Omnibus Public Land Management Act
Encyclopedia
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 is a law passed in the 111th
United States Congress
and signed into law by President
Barack Obama
on March 30, 2009.
of New Mexico
introduced the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008 . Although the bill had some support from both Democrats
and Republicans
, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
of Nevada
, the Senate never voted on the measure due to threats by Senator Tom Coburn
(R-Oklahoma
) to filibuster the bill.
Despite vehement opposition from Coburn and some other Republicans, the Senate passed a cloture motion on January 11 by a vote of 66-12 and then passed the bill on January 15 by a vote of 73-21, with four members not voting.
The bill was then sent to the House of Representatives
, where it was expected to pass by a wide margin.
The bill was held at the desk instead of being sent to a committee.
On March 11, 2009, the House considered the bill under suspension of the rules, meaning that a two-thirds vote would be required for passage. Those voting in favor of the bill (predominantly Democrats) fell two votes short of a two-thirds majority, 282-144. 34 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while three Democrats voted against it: Dan Boren
of Oklahoma, Jim Marshall of Georgia
, and Collin Peterson
of Minnesota
.
House Democrats could then have brought the bill back to the floor under regular procedure, which would have allowed Republicans to submit amendments to the bill.
The bill, as voted on by the House, had been amended by Jason Altmire
(D-Pennsylvania
), to prohibit the closing of the lands described in the bill to hunting
and fishing
, presumably to persuade sportsmen and hunters to vote for the bill.
Battlefield Protection Act , 394-13. On March 12, one day after the House failed to pass the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Reid announced that he would file cloture on H.R. 146. While in the Senate, the bill was amended to include a majority of the text in S. 22. The Senate voted 73-21 for cloture and 77-20 to pass the bill. The House agreed to the Senate amendments, 285-140, on March 25.
President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on March 30, 2009, declaring one provision unconstitutional in his signing statement
.
in nine states (California
, Colorado
, Idaho
, Michigan
, New Mexico
, Oregon
, Utah
, Virginia
, and West Virginia
) for protection through addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System
. Among these lands are: in the Monongahela National Forest
. in the Jefferson National Forest.
, to include Bureau of Land Management
-administered National Monuments, National Conservation Area
s, Wilderness Study Area
s, components of the National Trails System
, components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System
.
Title II also designates three new National Conservation Areas (Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
, and Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area) and one new National Monument (the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
in the Robledo Mountains
of New Mexico
). It also transfers lands in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Washington to federal control.
to, through the Chief of the United States Forest Service
, conduct studies in the interest of preserving open space in southern Colorado and deliver "an annual report on the wildland firefighter safety practices...including training programs and activities for wildland fire suppression, prescribed burning, and wildland fire use, during the preceding calendar year." Title III also prohibits further oil and gas leasing, geothermal leasing, and mining patents in a stretch of the Bridger-Teton National Forest
; this provision was based on a bill being crafted by Senator Craig L. Thomas of Wyoming
before his death.
s) nominations of forest landscapes of at least 50000 acres (202.3 km²), primarily consisting of national forest lands, which are in need of "active ecosystem restoration," for the carrying out of ecological restoration treatments. The Chief, acting on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, then may select up to ten of these proposals, aided by a fifteen-member advisory board, to be funded in any given fiscal year. For each proposal selected, 50% of the expenditures of the execution and monitoring of ecological restoration treatments would be paid for by a Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund in the United States Treasury. However, each proposal's expenditures are limited to $4 million per year.
: the Arizona National Scenic Trail, the New England National Scenic Trail
, the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail and the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
programs. One of these programs, the Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project, gives states and Indian tribes federal grants to help livestock producers to reduce livestock loss due to predation by wolves in non-lethal ways, as well as for the purpose of compensating livestock producers for their loss of livestock due to predation by wolves.
Another part of Title VI, the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, was originally a Senate bill introduced in 2007 by Daniel Akaka
(D-Hawaii). This provision establishes stronger penalties than previously required for nonpermitted removal of scientifically significant fossils from federal lands. The provision was endorsed and strongly supported by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
, an international association of professional and amateur vertebrate paleontologists. In contrast, the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences, an association of commercial fossil dealers, opposed the measure.
Corridor Preservation Program, all to be carried out by the National Park Service
.
New National Park System components would include:
s at the cost of $103.5 million:
of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems, Federal and non-Federal components coordinated at the national level by the National Ocean Research Leadership Council" in order to "support national defense, marine commerce, navigation safety, weather, climate, and marine forecasting, energy siting and production, economic development, ecosystem-based marine, coastal, and Great Lakes resource management, public safety, and public outreach training and education."
in Hawaii
and another that increases the number of Assistant Energy Secretaries in the United States Department of Energy
to eight. Title XIII also amends the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000 and the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act.
and Dana Reeve
Paralysis Act, provides $105 million over five years for coordinated paralysis
research by the National Institutes of Health
.
$69 million for laboratory and greenhouse construction at three Smithsonian facilities.
, in order of first appearance:
111th United States Congress
The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and signed into law by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
on March 30, 2009.
110th Congress
On June 26, 2008, Senator Jeff BingamanJeff Bingaman
Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr. , is the senior U.S. Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party...
of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
introduced the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008 . Although the bill had some support from both Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, the Senate never voted on the measure due to threats by Senator Tom Coburn
Tom Coburn
Thomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, M.D. , is an American politician, medical doctor, and Southern Baptist deacon. A member of the Republican Party, he currently serves as the junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. In the Senate, he is known as "Dr. No" for his tendency to place holds on and vote against bills...
(R-Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
) to filibuster the bill.
S. 22
On January 7, 2009, Bingaman introduced the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 , a new bill which incorporated 159 bills that had been considered by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during the 110th Congress and, in some cases, earlier Congresses.Despite vehement opposition from Coburn and some other Republicans, the Senate passed a cloture motion on January 11 by a vote of 66-12 and then passed the bill on January 15 by a vote of 73-21, with four members not voting.
The bill was then sent to the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, where it was expected to pass by a wide margin.
The bill was held at the desk instead of being sent to a committee.
On March 11, 2009, the House considered the bill under suspension of the rules, meaning that a two-thirds vote would be required for passage. Those voting in favor of the bill (predominantly Democrats) fell two votes short of a two-thirds majority, 282-144. 34 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while three Democrats voted against it: Dan Boren
Dan Boren
Daniel David "Dan" Boren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. The district includes most of the eastern part of the state outside of Tulsa...
of Oklahoma, Jim Marshall of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and Collin Peterson
Collin Peterson
Collin Clark Peterson , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991, and the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and is the dean of the Minnesota congressional delegation.The district, Minnesota's largest and most rural...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
House Democrats could then have brought the bill back to the floor under regular procedure, which would have allowed Republicans to submit amendments to the bill.
The bill, as voted on by the House, had been amended by Jason Altmire
Jason Altmire
Jason Altmire is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life and education:...
(D-Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
), to prohibit the closing of the lands described in the bill to hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, presumably to persuade sportsmen and hunters to vote for the bill.
H.R. 146
On March 3, 2009, the House of Representatives passed a bill under suspension of the rules, the Revolutionary War and War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
Battlefield Protection Act , 394-13. On March 12, one day after the House failed to pass the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, Reid announced that he would file cloture on H.R. 146. While in the Senate, the bill was amended to include a majority of the text in S. 22. The Senate voted 73-21 for cloture and 77-20 to pass the bill. The House agreed to the Senate amendments, 285-140, on March 25.
President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on March 30, 2009, declaring one provision unconstitutional in his signing statement
Signing statement
A signing statement is a written pronouncement issued by the President of the United States upon the signing of a bill into law. They are usually printed along with the bill in United States Code Congressional and Administrative News ....
.
Title I
Title I of the bill designates two million acres (8,000 km²) of wildernessWilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
in nine states (California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) for protection through addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
. Among these lands are: in the Monongahela National Forest
Monongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over of federally-owned land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some...
. in the Jefferson National Forest.
- wilderness additions in the vicinity of Mount HoodMount HoodMount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
, Oregon, including additions to the Badger Creek WildernessBadger Creek WildernessThe Badger Creek Wilderness is a wilderness area located east of Mount Hood in the northwestern Cascades of Oregon, United States. It is one of six designated wilderness areas in the Mount Hood National Forest; the others being Mark O. Hatfield, Salmon-Huckleberry, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson,...
, Bull of the Woods WildernessBull of the Woods WildernessThe Bull of the Woods Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Mount Hood National Forest in the northwestern Cascades of Oregon, United States. It was created in 1984 and consists of including prime low-elevation old growth forest, about a dozen lakes of at least and many large creeks and...
, Mark O. Hatfield WildernessMark O. Hatfield WildernessThe Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness is a wilderness area located on the northern side of Mount Hood in the northwestern Cascades of the U.S. state of Oregon, near the Columbia River Gorge and within Mount Hood National Forest...
, Mount Hood WildernessMount Hood WildernessThe Mount Hood Wilderness is a protected wilderness area inside the Mount Hood National Forest which is located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The area, covering , includes the peak of Mount Hood and its upper slopes, and ranges from temperate rain forests at the lower elevations, to glaciers and...
, and Salmon-Huckleberry WildernessSalmon-Huckleberry WildernessThe Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness is a wilderness area located on the southern side of Mount Hood in the northwestern Cascades of Oregon, United States. It lies within the Mount Hood National Forest and comprises of land...
, as well as designation of the Clackamas WildernessClackamas WildernessThe Clackamas Wilderness is made up of five different tracts of lands with no roads, scattered both left and right of the Clackamas River, approximately 50 miles down. These areas include Big Bottom, Memaloose Lake, Clackamas Canyon, Sisi Butte and South Fork Clackamas. The Clackamas Wilderness...
, Roaring River WildernessRoaring River WildernessRoaring River Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Mount Hood National Forest in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Southwest of Mount Hood, Oregon's tallest mountain, the area was created in 2009...
, and Lower White River WildernessLower White River WildernessLower White River Wilderness is a protected wilderness in the US State of Oregon on the southern part of Mount Hood. In 2009, Congress designated the area a National Wilderness preserve.The White River rises from White River Glacier in White River Canyon...
. in the Oregon Badlands. (see Oregon Badlands WildernessOregon Badlands WildernessOregon Badlands Wilderness is a wilderness area located east of Bend in Deschutes and Crook counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was created by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2009.The wilderness is situated on...
and Spring Basin WildernessSpring Basin WildernessSpring Basin Wilderness is a wilderness area located near the town of Clarno in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was created by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2009....
) in Oregon's Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument. (see Soda Mountain WildernessSoda Mountain WildernessThe Soda Mountain Wilderness is a protected wilderness area inside the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument located in the U.S. state of Oregon adjacent to the California state border...
) in the Siskiyou National Forest. (see Copper Salmon WildernessCopper Salmon WildernessThe Copper Salmon Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in the Southern Oregon Coast Range and is part of the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest...
) in and near Zion National ParkZion National ParkZion National Park is located in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to half a mile deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River...
. near Otter Creek WildernessOtter Creek WildernessThe Otter Creek Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness area located in the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The Wilderness sits in a bowl-shaped valley formed by Otter Creek, between McGowan Mountain and Shavers Mountain in Tucker County and Randolph County,...
in West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in San Miguel County, New MexicoSan Miguel County, New Mexico-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*66.6% White*1.4% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.9% Two or more races*25.5% Other races*76.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. (see Sabinoso Wilderness) in Pictured Rocks National LakeshorePictured Rocks National LakeshorePictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a U.S. National Lakeshore on the shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States. It extends for 42 miles along the shore and covers...
. (see Beaver Basin WildernessBeaver Basin WildernessThe Beaver Basin Wilderness is a United States Wilderness Area located in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Alger County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It covers an area of . It borders of Lake Superior shoreline. The North Country Trail has of trail in the wilderness area....
) in Idaho's Owyhee CanyonlandsOwyhee DesertThe Owyhee Desert ecoregion, within the Deserts and xeric shrublands Biome, is in the Northwestern United States. The Owyhee Uplands Bypass passes through the desert.-Geography:...
:- Big Jacks Creek WildernessBig Jacks Creek WildernessThe Big Jacks Creek Wilderness is located on the high basalt plateaus of Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho in the western United States. Little Jacks Creek Wilderness is on its northwest border. About miles of Big Jacks Creek is classified as a wild river....
- 52826 acres (214 km²) - Bruneau – Jarbidge Rivers WildernessBruneau – Jarbidge Rivers WildernessThe Bruneau – Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness is located on the high basalt plateaus of Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho in the western United States. The wilderness area is named after and protects much of the Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers and their canyons. Whitewater rafting is a popular...
- 89996 acres (364.2 km²) - Little Jacks Creek WildernessLittle Jacks Creek WildernessThe Little Jacks Creek Wilderness is located on the high basalt plateaus of Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho in the western United States. Big Jacks Creek Wilderness is on its southeast border. About miles of Little Jacks Creek is classified as a wild river....
- 50929 acres (206 km²) - North Fork Owyhee WildernessNorth Fork Owyhee WildernessThe North Fork Owyhee Wilderness is located on the high basalt plateaus of Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho in the western United States. The rivers within it offer whitewater rapids up to Class IV. About miles of North Fork of the Owyhee River is classified as a wild river.-Geography:The...
- 43413 acres (176 km²) - Owyhee River WildernessOwyhee River WildernessThe Owyhee River Wilderness is located on the high basalt plateaus of Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho in the western United States. The wilderness area is named after and protects the upper Owyhee River, its tributaries, and the surrounding desert canyon landscape. Whitewater rafting is a...
- 267328 acres (1,082 km²) - Pole Creek WildernessPole Creek WildernessThe Pole Creek Wilderness is located on the high basalt plateaus of Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho in the western United States. Its whitewater rapids are a popular attraction.-Geography:...
- 12533 acres (51 km²) in California, including: - 79820 acres (323 km²) added to the Hoover WildernessHoover WildernessThe Hoover Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Inyo and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. It lies to the east of the crest of the central Sierra Nevada in California, to the north and east of Yosemite National Park - a long strip of spectacular scenery stretching nearly to Sonora Pass on the...
in the Humboldt-ToiyabeHumboldt-Toiyabe National ForestThe Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is the principal U.S. National Forest located in the U.S. state of Nevada. With an area of , it is the largest National Forest of the United States outside of Alaska...
and Inyo National ForestInyo National ForestInyo National Forest is a federally administered forest in the United States. The forest covers parts of the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, and the White Mountains of California and Nevada. It contains two wilderness areas: the John Muir Wilderness and the Ansel Adams Wilderness...
s. - 14721 acres (59.57 km²) in the Inyo National Forest. (see Owens River Headwaters Wilderness)
- 70411 acres (284.94 km²) added to the John Muir WildernessJohn Muir WildernessThe John Muir Wilderness is a wilderness area that extends along the crest of the Sierra Nevada of California, USA for , in the Inyo and Sierra National Forests. Established in 1964 by the Wilderness Act and named for naturalist John Muir, it contains...
in the Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land ManagementBureau of Land ManagementThe Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
lands. - 528 acres (2.14 km²) added to the Ansel Adams WildernessAnsel Adams WildernessThe Ansel Adams Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada of California, USA. The wilderness is part of the Sierra and Inyo National Forests. The wilderness spans...
in the Inyo National Forest. - 229993 acres (930.75 km²) in the Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands. (see White Mountains Wilderness)
- 34342 acres (138.98 km²) in the Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands. (see Granite Mountain Wilderness)
- 12282 acres (49.7 km²) in the Angeles National ForestAngeles National ForestThe Angeles National Forest of the U.S. National Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel...
. (see Magic Mountain Wilderness) - 26757 acres (108.28 km²) in the Angeles National Forest. (see Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness)
- 2053 acres (8.31 km²) added to the Agua Tibia WildernessAgua Tibia WildernessAgua Tibia Wilderness is a protected area in Riverside and San Diego counties, California. It is mostly within the Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest....
in the Cleveland National ForestCleveland National ForestCleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...
. - 5585 acres (22.6 km²) in the San Bernardino National ForestSan Bernardino National ForestSan Bernardino National Forest is a federally-managed forest covering more than 800,000 acres . There are two main divisions which are the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Range, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the northernmost of the Peninsular...
. (see Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness) - 20217 acres (81.82 km²) in the San Bernardino National Forest. (see South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness)
- 2149 acres (8.7 km²) added to the Santa Rosa WildernessSanta Rosa WildernessThe Santa Rosa Wilderness is a wilderness area in Southern California, in the Santa Rosa Mountains of Riverside and San Diego counties, California. It is in the Colorado Desert section of the Sonoran Desert, above the Coachella Valley and Lower Colorado River Valley regions in a Peninsular...
in the San Bernardino National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands. - 15621 acres (63.22 km²) of Bureau of Land Management lands. (see Beauty Mountain Wilderness)
- 36700 acres (149 km²) in Joshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act , it had previously been a U.S. National Monument since 1936. It is named for the Joshua tree forests native to the park...
, with another 43300 acres (175 km²) pending cessation of non-wilderness activities and acquisition of inholdings. - 4635 acres (18.76 km²) added to the Orocopia Mountains Wilderness in Bureau of Land Management lands.
- 22645 acres (91.64 km²) added to the Palen-McCoy Wilderness in Bureau of Land Management lands.
- 24404 acres (98.76 km²) of Bureau of Land Management lands. (see Pinto Mountains Wilderness)
- 12815 acres (51.86 km²) added to the Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness in Bureau of Land Management lands.
- Big Jacks Creek Wilderness
Title II
Title II establishes a National Landscape Conservation SystemNational Landscape Conservation System
The National Landscape Conservation System is a collection of the lands considered to be the crown jewels of the American west. NLCS is also known as National Conservation Lands. These lands represent 10% of the managed by the Bureau of Land Management...
, to include Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
-administered National Monuments, National Conservation Area
National Conservation Area
National Conservation Area is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States. National Conservation Areas are managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management under the National Landscape Conservation System...
s, Wilderness Study Area
Wilderness study area
A wilderness study area contains undeveloped United States federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, and managed to preserve its natural conditions...
s, components of the National Trails System
National Trails System
The National Trails System was created by the National Trails System Act The Act created a series of National trails "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation." Specifically,...
, components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
.
Title II also designates three new National Conservation Areas (Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area has one of the densest populations of nesting raptors. The National Conservation Area is located south of Boise, Idaho along of the Snake River, and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The NCA covers...
, and Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area) and one new National Monument (the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument is the 100th national monument in The United States of America. The monument is located in the Robledo Mountains, near Las Cruces in the southern region of the U.S. state of New Mexico...
in the Robledo Mountains
Robledo Mountains
The Robledo Mountains are a mountain range in Doña Ana County, New Mexico just northwest of Las Cruces. The range was named for Pedro Robledo, who died on May 21, 1598 and was buried nearby. Robledo was the first casualty of the Oñate expedition to colonize the upper Rio Grande valley...
of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
). It also transfers lands in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Washington to federal control.
Title III
Title III authorizes the United States Secretary of AgricultureUnited States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
to, through the Chief of the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
, conduct studies in the interest of preserving open space in southern Colorado and deliver "an annual report on the wildland firefighter safety practices...including training programs and activities for wildland fire suppression, prescribed burning, and wildland fire use, during the preceding calendar year." Title III also prohibits further oil and gas leasing, geothermal leasing, and mining patents in a stretch of the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Bridger-Teton National Forest is located in western Wyoming, United States. The forest consists of , making it the second largest National Forest outside of Alaska. The forest stretches from Yellowstone National Park, along the eastern boundary of Grand Teton National Park and from there rides...
; this provision was based on a bill being crafted by Senator Craig L. Thomas of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
before his death.
Title IV
Title IV authorizes the Chief of the Forest Service to solicit (from regional foresterForester
250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...
s) nominations of forest landscapes of at least 50000 acres (202.3 km²), primarily consisting of national forest lands, which are in need of "active ecosystem restoration," for the carrying out of ecological restoration treatments. The Chief, acting on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, then may select up to ten of these proposals, aided by a fifteen-member advisory board, to be funded in any given fiscal year. For each proposal selected, 50% of the expenditures of the execution and monitoring of ecological restoration treatments would be paid for by a Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund in the United States Treasury. However, each proposal's expenditures are limited to $4 million per year.
Title V
Title V designates thousands of miles of new additions to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It also adds six trails to the National Trails SystemNational Trails System
The National Trails System was created by the National Trails System Act The Act created a series of National trails "to promote the preservation of, public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of the open-air, outdoor areas and historic resources of the Nation." Specifically,...
: the Arizona National Scenic Trail, the New England National Scenic Trail
New England National Scenic Trail
The New England National Scenic Trail is a National Scenic Trail in southern New England, which includes most of the three single trails Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Mattabesett Trail and Metacomet Trail. After the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett trail system, the trail is sometimes called Triple-M...
, the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
The Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail or Ice Age Floods Trail is designated as the first National Geologic Trail in the United States...
, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
The Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route is a 680-mile -long series of encampments and roads used by U.S. Continental Army troops under George Washington and French troops under Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau during their march from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. The route...
, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail and the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
Title VI
Title VI creates a number of new United States Department of the InteriorUnited States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
programs. One of these programs, the Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project, gives states and Indian tribes federal grants to help livestock producers to reduce livestock loss due to predation by wolves in non-lethal ways, as well as for the purpose of compensating livestock producers for their loss of livestock due to predation by wolves.
Another part of Title VI, the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, was originally a Senate bill introduced in 2007 by Daniel Akaka
Daniel Akaka
Daniel Kahikina Akaka is the junior U.S. Senator from Hawaii and a member of the Democratic Party. He is the first U.S. Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry and is currently the only member of the Senate who has Chinese ancestry....
(D-Hawaii). This provision establishes stronger penalties than previously required for nonpermitted removal of scientifically significant fossils from federal lands. The provision was endorsed and strongly supported by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology was founded in 1940 for individuals with an interest in vertebrate paleontology. SVP now has almost 2,000 members. The society's website states that SVP "is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes...
, an international association of professional and amateur vertebrate paleontologists. In contrast, the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences, an association of commercial fossil dealers, opposed the measure.
Title VII
Title VII makes three additions to the National Park System and expands current National Park designations. It also authorizes an American Battlefield Protection Program, a Preserve America program, a Save America's Treasures Program, and a Route 66U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
Corridor Preservation Program, all to be carried out by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
.
New National Park System components would include:
- Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in PatersonPaterson, New JerseyPaterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware... - President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site in HopeHope, ArkansasHope is a small city in Hempstead County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2008 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,378...
, ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River... - River Raisin National Battlefield ParkRiver Raisin National Battlefield ParkThe River Raisin National Battlefield Park was established as the 393rd unit of the United States National Park Service under Title VII of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, which was signed into law on March 30, 2009. The park is located in the city of Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan. It...
in Frenchtown, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Title VIII
Title VIII designates ten new National Heritage AreaNational heritage area
National heritage area is a region defined by a government as notable for cultural, historic, natural or recreation reasons. Compared to a national park, a national heritage area is not subject to the same level of zoning and regulations on land use. They are typically managed at a local...
s at the cost of $103.5 million:
- Sec. 8001. Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. - Sec. 8002. Cache La Poudre River National Heritage Area, Colorado.
- Sec. 8003. South Park National Heritage Area, Colorado.
- Sec. 8004. Northern Plains National Heritage Area, North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. - Sec. 8005. Baltimore National Heritage Area, MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. - Sec. 8006. Freedom's Way National Heritage Area, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. - Sec. 8007. Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area.
- Sec. 8008. Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area.
- Sec. 8009. Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. - Sec. 8010. Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
Title IX
Title IX authorizes three new studies to examine new reclamation projects under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Reclamation. It also creates 15 new water and endangered fish projects in four states. Furthermore, Title IX puts some federal water reclamation facilities under local control and funds conservation efforts.Title X
Title X codifies the settlements of three water disputes in California, Nevada, and New Mexico, in an effort to resolve decades of litigation.Title XI
Title XI reauthorizes the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 at a cost of $64 million per year through the year 2018. It furthermore authorizes groundwater surveys in New Mexico, also by the U.S. Geological Survey.Title XII
Title XII creates five new oceanic observation, research, and exploration programs at a cost of $2.6 billion, including programs for undersea research, undersea and coastal mapping, acidification research, and ocean conservation. One provision, the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act, would "establish a national integrated SystemIntegrated Ocean Observing System
The Integrated Ocean Observing System is an organization of systems that routinely and continuously provides quality controlled data and information on current and future states of the oceans and Great Lakes from the global scale of ocean basins to local scales of coastal ecosystems...
of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems, Federal and non-Federal components coordinated at the national level by the National Ocean Research Leadership Council" in order to "support national defense, marine commerce, navigation safety, weather, climate, and marine forecasting, energy siting and production, economic development, ecosystem-based marine, coastal, and Great Lakes resource management, public safety, and public outreach training and education."
Title XIII
Title XIII deals with miscellaneous bills, including one that funds the National Tropical Botanical GardenNational Tropical Botanical Garden
The National Tropical Botanical Garden is a group that sponors preservation of plants native to the tropics in a network of botanical gardens and preserves.-History:...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and another that increases the number of Assistant Energy Secretaries in the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
to eight. Title XIII also amends the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000 and the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act.
Title XIV
Title XIV, the ChristopherChristopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
and Dana Reeve
Dana Reeve
Dana Reeve was an American actress, singer, and activist for disability causes. She was the widow of actor Christopher Reeve.-Early life and family:...
Paralysis Act, provides $105 million over five years for coordinated paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
research by the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
.
Title XV
Title XV grants the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
$69 million for laboratory and greenhouse construction at three Smithsonian facilities.
Acts amended
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 amended the following acts of CongressAct of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
, in order of first appearance:
- Public Law 100-326
- Virginia Wilderness Act of 1984
- Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
- Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act
- Oregon Wilderness Act
- Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Act of 2000
- Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, the Arapaho National Recreation Area and the Oregon Islands Wilderness Area Act
- Public Law 103-64
- Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996
- Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998
- Public Law 108-67
- Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999
- T'uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act
- National Trails System Act
- Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation ActAlaska National Interest Lands Conservation ActThe Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was a United States federal law passed in 1980 by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on December 2 of that year....
- Public Law 102-543
- Weir Farm National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990
- Little River Canyon National Preserve Act of 1992
- An Act to rename and expand the boundaries of the Mound City Group National Monument in Ohio
- National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978
- Public Law 96-607
- Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Act of 1991
- Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005On Friday November 19, 2004 it was announced that the United States government was in danger of running out of money by midnight that night. Eager to adjourn for the year, the House responded by drafting a 3,500 page Consolidated Appropriations Act approving $388 billion in spending in a late night...
- National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002
- Public Law 97-250
- Petrified Forest National Park Expansion Act of 2004
- Delaware National Coastal Special Resources Study Act
- Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
- Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 2006
- Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 was an act passed in the 110th United States Congress and enacted on May 8, 2008.-Legislative history:...
- Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996
- Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992
- Public Law 87-213
- Public Law 106-45
- National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998
- Public Law 87-126
- Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor Act of 1994
- Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Act of 1988
- Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Act
- Public Law 99-647
- Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act
- Public Law 106-392
- Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992
- Public Law 87-590
- Colorado River Storage Project Act
- Public Law 87-483
- National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992
- Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
- Act of February 22, 1889
- Morrill Act of 1862Morrill Land-Grant Colleges ActThe Morrill Land-Grant Acts are United States statutes that allowed for the creation of land-grant colleges, including the Morrill Act of 1862 and the Morrill Act of 1890 -Passage of original bill:...
- Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000
- Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act
- Department of Energy Organization Act