S. 2216 — what changed

Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act

From Introduced in Senate to Reported in Senate. 1 section amended, 1 added, and 1 removed between Introduced in Senate and Reported in Senate.

Sec. 2 Findings

removed

removed Congress finds that—

(1)

removed under the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1243), 9 wilderness study areas comprising a total of 973,000 acres of land in the State of Montana were set aside for the Secretary of Agriculture to evaluate the suitability of the wilderness study areas for designation as wilderness, in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), with the evaluation to be completed not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1243);

(2)

removed between 1979 and 1986, the Chief of the Forest Service—

(A)

removed completed the studies of the 9 wilderness study areas referred to in paragraph (1); and

(B)

removed based on those studies, determined that 608,700 acres of the original 973,000 acres designated as wilderness study areas by the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1243) were unsuitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System, including the 81,000 acres within the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area;

(3)

removed in 2021, following a 6-year collaborative process, the Forest Service again determined, in the revision of the Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest plan, that the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area is unsuitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System;

(4)

removed under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), 38 wilderness study areas comprising a total of 447,327 acres of land in the State of Montana were set aside by the Bureau of Land Management to evaluate the suitability of the wilderness study areas for designation as wilderness, with the evaluation to be completed not later than 15 years after the date of enactment of that Act;

(5)

removed in 1991, the Director of the Bureau of Land Management submitted to the President a recommendation on the suitability for designation of the areas described in paragraph (4), which was subsequently submitted to Congress, under which the Director of the Bureau of Land Management determined that 273,828 acres in the State of Montana designated as wilderness study areas by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) were unsuitable for wilderness designation, including—

(A)

removed the 11,380 acres of land within the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area; and

(B)

removed the 11,580 acres of land within the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area;

(6)

removed in 2020, following a 5-year collaborative process, the Bureau of Land Management, in the revision of the Missoula Resource Management Plan—

(A)

removed reaffirmed that the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area were unsuitable for wilderness designation; and

(B)

removed recommended alternative management parameters for the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area;

(7)

removed despite the recommendations of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, after the completion of the studies for suitability of the land in the State of Montana designated as wilderness study areas under the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1243) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)—

(A)

removed over 1,100,000 acres of public land in the State of Montana remain as wilderness study areas until Congress acts; and

(B)

removed over 700,000 acres of public land in the State of Montana currently designated as wilderness study areas have been determined unsuitable for wilderness management;

(8)

removed if the wilderness study area designation was removed from each of the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area, the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area, and the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area, land managers would be able to better conserve and manage the areas in accordance with applicable land and resource management plans that retain certain protections for the areas, while providing for—

(A)

removed enhanced sportsmen opportunities in the backcountry of Montana;

(B)

removed improved public access; and

(C)

removed the conduct of wildlife habitat and wildfire mitigation projects;

(9)

removed the applicable land and resource management plans referred to in paragraph (8) were developed through a multi-year, collaborative process supported by—

(A)

removed resource needs and conditions; and

(B)

removed the best available science; and

(10)

removed following release, the respective land management agencies shall continue managing the areas described in paragraph (8)—

(A)

removed in accordance with applicable environmental and administrative laws; and

(B)

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

Sec. 3 Release and improved management of land comprising certain wilderness study areas

(a)

removed Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area— The approximately 81,000 acres of land comprising the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area—

(1)

removed shall no longer be subject to section 3(a) of the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1244); and

(2)

removed shall be managed in accordance with the applicable land and resource management plan most recently adopted under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).

(b)

removed Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area— The approximately 11,380 acres of land comprising the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and the approximately 11,580 acres of land comprising the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area—

(1)

removed shall no longer be subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and

(2)

removed shall be managed in accordance with the applicable land management plans adopted under section 202 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1712).

Sec. 2 Release and improved management of land comprising certain wilderness study areas

added

(a)

added Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area— The approximately 81,000 acres of land comprising the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area—

(1)

added shall no longer be subject to section 3(a) of the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–150; 91 Stat. 1244); and

(2)

added shall be managed in accordance with the applicable land and resource management plan most recently adopted under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).

(b)

added Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area— The approximately 11,380 acres of land comprising the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and the approximately 11,580 acres of land comprising the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area—

(1)

added shall no longer be subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); and

(2)

added shall be managed in accordance with the applicable land management plans adopted under section 202 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1712).