HR 461 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To ensure general aviation aircraft access to Federal land and to the airspace over Federal land.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 12, 2007

Mr. REHBERG introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To ensure general aviation aircraft access to Federal land and to the airspace over Federal land.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) aircraft landing strips--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) serve an essential safety role as emergency landing areas;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provide access to people who would otherwise be physically unable to enjoy national parks, national forests, wilderness areas, and other Federal land;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) support State economies by providing efficient access for visitors seeking recreational activities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) serve an essential role in search and rescue, forest and ecological management, research, wildlife management, aerial mapping, firefighting, and disaster relief; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture should--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) adopt a nationwide policy for governing backcountry aviation issues relating to the management of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) require regional managers to comply with the policy adopted under subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ADMINISTRATOR- The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) AIRCRAFT LANDING STRIP- The term `aircraft landing strip' means an established aircraft landing strip located on Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary that is commonly known, and has been or is consistently used, for aircraft landing and departure activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PERMANENTLY CLOSE- The term `permanently close' means any closure, the duration of which is more than 90 days in any calendar year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF ACTIONS AFFECTING CERTAIN AIRCRAFT LANDING STRIPS.

(a) In General- The Secretary shall not take any action that would permanently close, restrict, or render or declare as unserviceable any aircraft landing strip unless--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the head of the aviation department of each State in which the aircraft landing strip is located approves the action;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register notice of the proposed action, including notice that the action would permanently close, restrict, or render or declare as unserviceable the aircraft landing strip;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the Secretary provides for a 90-day public comment period beginning on the date of publication of the notice under paragraph (2); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) the Secretary and the head of the aviation department of each State in which the affected aircraft landing strip is located have taken into consideration any comments received during the comment period under paragraph (3).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Policies-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) BACKCOUNTRY AVIATION POLICIES- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) adopt a nationwide policy for governing backcountry aviation issues relating to the management of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) require regional managers to adhere to the policy adopted under subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REQUIREMENTS- Any policy affecting air access to an aircraft landing strip, including the policy adopted under paragraph (1), shall not take effect unless the policy--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) states that the Administrator has the sole authority to control aviation and airspace over the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) seeks and considers comments from State governments and the public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Maintenance of Airstrips-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- To ensure that aircraft landing strips are maintained in a manner that is consistent with the resource values of any adjacent area, the Secretary shall consult with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the head of the aviation department of each State in which an aircraft landing strip is located; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) any other interested parties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with interested parties for the maintenance of aircraft landing strips.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Exchanges or Acquisitions- There shall not be as a condition of any Federal acquisition of, or exchange involving, private property on which a landing strip is located--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the closure or purposeful neglect of the landing strip; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) any other action that would restrict use or render any landing strip unserviceable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Applicability- Subsections (a), (b)(2), and (d) shall apply to any action, policy, exchange, or acquisition, respectively, that is not final on the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Effect on Federal Aviation Administration Authority- Nothing in this Act affects the authority of the Administrator over aviation or airspace.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink