16 U.S.C. § 460sss
(a)
Establishment— In order to enhance the recreational and scenic values of the Cow Mountain
area in Lake and Mendocino
Counties, California, while conserving the wildlife and other natural resource values of the
area, there is hereby established the Cow Mountain
Recreation Area (in this section referred to as the “
recreation area”) consisting of approximately 51,513 acres of land in such
counties, as generally depicted on the
map entitled “Cow Mountain
Recreation Area” and dated July 22, 2006, including the following:
(1)
The “South Cow Mountain OHV Management
Area”, as generally depicted on the
map.
(b)
Legal descriptions; correction of errors—
(2)
Legal effect— The
map and legal descriptions of the
recreation area 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 and legal descriptions. The
map shall be on file and available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
(c)
Administration—
(1)
In general— The
Secretary of the Interior shall administer the
recreation area in accordance with this section and the laws and regulations generally applicable to the
public lands, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (
43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
(2)
Existing rights— The establishment of the
recreation area shall be subject to all valid existing rights.
(d)
Recreational activities—
(1)
In general— The
Secretary of the Interior shall continue to authorize, maintain, and enhance the recreational use of the land included in the
recreation area, including motorized recreation, hiking, camping, mountain biking, sightseeing, and horseback riding, as long as such recreational use is consistent with this section and other applicable law.
(2)
Off-road and motorized recreation— Motorized recreation shall be a prescribed use within the South Cow Mountain OHV Management
Area, occurring only on roads and trails designated by the
Secretary for such use, except as needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the
Secretary from closing any trail or route from use for purposes of resource protection or public safety.
(3)
Mountain biking— Mountain biking shall be a prescribed use within the
recreation area, occurring only on roads and trails designated by the
Secretary for such use. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the
Secretary from closing any trail or route from use for purposes of resource protection or public safety.
(e)
Access to private property— The
Secretary of the Interior shall provide any
owner of private property within the boundaries of the
recreation area adequate access to the property to ensure the reasonable use and enjoyment of the property by the
owner.
(f)
Land acquisition—
(1)
Acquisition from willing persons only— The
Secretary of the Interior may
acquire lands or interests in lands in the
recreation area only
by—
(B)
exchange with a willing party, as expressed in a written agreement between the
Secretary and the party; or
(C)
purchase from a willing seller, as expressed in a written agreement between the
Secretary and the seller.
(2)
Administration of acquired lands— Lands or interests in lands within or adjacent to the boundaries of the
recreation area that are acquired by the Bureau of Land Management, and title or possession of which is vested in the United States after October 17, 2006, shall be managed by the
Secretary as part of the
recreation area.
(g)
Adjacent management— Nothing in this section creates protective perimeters or buffer zones around the
recreation area.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
(Pub. L. 109–362, § 9, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2071.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is Pub. L. 109–362, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2064, known as the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, which is classified principally to chapter 35 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1701 of Title 43 and Tables.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.
Short Title
Pub. L. 109–362, § 1(a), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2064, provided that: “This Act [enacting this section, amending sections 460y–8 and 1274 of this title, and amending provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act’.”