[House Report 116-387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress   }                                            {    Report
                          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session      }                                            {   116-387

======================================================================



 
                    COLORADO WILDERNESS ACT OF 2019

                                _______
                                

February 4, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            DISSENTING VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 2546]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 2546) to designate certain lands in the State of 
Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation 
System, and for other purposes, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that 
the bill as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITION.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Colorado Wilderness 
Act of 2019''.
  (b) Secretary Defined.--As used in this Act, the term ``Secretary'' 
means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as 
appropriate.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM IN THE 
                    STATE OF COLORADO.

  (a) Additions.--Section 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 
(Public Law 103-77; 107 Stat. 756; 16 U.S.C. 1132 note) is amended by 
adding at the end the following paragraphs:
          ``(23) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 19,839 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled `Bull Gulch & Castle Peak Proposed Wilderness', dated 
        October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the Bull Gulch 
        Wilderness.
          ``(24) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 15,987 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled `Bull Gulch & Castle Peak Proposed Wilderness Areas', 
        dated October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the Castle Peak 
        Wilderness.
          ``(25) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 316 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled 
        `Maroon Bells Addition Proposed Wilderness', dated July 20, 
        2018, which is hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to be 
        a part of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area designated 
        by Public Law 88-577.
          ``(26) Certain lands managed by the Gunnison Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        38,217 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled `Redcloud & 
        Handies Peak Proposed Wilderness', dated October 9, 2019, which 
        shall be known as the Redcloud Peak Wilderness.
          ``(27) Certain lands managed by the Gunnison Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Grand Mesa, 
        Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, which comprise 
        approximately 26,734 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled `Redcloud & Handies Peak Proposed Wilderness', dated 
        October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the Handies Peak 
        Wilderness.
          ``(28) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office 
        of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        16,481 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled `Table 
        Mountain & McIntyre Hills Proposed Wilderness', dated November 
        7, 2019, which shall be known as the McIntyre Hills Wilderness.
          ``(29) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 10,282 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled `Grand Hogback Proposed Wilderness', dated October 16, 
        2019, which shall be known as the Grand Hogback Wilderness.
          ``(30) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the White 
        River National Forest, which comprise approximately 16,101 
        acres, as generally depicted on a map titled `Flat Tops 
        Proposed Wilderness Addition', dated October 9, 2019, and which 
        are hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to be a part of 
        the Flat Tops Wilderness designated by Public Law 94-146.
          ``(31) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 25,624 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled `Demaree Canyon Proposed Wilderness', dated October 9, 
        2019, which shall be known as the Demaree Canyon Wilderness.
          ``(32) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 28,279 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled `Little Books Cliff Proposed Wilderness', dated October 
        9, 2019, which shall be known as the Little Bookcliffs 
        Wilderness.
          ``(33) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 7,376 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled `Pisgah East & West Proposed Wilderness' and dated 
        October 16, 2019, which shall be known as the Pisgah East 
        Wilderness, upon being designated as wilderness as provided by 
        section 3(h)(2) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019.
          ``(34) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 6,828 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled `Pisgah East & West Proposed Wilderness' and dated 
        October 16, 2019, which shall be known as the Pisgah West 
        Wilderness, upon being designated as wilderness as provided by 
        section 3(h)(2) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019.''.
  (b) Further Additions.--The following lands in the State of Colorado 
administered by the Bureau of Land Management or the United States 
Forest Service are hereby designated as wilderness and, therefore, as 
components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
          (1) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River Valley Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the White 
        River National Forest, which comprise approximately 19,240 
        acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Assignation 
        Ridge Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 12, 2019, which 
        shall be known as the Assignation Ridge Wilderness.
          (2) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Pike and San 
        Isabel National Forests, which comprise approximately 23,116 
        acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Badger Creek 
        Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Badger Creek Wilderness.
          (3) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Pike and San 
        Isabel National Forests, which comprise approximately 35,251 
        acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Beaver Creek 
        Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Beaver Creek Wilderness.
          (4) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management or the Bureau of Reclamation or 
        located in the Pike and San Isabel National Forest, which 
        comprise approximately 32,884 acres, as generally depicted on a 
        map titled ``Grape Creek Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 
        7, 2019, which shall be known as the Grape Creek Wilderness.
          (5) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field Office 
        of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        13,351 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``North & 
        South Bangs Canyon Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 
        2019, which shall be known as the North Bangs Canyon 
        Wilderness.
          (6) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field Office 
        of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        5,144 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``North & 
        South Bangs Canyon Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 
        2019, which shall be known as the South Bangs Canyon 
        Wilderness.
          (7) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field Office 
        of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        26,624 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Unaweep & 
        Palisade Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which 
        shall be known as The Palisade Wilderness.
          (8) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field Office 
        of the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Grand Mesa, 
        Uncompaghre, and Gunnison National Forest, which comprise 
        approximately 19,776 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled ``Unaweep & Palisade Proposed Wilderness'', dated 
        October 9, 2019, which shall be known as the Unaweep 
        Wilderness.
          (9) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction Field Office 
        of the Bureau of Land Management and San Juan Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management and in the Manti-LaSal National 
        Forest, which comprise approximately 37,637 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Sewemup Mesa Proposed Wilderness'', 
        dated November 7, 2019, which shall be known as the Sewemup 
        Mesa Wilderness.
          (10) Certain lands managed by the Kremmling Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 31 
        acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Platte River 
        Addition Proposed Wilderness'', dated July 20, 2018, and which 
        are hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to be part of 
        the Platte River Wilderness designated by Public Law 98-550.
          (11) Certain lands managed by the Uncompahgre Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        17,587 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Roubideau 
        Proposed Wilderness'', dated Octboer 9, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Roubideau Wilderness.
          (12) Certain lands managed by the Uncompahgre Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Grand Mesa, 
        Uncompaghre, and Gunnison National Forest, which comprise 
        approximately 12,102 acres, as generally depicted on a map 
        titled ``Norwood Canyon Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 
        7, 2019, which shall be known as the Norwood Canyon Wilderness.
          (13) Certain lands managed by the San Juan Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        24,475 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Cross 
        Canyon Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which 
        shall be known as the Cross Canyon Wilderness.
          (14) Certain lands managed by the San Juan Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        21,220 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``McKenna 
        Peak Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 16, 2019, which shall 
        be known as the McKenna Peak Wilderness.
          (15) Certain lands managed by the San Juan Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        14,270 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Weber-
        Menefee Mountain Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, 
        which shall be known as the Weber-Menefee Mountain Wilderness.
          (16) Certain lands managed by the Uncompahgre and San Juan 
        Field Offices of the Bureau of Land Management or the Bureau of 
        Reclamation, which comprise approximately 33,351 acres, as 
        generally depicted on a map titled ``Dolores River Canyon 
        Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Dolores River Canyon Wilderness.
          (17) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management or located in the Pike and San 
        Isabel National Forests, which comprise approximately 17,922 
        acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Browns Canyon 
        Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Browns Canyon Wilderness.
          (18) Certain lands managed by the San Luis Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        10,527 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``San Luis 
        Hills Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019 which shall 
        be known as the San Luis Hills Wilderness.
          (19) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field Office of 
        the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise approximately 
        23,559 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ``Table 
        Mountain & McIntyre Hills Proposed Wilderness'', dated November 
        7, 2019, which shall be known as the Table Mountain Wilderness.
  (c) West Elk Addition.--Certain lands in the State of Colorado 
administered by the Gunnison Field Office of the Bureau of Land 
Management, the United States National Park Service, and the Bureau of 
Reclamation, which comprise approximately 6,695 acres, as generally 
depicted on a map titled ``West Elk Addition Proposed Wilderness'', 
dated October 9, 2019, are hereby designated as wilderness and, 
therefore, as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System 
and are hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to be a part of the 
West Elk Wilderness designated by Public Law 88-577. The boundary 
adjacent to Blue Mesa Reservoir shall be 50 feet landward from the 
water's edge, and shall change according to the water level.
  (d) Blue Mesa Reservoir.--If the Bureau of Reclamation determines 
that lands within the West Elk Wilderness Addition are necessary for 
future expansion of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, the Secretary shall by 
publication of a revised boundary description in the Federal Register 
revise the boundary of the West Elk Wilderness Addition.
  (e) Maps and Descriptions.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
enactment of the Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a boundary 
description of each area designated as wilderness by this section with 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. Each map 
and boundary description shall have the same force and effect as if 
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct clerical 
and typographical errors in the map or boundary description. The maps 
and boundary descriptions shall be on file and available for public 
inspection in the Office of the Director of the Bureau of Land 
Management, Department of the Interior, and in the Office of the Chief 
of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, as appropriate.
  (f) State and Private Lands.--Lands within the exterior boundaries of 
any wilderness area designated under this section that are owned by a 
private entity or by the State of Colorado, including lands 
administered by the Colorado State Land Board, shall be included within 
such wilderness area if such lands are acquired by the United States. 
Such lands may be acquired by the United States only as provided in the 
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).

SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

  (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, lands designated 
as wilderness by this Act shall be managed by the Secretary in 
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this 
Act, except that, with respect to any wilderness areas designated by 
this Act, any reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of 
the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of 
enactment of this Act.
  (b) Grazing.--Grazing of livestock in wilderness areas designated by 
this Act shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of 
section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)), as 
further interpreted by section 108 of Public Law 96-560, and the 
guidelines set forth in appendix A of House Report 101-405 of the 101st 
Congress.
  (c) State Jurisdiction.--As provided in section 4(d)(7) of the 
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the 
State of Colorado with respect to wildlife and fish in Colorado.
  (d) Buffer Zones.--
          (1) In general.--Nothing in this Act creates a protective 
        perimeter or buffer zone around any area designated as 
        wilderness by section 2.
          (2) Activities outside wilderness.--The fact that an activity 
        or use on land outside the areas designated as wilderness by 
        section 2 can be seen or heard within the wilderness shall not 
        preclude the activity or use outside the boundary of the 
        wilderness.
  (e) Military Helicopter Overflights and Operations.--
          (1) In general.--Nothing in this Act restricts or precludes--
                  (A) low-level overflights of military helicopters 
                over the areas designated as wilderness by section 2, 
                including military overflights that can be seen or 
                heard within any wilderness area;
                  (B) military flight testing and evaluation;
                  (C) the designation or creation of new units of 
                special use airspace, or the establishment of military 
                flight training routes over any wilderness area; or
                  (D) helicopter operations at designated landing zones 
                within the following five regions:
                          (i) Flat Tops Wilderness;
                          (ii) Bull Gulch Wilderness;
                          (iii) Castle Peak Wilderness;
                          (iv) Pisgah East Wilderness; and
                          (v) Pisgah West Wilderness.
          (2) Aerial navigation training exercises.--The Colorado Army 
        National Guard, through the High-Altitude Army National Guard 
        Aviation Training Site, may conduct aerial navigation training 
        maneuver exercises over, and associated operations within, the 
        wilderness areas designated by this Act--
                  (A) in a manner and degree consistent with the 
                memorandum of understanding dated August 4, 1987, 
                entered into among the Colorado Army National Guard, 
                the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service; 
                or
                  (B) in a manner consistent with any subsequent 
                memorandum of understanding entered into among the 
                Colorado Army National Guard, the Bureau of Land 
                Management, and the Forest Service.
  (f) Running Events.--The Secretary may continue to authorize 
competitive running events currently permitted in the Redcloud Peak 
Wilderness Area and Handies Peak Wilderness Area in a manner compatible 
with the preservation of such areas as wilderness.
  (g) Land Trades.--If the Secretary trades privately owned land within 
the perimeter of the Redcloud Peak Wilderness Area or the Handies Peak 
Wilderness Area in exchange for Federal land, then such Federal land 
shall be located in Hinsdale County, Colorado.
  (h) Recreational Climbing.--Nothing in this Act prohibits 
recreational rock climbing activities in the wilderness areas, such as 
the placement, use, and maintenance of fixed anchors, including any 
fixed anchor established before the date of the enactment of this Act--
          (1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 
        seq.); and
          (2) subject to any terms and conditions determined to be 
        necessary by the Secretary.
  (i) Potential Wilderness Designations.--
          (1) In general.--The following lands are designated as 
        potential wilderness areas:
                  (A) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs 
                Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which 
                comprise approximately 7,376 acres, as generally 
                depicted on a map titled ``Pisgah East & West Proposed 
                Wilderness'' and dated October 16, 2019, which, upon 
                designation as wilderness under paragraph (2), shall be 
                known as the Pisgah East Wilderness.
                  (B) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs 
                Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which 
                comprise approximately 6,828 acres, as generally 
                depicted on a map titled ``Pisgah East & West Proposed 
                Wilderness'' and dated October 16, 2019, which, upon 
                designation as wilderness under paragraph (2), shall be 
                known as the Pisgah West Wilderness.
          (2) Designation as wilderness.--Lands designated as a 
        potential wilderness area by subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
        paragraph (1) shall be designated as wilderness on the date on 
        which the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register a notice 
        that all nonconforming uses of those lands authorized by 
        subsection (e) in the potential wilderness area that would be 
        in violation of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) 
        have ceased. Such publication in the Federal Register and 
        designation as wilderness shall occur for the potential 
        wilderness area as the nonconforming uses cease in that 
        potential wilderness area and designation as wilderness is not 
        dependent on cessation of nonconforming uses in the other 
        potential wilderness area.
          (3) Management.--Except for activities provided for under 
        subsection (e), lands designated as a potential wilderness area 
        by paragraph (1) shall be managed by the Secretary in 
        accordance with the Wilderness Act as wilderness pending the 
        designation of such lands as wilderness under this subsection.

SEC. 4. WATER.

  (a) Effect on Water Rights.--Nothing in this Act--
          (1) affects the use or allocation, in existence on the date 
        of enactment of this Act, of any water, water right, or 
        interest in water;
          (2) affects any vested absolute or decreed conditional water 
        right in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, 
        including any water right held by the United States;
          (3) affects any interstate water compact in existence on the 
        date of enactment of this Act;
          (4) authorizes or imposes any new reserved Federal water 
        rights; and
          (5) shall be considered to be a relinquishment or reduction 
        of any water rights reserved or appropriated by the United 
        States in the State of Colorado on or before the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
  (b) Midstream Areas.--
          (1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to protect 
        for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future 
        generations--
                  (A) the unique and nationally important values of 
                areas designated as wilderness by section 2(b) 
                (including the geological, cultural, archaeological, 
                paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, 
                environmental, biological, wilderness, wildlife, 
                riparian, historical, educational, and scenic resources 
                of the public land); and
                  (B) the water resources of area streams, based on 
                seasonally available flows, that are necessary to 
                support aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial species and 
                communities.
          (2) Wilderness water rights.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that any 
                water rights within the wilderness designated by 
                section 2(b) required to fulfill the purposes of such 
                wilderness are secured in accordance with subparagraphs 
                (B) through (G).
                  (B) State law.--
                          (i) Procedural requirements.--Any water 
                        rights for which the Secretary pursues 
                        adjudication shall be appropriated, 
                        adjudicated, changed, and administered in 
                        accordance with the procedural requirements and 
                        priority system of State law.
                          (ii) Establishment of water rights.--
                                  (I) In general.--Except as provided 
                                in subclause (II), the purposes and 
                                other substantive characteristics of 
                                the water rights pursued under this 
                                paragraph shall be established in 
                                accordance with State law.
                                  (II) Exception.--Notwithstanding 
                                subclause (I) and in accordance with 
                                this Act, the Secretary may appropriate 
                                and seek adjudication of water rights 
                                to maintain surface water levels and 
                                stream flows on and across the 
                                wilderness designated by section 2(b) 
                                to fulfill the purposes of such 
                                wilderness.
                  (C) Deadline.--The Secretary shall promptly, but not 
                earlier than January 1, 2021, appropriate the water 
                rights required to fulfill the purposes of the 
                wilderness designated by section 2(b).
                  (D) Required determination.--The Secretary shall not 
                pursue adjudication for any instream flow water rights 
                unless the Secretary makes a determination pursuant to 
                subparagraph (E)(ii) or (F).
                  (E) Cooperative enforcement.--
                          (i) In general.--The Secretary shall not 
                        pursue adjudication of any Federal instream 
                        flow water rights established under this 
                        paragraph if--
                                  (I) the Secretary determines, upon 
                                adjudication of the water rights by the 
                                Colorado Water Conservation Board, that 
                                the Board holds water rights sufficient 
                                in priority, amount, and timing to 
                                fulfill the purposes of this 
                                subsection; and
                                  (II) the Secretary has entered into a 
                                perpetual agreement with the Colorado 
                                Water Conservation Board to ensure full 
                                exercise, protection, and enforcement 
                                of the State water rights within the 
                                wilderness to reliably fulfill the 
                                purposes of this subsection.
                          (ii) Adjudication.--If the Secretary 
                        determines that the provisions of clause (i) 
                        have not been met, the Secretary shall 
                        adjudicate and exercise any Federal water 
                        rights required to fulfill the purposes of the 
                        wilderness in accordance with this paragraph.
                  (F) Insufficient water rights.--If the Colorado Water 
                Conservation Board modifies the instream flow water 
                rights obtained under subparagraph (E) to such a degree 
                that the Secretary determines that water rights held by 
                the State are insufficient to fulfill the purposes of 
                this Act, the Secretary shall adjudicate and exercise 
                Federal water rights required to fulfill the purposes 
                of this Act in accordance with subparagraph (B).
                  (G) Failure to comply.--The Secretary shall promptly 
                act to exercise and enforce the water rights described 
                in subparagraph (E) if the Secretary determines that--
                          (i) the State is not exercising its water 
                        rights consistent with subparagraph (E)(i)(I); 
                        or
                          (ii) the agreement described in subparagraph 
                        (E)(i)(II) is not fulfilled or complied with 
                        sufficiently to fulfill the purposes of this 
                        Act.
          (3) Water resource facility.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, beginning on the date of enactment of this 
        Act, neither the President nor any other officer, employee, or 
        agent of the United States shall fund, assist, authorize, or 
        issue a license or permit for development of any new irrigation 
        and pumping facility, reservoir, water conservation work, 
        aqueduct, canal, ditch, pipeline, well, hydropower project, 
        transmission, other ancillary facility, or other water, 
        diversion, storage, or carriage structure in the wilderness 
        designated by section 2(b).
  (c) Access and Operation.--
          (1) Definition.--As used in this subsection, the term ``water 
        resource facility'' means irrigation and pumping facilities, 
        reservoirs, water conservation works, aqueducts, canals, 
        ditches, pipelines, wells, hydropower projects, transmission 
        and other ancillary facilities, and other water diversion, 
        storage, and carriage structures.
          (2) Access to water resource facilities.--Subject to the 
        provisions of this subsection, the Secretary shall allow 
        reasonable access to water resource facilities in existence on 
        the date of enactment of this Act within the areas described in 
        sections 2(b) and 2(c), including motorized access where 
        necessary and customarily employed on routes existing as of the 
        date of enactment of this Act.
          (3) Access routes.--Existing access routes within such areas 
        customarily employed as of the date of enactment of this Act 
        may be used, maintained, repaired, and replaced to the extent 
        necessary to maintain their present function, design, and 
        serviceable operation, so long as such activities have no 
        increased adverse impacts on the resources and values of the 
        areas described in sections 2(b) and 2(c) than existed as of 
        the date of enactment of this Act.
          (4) Use of water resource facilities.--Subject to the 
        provisions of this subsection and subsection (a)(4), the 
        Secretary shall allow water resource facilities existing on the 
        date of enactment of this Act within areas described in 
        sections 2(b) and 2(c) to be used, operated, maintained, 
        repaired, and replaced to the extent necessary for the 
        continued exercise, in accordance with Colorado State law, of 
        vested water rights adjudicated for use in connection with such 
        facilities by a court of competent jurisdiction prior to the 
        date of enactment of this Act. The impact of an existing 
        facility on the water resources and values of the area shall 
        not be increased as a result of changes in the adjudicated type 
        of use of such facility as of the date of enactment of this 
        Act.
          (5) Repair and maintenance.--Water resource facilities, and 
        access routes serving such facilities, existing within the 
        areas described in sections 2(b) and 2(c) on the date of 
        enactment of this Act shall be maintained and repaired when and 
        to the extent necessary to prevent increased adverse impacts on 
        the resources and values of the areas described in sections 
        2(b) and 2(c).

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

  It is the sense of Congress that military aviation training on 
Federal public lands in Colorado, including the training conducted at 
the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, is 
critical to the national security of the United States and the 
readiness of the Armed Forces.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 2546 is to designate certain lands in 
the State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System, and for other purposes.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    Colorado is home to some of the most cherished and visited 
public lands in the nation. Federal public lands represent 
approximately one-third of Colorado's land base, and Coloradans 
especially value protecting these public lands and the numerous 
benefits they provide, including clean water, abundant 
recreational opportunities, pristine wildlife habitats, and 
economic opportunity. Approximately 73 percent of Coloradans 
say ``the ability to live near, recreate on, and enjoy public 
lands'' is a ``significant reason'' they live in the West, and 
65 percent would prefer that Congress place more emphasis on 
protecting sources of clean water, air quality, and wildlife 
habitat.\1\ Undoubtedly, these treasured landscapes have made 
Colorado one of the fastest growing states in the country\2\ 
and attract millions of visitors each year.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Colorado College, 2019 State of the Rockies Conservation in the 
West Poll, Colorado (2019), https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/
stateoftherockies/documents/SotR%20Fact% 20Sheets_CO.pdf.
    \2\Press Release, U.S. Census Bureau, Nevada and Idaho Are the 
Nation's Fastest-Growing States (Dec. 19, 2018), https://
www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/estimates-national-
state.html.
    \3\See, e.g., Patricia Hernandez Gude, Headwater Econ., National 
Parks Economic 
Impacts (updated Aug. 2019), https://headwaterseconomics.org/dataviz/
national-park-service-units/. See generally U.S. Forest Service, 
National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey Results National Summary Report: 
Data Collected FY 2012 Through FY 2016 (2016), https://www.fs.fed.us/
recreation/programs/nvum/pdf/5082016NationalSummaryReport062217.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Colorado's public lands are the backbone of the state's 
booming outdoor recreation economy, which generates $28 billion 
in annual consumer spending, 229,000 direct jobs, $9.7 billion 
in wages and salaries, and $2 billion in state and local tax 
revenue every year.\4\ H.R. 2546 would support this growing 
economic sector by protecting approximately 606,000 acres of 
federally owned land in Colorado as wilderness or potential 
wilderness, thereby safeguarding recreational opportunities, 
including hiking, skiing, camping, climbing, hunting and 
fishing, for the benefit of current and future generations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\Outdoor Indus. Ass'n, Outdoor Recreation Economy State Report: 
Colorado (2017), https://outdoorindustry.org/state/colorado/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Colorado has a strong history of protecting public lands as 
wilderness. In 1964, the Wilderness Act established the 
National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) with an initial 
designation of more than 9 million acres of public lands 
managed by the U.S. Forest Service, including five areas in 
Colorado. In 1976, the Federal Land Policy Management Act 
directed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to include 
wilderness management in its mission by requiring the inventory 
of areas with wilderness characteristics and the subsequent 
submission of recommendations to Congress regarding their 
designation.
    In 1991, the BLM submitted its list of wilderness 
recommendations, identified as wilderness study areas (WSAs). 
Although WSAs are generally managed for wilderness qualities, 
Congress alone has the authority to determine whether public 
lands should be designated as wilderness or better managed for 
other uses. In 1993, Congress acted on several agency 
recommendations with the enactment of the Colorado Wilderness 
Act of 1993,\5\ which designated more than 600,000 acres of 
wilderness throughout Colorado, largely made up of the higher-
elevation and alpine areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\Pub. L. No. 103-77, 107 Stat. 756 (1993), https://
uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm? volume=107&page=756.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Today, approximately 3.5 million acres of public land in 
Colorado are designated as wilderness, but past conservation 
efforts have not included protections for several well-known 
peaks and have neglected to provide permanent protections for 
lower-lying canyon areas, foothills, and lower-elevation 
terrain. Recognizing the need to protect the clean water, 
wildlife and wilderness values of these areas, a group of 
dedicated citizens embarked on an effort to review and 
inventory BLM WSAs in Colorado and identify nearby public lands 
with similar wilderness quality characteristics. These 
grassroots efforts informed the introduction of the Colorado 
Wilderness Act of 1999 in the 106th Congress by Representative 
Diana DeGette (D-CO).
    Representative DeGette has reintroduced the Colorado 
Wilderness Act in every subsequent Congress while continuing to 
work with members of the public, Colorado communities, elected 
officials, and countless other stakeholders to revise and 
update the proposal to focus on those areas most deserving of 
protection. In the 116th Congress, the Colorado Wilderness Act 
of 2019 was introduced as H.R. 2546. During the National Parks, 
Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee hearing on the bill, the 
majority witness for the bill testified on behalf of two 
organizations, Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship and 
the Colorado Mountain Club, and stated, ``Colorado needs to 
take action now in order to preserve the wide open spaces that 
are such a draw to people wanting to move to Colorado, 
establish businesses here, and recreate here.''\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\Hearing on H.R. 252, H.R. 1475, H.R. 2199, H.R. 2215, H.R. 2250, 
H.R. 2546, and H.R. 2642 Before the Subcomm. on Nat'l Parks, Forests & 
Pub. Lands of the H. Comm. on Nat. Res., 116th Cong. (2019) (statement 
of Steve Bonowski, Colo. Bd. Member, Conservatives for Responsible 
Stewardship & Bd. Member, Colo. Mountain Club Found.), https://
docs.house.gov/meetings/II/II10/20190710/109754/HMTG-116-II10-Wstate-
BonowskiS-20190710.pdf.
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    H.R. 2546, as reported, reflects ongoing stakeholder 
engagement with the inclusion of changes agreed to in 
consultation with federal land management agencies, 
representatives of the outdoor recreation community, and the 
National Guard Bureau. The wilderness designations in the 
reported bill, as compared to the introduced version, have been 
reduced by approximately 140,000 acres in order to remove oil 
and gas priority leasing areas, avoid existing mineral and hard 
rock leases, and accommodate road and water infrastructure, 
including existing motorized and mechanized routes.
    The bill sponsor has worked extensively with the Outdoor 
Alliance to address specific recreational concerns, including 
avoiding heavily used mountain bike trails and rock-climbing 
areas. Furthermore, H.R. 2546 now reflects language intended to 
safeguard recreational climbing in wilderness areas designated 
by this bill. As a result, the Outdoor Alliance, the 
Conservation Alliance, and the Outdoor Industry Association, 
representing a multi-disciplinary coalition of outdoor 
recreation interests, have provided their endorsement of H.R. 
2546.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\November 19, 2019, letter to Representative DeGette submitted 
for the record at markup.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Importantly, language in the bill to protect military 
overflight and high-altitude aviation training has been 
strengthened at the request of the National Guard Bureau. Those 
efforts were memorialized in a November 20, 2019, letter from 
the Director of the Army National Guard addressed to the 
Subcommittee Chair and Ranking Member, which ``acknowledges the 
provisions made for HAATS and Military Helicopter Overflight 
and Operation in section 3(e) included within the recent 
amendment to H.R. 2546.'' The letter goes on to say, ``The 
provisions included in section 3(e) would help maintain our 
current mode of operations, negating additional costs which 
would otherwise be incurred due to longer travel times to the 
training areas, and avoiding a resultant reduction of the total 
number of aviators being able to complete the training in a 
given year.''\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\November 20, 2019, letter from the National Guard Bureau to 
Chair Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Ranking Member Don Young (R-AK).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As the product of more than twenty years of collaborative 
efforts, H.R. 2546 now designates approximately 569,479 acres 
of new wilderness areas, 23,043 acres of expanded wilderness, 
and 14,204 acres of potential wilderness in Colorado, putting 
this effort on par with the conservation gains achieved in the 
Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993. In total, H.R. 2546 would 
designate thirty-three areas mostly drawn from existing 
wilderness study areas, Colorado Roadless Areas, or other lands 
identified as having wilderness characteristics. Although each 
of these areas is unique in its own way,\9\ there are a few 
areas that are particularly illustrative of the values that 
will be permanently protected by a wilderness designation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\Protecting Colorado's Wilderness, Congresswoman Diana Degette, 
https://degette.house.gov/legislative-issues/protecting-colorado-s-
wilderness (last visited Jan. 14, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Handies Peak Wilderness is comprised of one of the 
largest unprotected roadless areas remaining in Colorado. It 
contains 15 miles of the Continental Divide of the scenic San 
Juan Mountains and sits at the headwaters of both the Rio 
Grande and Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. The area forms a 
critical missing link in the larger protected landscape of the 
San Juan Mountains and serves as an ecological corridor 
connecting the northern and southern San Juans. Rising 14,048 
feet in elevation, Handies Peak is one of Colorado's crowning 
gems and the highest peak under BLM jurisdiction outside of 
Alaska. The trademark ``fourteener,'' as well as glacial ponds, 
canyons, and waterfalls make this area's ecological 
individuality indisputable. The area is also home to a diverse 
array of wildlife, including elk, black bears, deer, and 
bighorn sheep.
    The Dolores River Canyon Wilderness Study Area is a 
pristine desert area containing some of the most outstanding 
canyon scenery in Colorado. The area includes twelve geological 
formations spanning 160 million years of geologic history, 
exposed by the river in the gorge. At points, the canyon rim 
rises more than 1,000 feet above the river. Important species, 
including the endangered peregrine falcon, golden and bald 
eagles, and river otters live in this area. In early summer, 
several thousand rafters also pass through the rim walls of the 
Dolores Canyon.
    The proposed Little Bookcliffs Wilderness encompasses the 
Little Book Cliffs Wilderness Study Area at the east end of the 
Bookcliffs, near Grand Junction, Colorado. Thousand-foot canyon 
walls rise from the entrance to Main Canyon at its confluence 
with the Colorado River, and portions of the 2,000-foot 
vertical face of the Bookcliffs, visible from throughout the 
Grand Valley, are included in the wilderness area. The sheer 
enormity of these unscalable walls, combined with the views 
from the mesas above them, provide incomparable wilderness 
values. The Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range is also well 
known as the only Wild Horse Range in Colorado Plateau 
province. Animals such as deer, bobcats, mountain lions, elk, 
and bears also inhabit these scenic and ecologically diverse 
lands.
    H.R. 2546 enjoys wide support from stakeholders across 
Colorado, including endorsements from over 350 businesses and 
organizations across the state as well as fourteen Colorado 
counties and municipalities. In addition, a 2019 poll of voters 
in Western and Southern Colorado, where most of the proposed 
designations are located, found that nearly 70 percent of 
respondents support additional wilderness designations.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\New Bridge Strategy, Key Findings from a Survey of Voters 
throughout Western and Southern Colorado (2019), https://
www.sanjuancitizens.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Wilderness-survey-
briefing-10.25.2019.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 2546 was introduced on May 7, 2019, by Representative 
Diana DeGette (D-CO). The bill was referred solely to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. On 
July 10, 2019, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On 
November 20, 2019, the Natural Resources Committee met to 
consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous 
consent. Representative DeGette offered an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. Representative John R. Curtis (R-UT) 
offered an amendment designated Curtis #1 to the amendment in 
the nature of a substitute. The amendment was not agreed to by 
a roll call vote of 13 yeas and 20 nays, as follows:


    Representative DeGette offered an amendment designated 
DeGette #051 to the amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
The amendment was agreed to by unanimous consent. The amendment 
in the nature of a substitute offered by Representative 
DeGette, as amended, was adopted by voice vote. The bill, as 
amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House of 
Representatives by a roll call vote of 21 yeas and 13 nays, as 
follows:


                                Hearings

    For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 
116th Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or 
consider H.R. 2546: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on 
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held on July 10, 
2019.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

      Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional Budget Act

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the 
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                  Washington, DC, January 29, 2020.
Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2546, the Colorado 
Wilderness Act of 2019.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani 
Shankaran.
            Sincerely,
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

    
    

    H.R. 2546 would designate roughly 600,000 acres of federal 
land in Colorado as wilderness and would withdraw that land 
from entry under hardrock mining laws and mineral and 
geothermal leasing, subject to valid existing rights. That is, 
the bill would not allow new hardrock mining claims or mineral 
and geothermal leases on that land.
    For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 2546 will be 
enacted in 2020. Using information from the Forest Service and 
the Bureau of Land Management, CBO estimates that the agencies 
would incur costs of about $1 million over the 2020-2025 period 
to implement the wilderness designations; any spending would be 
subject to the availability of appropriated funds. That amount 
includes costs for new maps and signage, wilderness surveys, 
and a few additional rangers.
    Income from mineral leasing is classified in the budget as 
offsetting receipts, or reductions in direct spending. Under 
H.R. 2546, the federal government would forgo receipts because 
land would be withdrawn from mineral leasing. However, CBO 
estimates that any increases in direct spending would be 
insignificant over the 2020-2030 period.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani 
Shankaran. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 
Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to designate certain lands in the 
State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System.

                           Earmark Statement

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                 Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                           Existing Programs

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is 
printed in italic and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                    COLORADO WILDERNESS ACT OF 1993



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM.

  (a) Addition.--The following lands in the State of Colorado 
are hereby designated as wilderness and, therefore, as 
components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
          (1) Certain lands in the Gunnison Resource Area 
        administered by the Bureau of Land Management which 
        comprise approximately 3,390 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``American Flats Additions 
        to the Big Blue Wilderness Proposal (American Flats)'', 
        dated January, 1993, and which are hereby incorporated 
        in and shall be deemed to be a part of the wilderness 
        area designated by section 102(a)(l) of Public Law 96-
        560 and renamed Uncompahgre Wilderness by section 3(f) 
        of this Act.
          (2) Certain lands in the Gunnison Resource Area 
        administered by the Bureau of Land Management which 
        comprise approximately 815 acres, as generally depicted 
        on a map entitled ``Bill Hare Gulch and Larson Creek 
        Additions to the Big Blue Wilderness'', dated January, 
        1993, and which are hereby incorporated in and shall be 
        deemed to be a part of the wilderness area designated 
        by section 102(a)(l) of Public Law 96-560 and renamed 
        Uncompahgre Wilderness by section 3(f) of this Act.
          (3) Certain lands in the Pike and San Isabel National 
        Forests which comprise approximately 43,410 acres, as 
        generally depicted on a map entitled ``Buffalo Peaks 
        Wilderness Proposal'', dated January, 1993, and which 
        shall be known as the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness.
          (4) Certain lands in the Gunnison National Forest and 
        in the Powderhorn Primitive Area administered by the 
        Bureau of Land Management which comprise approximately 
        60,100 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled 
        ``Powderhorn Wilderness Proposal'', dated January, 
        1993, and which shall be known as the Powderhorn 
        Wilderness.
          (5) Certain lands in the Routt National Forest which 
        comprise approximately 20,750 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Davis Peak Additions to 
        Mount Zirkel Wilderness Proposal'', dated January, 
        1993, and which are hereby incorporated in and shall be 
        deemed to be a part of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness 
        designated by Public Law 88-555, as amended by Public 
        Law 96-560.
          (6) Certain lands in the Gunnison National Forests 
        which comprise approximately 33,060 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Fossil Ridge Wilderness 
        Proposal'', dated January, 1993, and which shall be 
        known as the Fossil Ridge Wilderness.
          (7) Certain lands in the San Isabel National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 22,040 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Greenhorn Mountain 
        Wilderness Proposal'', dated January, 1993, and which 
        shall be known as the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness.
          (8) Certain lands within the Pike National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 14,700 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Lost Creek Wilderness 
        Addition Proposal'', dated January, 1993, which are 
        hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to be a part 
        of the Lost Creek Wilderness designated b Public Law 
        96-560: Provided, That the Secretary is authorized to 
        acquire, only by donation or exchange, various mineral 
        reservations held by the State of Colorado within the 
        boundaries of the Lost Creek Wilderness additions 
        designated by this Act.
          (9) Certain lands in the Gunnison National Forests 
        which comprise approximately 5,500 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``0-Be-Joyful Addition to 
        the Raggeds Wilderness Proposal'', dated January, 1993, 
        and which are hereby incorporated in and shall be 
        deemed to be a part of the Raggeds Wilderness 
        designated by Public Law 96-560.
          (10) Certain lands in the Rio Grande and San Isabel 
        National Forests and lands in the San Luis Resource 
        Area administered by the Bureau of Land Management 
        which comprise approximately 226,455 acres, as 
        generally depicted on four maps entitled ``Sangre de 
        Cristo Wilderness Proposal (North Section)'', ``Sangre 
        de Cristo Wilderness Proposal (North Middle Section)'', 
        ``Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Proposal (South Middle 
        Section)'', and ``Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Proposal 
        (South Section)'', all dated January, 1993, and which 
        shall be known as the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.
          (11) Certain lands in the Routt National Forest which 
        comprise approximately 47,140 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Service Creek Wilderness 
        Proposal (Sarvis Creek Wilderness)'', dated January, 
        1993, and which shall be known as the Sarvis Creek 
        Wilderness.
          (12) Certain lands in the San Juan National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 31,100 acres, as generally 
        depicted on two maps, one entitled ``South San Juan 
        Wilderness Expansion Proposal, Montezuma Peak'' and the 
        other entitled ``South San Juan Wilderness Expansion 
        Proposal, V-Rock Trail'', both dated January, 1993, and 
        which are hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to 
        be a part of the South San Juan Wilderness designated 
        by Public law 96-560.
          (13) Certain lands in the White River National Forest 
        which comprise approximate1 8,330 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Spruce Creek Addition to 
        the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
        January, 1993, and which are hereby incorporated in and 
        shall be deemed to be part of the Hunter Fryingpan 
        Wilderness designated by Public Law 95-327: Provided, 
        That no right, or claim of right, to the diversion and 
        use of waters by the Fryinpan-Arkansas Project shall be 
        prejudiced, expanded, diminished, altered, or affected 
        by this Act, nor shall anything in this Act be 
        construed to expand, abate, impair, impede limit, 
        interfere with, or prevent the construction, operation, 
        use, maintenance, or repair of the project facilities 
        and diversion systems to their full extent.
          (14) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 8,095 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Byers Peak Wilderness 
        Proposal'', dated January, 1993, and which shall be 
        known as the Byers Peak Wilderness.
          (15) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 12,300 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Vasquez Peak Wilderness 
        Proposal'', dated January, 1993, and which shall be 
        known as the Vasquez Peak Wilderness.
          (16) Certain lands in the San Juan National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 28,740 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a man entitled ``West Needle Wilderness 
        Proposal and Weminuche Additions'', dated January, 
        1993, and which are hereby incorporated in and shall be 
        deemed to be a part of the Weminuche Wilderness 
        designated by Public Law 93-632, as amended by Public 
        Law 96-560.
          (17) Certain lands in the Rio Grande National Forest 
        which comprise ap approximately 25,640 acres, as 
        generally depicted on a map entitled "``Wheeler 
        Addition to the La Garita Wilderness Proposal'', dated 
        January, 1993, and which shall be incorporated in and 
        shall be deemed to be a part of the La Garita 
        Wilderness designated by Public Law 96-560.
          (18) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 13,175 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Farr Wilderness 
        Proposal'', dated January, 1993, and which shall be 
        known as the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness.
          (19) Certain lands in the Arapaho National Forest 
        which comprise approximately 6,990 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map entitled ``Bowen Gulch Additions to 
        Never Summer Wilderness Proposal'', dated January, 
        1993, and which are hereby incorporated in and shall be 
        deemed to be a part of the Never Summer Wilderness 
        designated by Public Law 96-560.
          (20) Spanish peaks wilderness.--Certain land in the 
        San Isabel National Forest that--
                  (A) comprises approximately 18,000 acres, as 
                generally depicted on a map entitled ``Proposed 
                Spanish Peaks Wilderness'', dated February 10, 
                1999; and
                  (B) shall be known as the ``Spanish Peaks 
                Wilderness''.
          (21) Certain lands in the Arapaho/Roosevelt National 
        Forest which comprise approximately 14,000 acres, as 
        generally depicted on a map entitled ``Proposed James 
        Peak Wilderness'', dated September 2001, and which 
        shall be known as the James Peak Wilderness.
          (22) Certain land within the San Juan National Forest 
        that comprises approximately 37,236 acres, as generally 
        depicted on the map entitled ``Proposed Hermosa Creek 
        Special Management Area and Proposed Hermosa Creek 
        Wilderness Area'' and dated November 12, 2014, which 
        shall be known as the ``Hermosa Creek Wilderness''.
          (23) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River 
        Valley Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, 
        which comprise approximately 19,839 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Bull Gulch & Castle Peak 
        Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which 
        shall be known as the Bull Gulch Wilderness.
          (24) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River 
        Valley Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, 
        which comprise approximately 15,987 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Bull Gulch & Castle Peak 
        Proposed Wilderness Areas'', dated October 9, 2019, 
        which shall be known as the Castle Peak Wilderness.
          (25) Certain lands managed by the Colorado River 
        Valley Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, 
        which comprise approximately 316 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Maroon Bells Addition 
        Proposed Wilderness'', dated July 20, 2018, which is 
        hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to be a part 
        of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area designated 
        by Public Law 88-577.
          (26) Certain lands managed by the Gunnison Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 38,217 acres, as generally depicted on a 
        map titled ``Redcloud & Handies Peak Proposed 
        Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Redcloud Peak Wilderness.
          (27) Certain lands managed by the Gunnison Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management or located in 
        the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National 
        Forests, which comprise approximately 26,734 acres, as 
        generally depicted on a map titled ``Redcloud & Handies 
        Peak Proposed Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, 
        which shall be known as the Handies Peak Wilderness.
          (28) Certain lands managed by the Royal Gorge Field 
        Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise 
        approximately 16,481 acres, as generally depicted on a 
        map titled ``Table Mountain & McIntyre Hills Proposed 
        Wilderness'', dated November 7, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the McIntyre Hills Wilderness.
          (29) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which 
        comprise approximately 10,282 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Grand Hogback Proposed 
        Wilderness'', dated October 16, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Grand Hogback Wilderness.
          (30) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management or 
        located in the White River National Forest, which 
        comprise approximately 16,101 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Flat Tops Proposed 
        Wilderness Addition'', dated October 9, 2019, and which 
        are hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed to be a 
        part of the Flat Tops Wilderness designated by Public 
        Law 94-146.
          (31) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which 
        comprise approximately 25,624 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Demaree Canyon Proposed 
        Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Demaree Canyon Wilderness.
          (32) Certain lands managed by the Grand Junction 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which 
        comprise approximately 28,279 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Little Books Cliff Proposed 
        Wilderness'', dated October 9, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Little Bookcliffs Wilderness.
          (33) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which 
        comprise approximately 7,376 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Pisgah East & West Proposed 
        Wilderness'' and dated October 16, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Pisgah East Wilderness, upon being 
        designated as wilderness as provided by section 3(h)(2) 
        of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019.
          (34) Certain lands managed by the Glenwood Springs 
        Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, which 
        comprise approximately 6,828 acres, as generally 
        depicted on a map titled ``Pisgah East & West Proposed 
        Wilderness'' and dated October 16, 2019, which shall be 
        known as the Pisgah West Wilderness, upon being 
        designated as wilderness as provided by section 3(h)(2) 
        of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019.
  (b) Maps and Descriptions.--As soon as practicable after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the appropriate Secretary shall 
file a map and a boundary description of each area designated 
as wilderness by this Act with the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the United States House of 
Representatives. Each map and description shall have the same 
force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the 
appropriate Secretary is authorized to correct clerical and 
typographical errors in such boundary descriptions and maps. 
Such maps and boundary descriptions shall be on file and 
available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of 
the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, and the Office 
of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, Department of 
the Interior, as appropriate.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                            DISSENTING VIEWS

    H.R. 2546 would create 741,000 acres of new wilderness, 
located in 33 areas throughout Colorado. It is clear that this 
proposal lacks the type of local consensus and balance required 
for a bill of this scale.
    This bill is also a regrettable continuation of this 
committee's troubling trend of moving bills that are not 
supported by the Members who represent the impacted lands. All 
of the wilderness designated in this bill is located outside 
the bill sponsor's district.
    There is also significant local opposition to this bill 
from impacted counties and stakeholder groups. At the July 10, 
2019, Subcommittee hearing on this bill, the Committee heard 
testimony from Montezuma County Commissioner Keenan Ertel who 
shared the County's concerns that this bill will negatively 
impact ``individual landowners, agricultural entities, water 
providers, first responders, and especially the recreation 
tourism industry.''
    In addition to local grievances, the impacted land 
management agencies have noted that this bill presents many 
challenges and is inconsistent with previous designations and 
existing land uses.
    Finally, the National Guard Bureau has raised concerns 
about this bill's impact on the High-Altitude Aviation Training 
Site (HAATS) located in Eagle, Colorado. This bill designates 
40% of the current HAATS training area as wilderness--the most 
restrictive land management classification. According to the 
National Guard Bureau, this will ``limit the ability for 
aviators to utilize current landing zones.'' Further this bill 
would ``cause aviators to travel greater distances to access 
landing zones for training, therefore reducing the overall 
efficiency of each flight and reducing the total throughput of 
aviators trained in a given year.''
    There are many reasons for opposition to this legislation, 
including the clear lack of balance and local consensus; 
however, those pale in comparison to the clear threats to the 
vitally important training that takes place at the HAATS site. 
Jeopardizing that training is completely unacceptable.

                                   Rob Bishop (UT).
                                   Louie Gohmert.
                                   Jody B. Hice.
                                   Russ Fulcher.