16 USC 410fff-5 – Establishment of the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
(a) In general
(1) There is established the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, consisting of approximately 57,725 acres as generally depicted on the Map.
Terms Used In 16 USC 410fff-5
- Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
- county: includes a parish, or any other equivalent subdivision of a State or Territory of the United States. See 1 USC 2
- State: means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. See 1 USC 7
- vehicle: includes every description of carriage or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on land. See 1 USC 4
(2) The boundary of the Conservation Area is revised to include the addition of approximately 7,100 acres, as generally depicted on the map entitled “Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge NCA Boundary Modifications”, and dated April 2, 2003.
(b) Management of Conservation Area
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall manage the Conservation Area to protect the resources of the Conservation Area in accordance with—
(1) this subchapter;
(2) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
(3) other applicable provisions of law.
(c) Withdrawal
Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal lands within the Conservation Area are hereby withdrawn from all forms of entry, appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing, and all amendments thereto.
(d) Hunting, trapping, and fishing
(1) In general
The Secretary shall permit hunting, trapping, and fishing within the Conservation Area in accordance with applicable laws (including regulations) of the United States and the State of Colorado.
(2) Exception
The Secretary, after consultation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, may issue regulations designating zones where and establishing periods when no hunting or trapping shall be permitted for reasons concerning—
(A) public safety;
(B) administration; or
(C) public use and enjoyment.
(e) Use of motorized vehicles
In addition to the use of motorized vehicles on established roadways, the use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Area shall be allowed to the extent the use is compatible with off-highway vehicle designations as described in the management plan in effect on October 21, 1999.
(f) Conservation Area management plan
(1) In general
Not later than 4 years after October 21, 1999, the Secretary shall—
(A) develop a comprehensive plan for the long-range protection and management of the Conservation Area; and
(B) transmit the plan to—
(i) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
(ii) the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives.
(2) Contents of plan
The plan—
(A) shall describe the appropriate uses and management of the Conservation Area in accordance with this subchapter;
(B) may incorporate appropriate decisions contained in any management or activity plan for the area completed prior to October 21, 1999;
(C) may incorporate appropriate wildlife habitat management plans or other plans prepared for the land within or adjacent to the Conservation Area prior to October 21, 1999;
(D) shall be prepared in close consultation with appropriate Federal, State, county, and local agencies; and
(E) may use information developed prior to October 21, 1999, in studies of the land within or adjacent to the Conservation Area.
(g) Boundary revisions
The Secretary may make revisions to the boundary of the Conservation Area following acquisition of land necessary to accomplish the purposes for which the Conservation Area was designated.