S 2216 — Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act

2216 IntroducedReported in Senate (IS)](RS)] <DOC> 118thCalendar CONGRESSNo. 1st Session S.

2216308 To118th releaseCONGRESS from2d wildernessSession studyS. area designation certain land in the State of Montana, to improve the management of that land, and for other purposes.

2216 [Report No.

118-156] To release from wilderness study area designation certain land in the State of Montana, to improve the management of that land, and for other purposes.

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________January A9, BILL2024 ToReported releaseby fromMr. wilderness study area designation certain land in the State of Montana, to improve the management of that land, and for other purposes.

Manchin, with an amendment [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To release from wilderness study area designation certain land in the State of Montana, to improve the management of that land, and for other purposes.

SEC.<DELETED>SEC.

FINDINGS.FINDINGS.</DELETED> <DELETED> Congress finds that--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) under the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-150;

Congress finds that-- (1) under the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-150;

1131 et seq.), with the evaluation to be completed not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-150;

1243);1243);</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) between 1979 and 1986, the Chief of the Forest Service--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) completed the studies of the 9 wilderness study areas referred to in paragraph (1);

(2)and</DELETED> between<DELETED> 1979(B) andbased 1986,on thethose Chiefstudies, ofdetermined thethat Forest608,700 Service--acres (A)of completed the studiesoriginal of973,000 theacres 9designated as wilderness study areas referredby tothe inMontana paragraphWilderness (1);Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-150;

and (B) based on those studies, determined that 608,700 acres of the original 973,000 acres designated as wilderness study areas by the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-150;

1243) were unsuitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System, including the 81,000 acres within the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area;Area;</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) in 2021, following a 6-year collaborative process, the Forest Service again determined, in the revision of the Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest plan, that the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area is unsuitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System;</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.

(3)1701 inet 2021,seq.), following38 wilderness study areas comprising a 6-yeartotal collaborativeof process,447,327 acres of land in the ForestState Serviceof againMontana determined,were inset aside by the revisionBureau of Land Management to evaluate the Helenasuitability Lewisof andthe Clarkwilderness Nationalstudy Forestareas plan,for designation as wilderness, with the evaluation to be completed not later than 15 years after the date of enactment of that Act;</DELETED> <DELETED> (5) in 1991, the MiddleDirector Forkof Judiththe WildernessBureau Studyof AreaLand isManagement unsuitablesubmitted to the President a recommendation on the suitability for inclusiondesignation of the areas described in paragraph (4), which was subsequently submitted to Congress, under which the NationalDirector Wildernessof Preservationthe System;Bureau of Land Management determined that 273,828 acres in the State of Montana designated as wilderness study areas by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of (43 U.S.C.

(4)1701 underet theseq.) Federalwere Landunsuitable Policyfor andwilderness Managementdesignation, Actincluding--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) the 11,380 acres of (43land U.S.C.within the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area;

1701and</DELETED> et<DELETED> seq.),(B) 38the wilderness11,580 studyacres areasof comprisingland awithin totalthe ofWales 447,327Creek acresWilderness ofStudy landArea;</DELETED> in<DELETED> the(6) Statein of2020, Montanafollowing werea set5-year asidecollaborative byprocess, the Bureau of Land ManagementManagement, toin evaluate the suitabilityrevision of the wildernessMissoula studyResource areasManagement forPlan--</DELETED> designation<DELETED> as(A) wilderness,reaffirmed withthat the evaluationHoodoo toMountain beWilderness completedStudy notArea laterand thanthe 15Wales yearsCreek afterWilderness theStudy dateArea ofwere enactmentunsuitable offor thatwilderness Act;designation;

(5)and</DELETED> in<DELETED> 1991,(B) therecommended Directoralternative ofmanagement parameters for the BureauHoodoo ofMountain LandWilderness ManagementStudy submittedArea toand the PresidentWales aCreek recommendationWilderness onStudy theArea;</DELETED> suitability<DELETED> for(7) designationdespite of the areasrecommendations describedof inthe paragraphForest (4),Service whichand wasthe subsequentlyBureau submittedof toLand Congress,Management, underafter which the Directorcompletion of the Bureaustudies offor Landsuitability Managementof determinedthe thatland 273,828 acres in the State of Montana designated as wilderness study areas byunder the FederalMontana LandWilderness PolicyStudy and Management Act of (431977 U.S.C.(Public Law 95-150;

1701 et seq.) were unsuitable for wilderness designation, including-- (A) the 11,380 acres of land within the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area;

and (B) the 11,580 acres of land within the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area;

(6) in 2020, following a 5-year collaborative process, the Bureau of Land Management, in the revision of the Missoula Resource Management Plan-- (A) reaffirmed that the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area were unsuitable for wilderness designation;

and (B) recommended alternative management parameters for the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area;

(7) despite the recommendations of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, after the completion of the studies for suitability of the land in the State of Montana designated as wilderness study areas under the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-150;

1701 et seq.)--seq.)--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) over 1,100,000 acres of public land in the State of Montana remain as wilderness study areas until Congress acts;

andand</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) over 700,000 acres of public land in the State of Montana currently designated as wilderness study areas have been determined unsuitable for wilderness management;management;</DELETED> <DELETED> (8) if the wilderness study area designation was removed from each of the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area, the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area, and the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area, land managers would be able to better conserve and manage the areas in accordance with applicable land and resource management plans that retain certain protections for the areas, while providing for-- </DELETED> <DELETED> (A) enhanced sportsmen opportunities in the backcountry of Montana;</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) improved public access;

(8)and</DELETED> if<DELETED> (C) the wildernessconduct study area designation was removed from each of thewildlife Middlehabitat Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area, the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area, and thewildfire Walesmitigation Creekprojects;</DELETED> Wilderness<DELETED> Study(9) Area, land managers would be able to better conserve and manage the areas in accordance with applicable land and resource management plans thatreferred retainto certainin protectionsparagraph for(8) thewere areas,developed whilethrough providinga for--multi-year, (A)collaborative enhancedprocess sportsmensupported opportunitiesby--</DELETED> in<DELETED> the(A) backcountryresource ofneeds Montana;and conditions;

and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) improvedthe publicbest access;available science;

andand</DELETED> (C)<DELETED> (10) following release, the conductrespective ofland wildlifemanagement habitatagencies andshall wildfirecontinue mitigationmanaging projects;the areas described in paragraph (8)--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) in accordance with applicable environmental and administrative laws;

(9)and</DELETED> the<DELETED> applicable(B) landbased andon resourcelocal managementinput, plansmultiple-use referredand tosustained inyield paragraphprinciples, (8)and wereland developedmanagement throughobjectives.</DELETED> a<DELETED>SEC. multi- year, collaborative process supported by-- (A) resource needs and conditions;

and (B) the best available science;

and (10) following release, the respective land management agencies shall continue managing the areas described in paragraph (8)-- (A) in accordance with applicable environmental and administrative laws;

and (B) based on local input, multiple-use and sustained yield principles, and land management objectives.

SEC.

RELEASE AND IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF LAND COMPRISING CERTAIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.</DELETED> SEC.

2.

<all>Calendar No.

308 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S.

2216 [Report No.

118-156] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To release from wilderness study area designation certain land in the State of Montana, to improve the management of that land, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________ January 9, 2024 Reported with an amendment