[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1469 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1469
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain river
segments within the York watershed in the State of Maine as components
of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 1, 2021
Ms. Pingree (for herself and Mr. Golden) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
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A BILL
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain river
segments within the York watershed in the State of Maine as components
of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``York River Wild and Scenic River Act
of 2021''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF YORK WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS, MAINE.
Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(_) York river, maine.--Segments of the main stem and its
tributaries in the State of Maine, Bass Cove Creek, Cider Hill
Creek, Cutts Ridge Brook, Dolly Gordon Brook, Libby Brook,
Rogers Brook, Smelt Brook, totaling approximately 30.8 miles,
to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior, as a
recreational river:
``(A) The approximately 0.95-mile segment of Bass
Cove Creek from the outlet of Boulter Pond in York,
Maine, and extending downstream to its confluence with
the York River in York, Maine.
``(B) The approximately 3.77-mile segment of Cider
Hill Creek from the Middle Pond dam in York, Maine, and
extending downstream to its confluence with the York
River in York, Maine.
``(C) The approximately 2.15-mile segment of Cutts
Ridge Brook from its headwaters in Kittery, Maine, and
extending downstream to its confluence with the York
River in York, Maine.
``(D) The approximately 3.17-mile segment of Dolly
Gordon Brook from its headwaters in York, Maine, and
extending downstream to its confluence with the York
River in York, Maine.
``(E) The approximately 1.65-mile segment of Libby
Brook from its headwaters in Kittery, Maine, and
extending downstream to its confluence with Dolly
Gordon Brook in York, Maine.
``(F) The approximately 2.43-mile segment of Rogers
Brook from its headwaters in Eliot, Maine, and
extending downstream to its confluence with the York
River in York, Maine.
``(G) The approximately 4.54-mile segment of Smelt
Brook from the Bell Marsh Reservoir dam in York, Maine,
and extending downstream to its confluence with the
York River in York, Maine.
``(H) The approximately 12.14-mile segment of the
York River from the outlet of York Pond in Eliot,
Maine, and extending downstream to the Route 103 Bridge
in York, Maine, including Barrell Mill Pond in York,
Maine.''.
SEC. 3. MANAGEMENT.
(a) Process.--
(1) In general.--The York River, Maine segments shall be
managed in accordance with--
(A) the stewardship plan; and
(B) such amendments to the stewardship plan as the
Secretary determines are consistent with this section
and as are approved by the Stewardship Committee.
(2) Comprehensive management plan.--The stewardship plan
shall be considered to satisfy the requirements for a
comprehensive management plan under section 3(d) of the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).
(b) Committee.--The Secretary shall coordinate his or her
management responsibilities under this Act with the Stewardship
Committee, as specified in the stewardship plan.
(c) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) In general.--In order to provide for the long-term
protection, preservation, and enhancement of the York River,
Maine segments, the Secretary may enter into cooperative
agreements pursuant to sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e) and 1282(b)(1)) with--
(A) the State of Maine;
(B) the municipalities of Eliot, Kittery, South
Berwick, and York in Maine; and
(C) appropriate local, regional, or State planning,
environmental, or recreational organizations.
(2) Consistency.--Each cooperative agreement entered into
under this subsection shall be consistent with the stewardship
plan and may include provisions for financial or other
assistance from the United States.
(d) Land Management.--
(1) Zoning ordinances.--For the purpose of the York River,
Maine segments, the zoning ordinances adopted by the
municipalities named in subsection (c)(1)(B), including
provisions for conservation of floodplains, wetlands, and
watercourses associated with the segments, shall be deemed to
satisfy the standards and requirements of section 6(c) of the
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
(2) Acquisition of lands.--The authority of the Secretary
to acquire land for the purposes of the York River, Maine
segments shall be--
(A) limited to acquisition by donation or
acquisition with the consent of the owner of the land;
and
(B) subject to the additional criteria set forth in
the stewardship plan.
(3) No condemnation.--No land or interest in land within
the watersheds of the York River, Maine segments may be
acquired by condemnation.
(e) Relation to the National Park System.--Notwithstanding section
10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), the York
River, Maine segments shall not--
(1) be administered as a unit of the National Park System;
or
(2) be subject to regulations that govern the National Park
System.
(f) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(2) Stewardship committee.--The term ``Stewardship
Committee'' means the York River Stewardship Committee.
(3) Stewardship plan.--The term ``stewardship plan'' means
the York River Watershed Stewardship Plan, dated August 2018,
developed pursuant to the study described in section 5(b)(21)
of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
(4) York river, maine segments.--The term ``York River,
Maine segments'' means the river segments designated by the
amendment made by section 2.
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