Back to Bill Details

HR 5751 IH

To direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of certain land adjacent to the Walnut Canyon National Monument in the State of Arizona, and for other purposes.

April 9, 2008

Mr. PASTOR (for himself and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

To direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of certain land adjacent to the Walnut Canyon National Monument in the State of Arizona, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Walnut Canyon Study Act of 2008'.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) MAP- The term `map' means the map titled `Walnut Canyon Proposed Study Area' and dated July 17, 2007.

(2) SECRETARIES- The term `Secretaries' means the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting jointly.

(3) STUDY AREA- The term `study area' means the area identified on the map as the `Walnut Canyon Proposed Study Area'.

SEC. 3. STUDY.

(a) In General- The Secretaries shall conduct a study of the study area to assess--

(1) the suitability and feasibility of designating all or part of the study area as an addition to Walnut Canyon National Monument, in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c));

(2) continued management of the study area by the Forest Service; or

(3) any other designation or management option that would provide for--

(A) protection of resources within the study area; and

(B) continued access to, and use of, the study area by the public.

(b) Consultation- The Secretaries shall provide for public comment in the preparation of the study, including consultation with appropriate Federal, State, and local governmental entities.

(c) Report- Not later than 18 months after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes--

(1) the results of the study; and

(2) any recommendations of the Secretaries.