state governments face reduced economic opportunities and potential revenue losses because the bill prohibits new roads and restricts energy, mineral, and some timber development across large areas (including the ~92,562-acre withdrawals and the ~33,857-acre wilderness), limiting leasing, harvest, and other extractive uses.
Certain recreation users (off-road vehicle users, some mechanized/mountain-bike uses, and motorized users) will lose permitted uses and access options where wilderness and other protections apply, reducing recreation choices for those groups.
Utilities and future infrastructure projects could face higher costs, delays, or siting complications because the bill limits designation of utility corridors and constrains development near the protected areas.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (~92,562 acres) and adds five Wilderness designations/additions in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, with maps filed and Forest Service management.
Introduced May 8, 2025 by Timothy Michael Kaine · Last progress May 8, 2025
Creates a Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area of about 92,562 acres inside the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and designates five new or expanded Wilderness Areas totaling roughly 33,857 acres. The Forest Service will manage the Scenic Area and Wilderness Areas to protect scenery, water quality, high-elevation habitat (including habitat for the Cow Knob salamander), potential old-growth characteristics, and provide compatible recreation; maps and boundary descriptions must be filed and made public, and a trail plan for non‑wilderness lands must be prepared within two years.