CCAGW Annual Ratings

Wilderness and River Designations – Passage

Description: 

Passage of the bill, as amended, that would designate nearly 1.5 million acres of federal lands in California, Colorado, and Washington as new, expanded, or potential wilderness areas -- including approximately 626,000 acres in California, approximately 733,000 acres in Colorado and approximately 132,000 acres in Washington -- and designate more than 1,200 river miles in Northern California and the Washington Olympic Peninsula as wild, scenic or recreational rivers. It would designate over 1.2 million acres of additional federal lands in California as restoration, recreation, and other protected areas; expand or establish a number of National Park System monuments, recreation areas and other lands in California and Colorado; and effectively prohibit new mining or mineral production activities by withdrawing mineral and geothermal leasing rights for a number of federal lands, including approximately 1 million acres in the Grand Canyon region of Arizona and approximately 200,000 acres within the Thompson Divide in Colorado. Among other provisions, the bill would establish a public-private partnership -- made up of federal, state, and local government officials, and private stakeholders -- to facilitate environmental remediation of federal lands and waters in California damaged by illegal marijuana operations. It would preserve a number of existing rights and usages on designated lands, such as low-level helicopter operations and high altitude training by the military. As amended, it would establish a formal system for designation and management of National Heritage Areas; reauthorize the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission for 10 years; and designate or require studies on additional lands in several other states, including to expand two national monuments in Arizona and establish the island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands as a National Heritage Area.

Vote Number: 
House Vote 45
Bill Number: 
HR 803
CCAGW Position: 
Nay
Vote Results: 
Passed 227-200 : D 219-1; R 8-199