Bill > S1681

This bill establishes the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area in Virginia, covering approximately 92,562 acres of National Forest System land within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The bill's primary purposes include protecting the area's scenic quality, water resources, wildlife habitats, and natural characteristics, with specific attention to preserving habitat for species like the Cow Knob salamander and protecting potential old-growth forests. The bill also designates five new wilderness areas totaling about 33,857 acres: Skidmore Fork, Ramseys Draft Addition, Lynn Hollow, Little River, and Beech Lick Knob Wilderness. Recreational uses will be maintained and potentially improved, with a requirement to develop a trail plan within two years. Timber harvesting is generally prohibited except for specific purposes like fire control, public safety, and insect outbreak management. The bill withdraws the federal land from new mining, energy development, and utility corridor designations while ensuring existing access rights. Motorized travel will be restricted to existing roads outside wilderness areas, and the Secretary of Agriculture will develop a management plan consistent with the act's conservation objectives within two years of enactment.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1681/all-info