[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4122 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4122
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments
of the Housatonic River in the State of Connecticut as components of
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 2, 2022
Mr. Murphy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments
of the Housatonic River in the State of Connecticut 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 ``Housatonic Wild and Scenic River Act
of 2022''.
SEC. 2. HOUSATONIC WILD AND SCENIC RIVER, CONNECTICUT.
(a) Amendments to Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.--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:
``(231) Housatonic river, connecticut.--
``(A) In general.--The following segments of the
Housatonic River in the State of Connecticut, to be
administered by the Secretary of the Interior:
``(i) The approximately 14.9-mile segment
from the Massachusetts-Connecticut boundary to
the covered bridge in West Cornwall, as a
scenic river.
``(ii) The approximately 4.1-mile segment
from the covered bridge in West Cornwall to the
Cornwall Bridge, as a recreational river.
``(iii) The approximately 9.1-mile segment
from the Cornwall Bridge to the Route 341
bridge in Kent, as a scenic river.
``(iv) The approximately 12.2-mile segment
from the Route 341 bridge in Kent to the
Boardman Bridge in New Milford, as a
recreational river.
``(B) Effects on hydroelectric facilities.--The
designation of the river segments in subparagraph (A)
shall not--
``(i) impact or alter the existing terms of
permitting, licensing, or operation of--
``(I) the Falls Village
Hydroelectric Generating Station
located in Falls Village, Connecticut
(FERC P-2576); or
``(II) the Bulls Bridge
Hydroelectric Generating Station
located in New Milford, Connecticut
(FERC P-2576); or
``(ii) preclude the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission from licensing,
relicensing, or otherwise authorizing the
operation or continued operation of the
facilities named in clause (i).''.
(b) Management.--
(1) Process.--The Housatonic River segments shall be
managed in accordance with--
(A) the Management Plan; and
(B) such amendments to the Management Plan as the
Secretary determines are consistent with this Act and
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et
seq.).
(2) Comprehensive management plan.--The Management 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)).
(3) Cooperative management.--
(A) In general.--To provide for long-term
protection, preservation, and enhancement of the
Housatonic River segments, the Secretary shall
coordinate management responsibilities under this Act,
and 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--
(i) the State of Connecticut;
(ii) the towns of Sharon, Canaan, Cornwall,
Salisbury, New Milford, Kent, and North Canaan,
Connecticut; and
(iii) appropriate planning, environmental,
and recreational organizations, including--
(I) local, regional, State, and
multistate organizations; and
(II) any other appropriate
organizations, as determined by the
Housatonic River Commission, or its
successor organization, as defined in
the Management Plan.
(B) Cooperative agreements.--Each cooperative
agreement entered into under this paragraph shall be
consistent with the Management Plan and may include
provisions for financial or other assistance from the
United States.
(4) Zoning ordinances.--For the purposes of the Housatonic
River segments, the zoning ordinances adopted by the
municipalities named in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) shall be deemed to
satisfy the standards and requirements of section 6(c) of the
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)).
(5) Acquisition of lands.--The authority of the Secretary
to acquire lands for the Housatonic River segments shall be--
(A) limited to acquisition by donation or
acquisition with the consent of the owner thereof; and
(B) subject to the additional criteria set forth in
the Management Plan.
(6) No condemnation.--No land or interest in land may be
acquired for the Housatonic River segments by condemnation.
(7) Relation to the national park system.--Notwithstanding
section 10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C.
1281(c)), the Housatonic River segments shall not be--
(A) administered as a part or unit of the National
Park System; or
(B) subject to regulations that govern the National
Park System.
(8) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of the Interior.
(B) Management plan.--The term ``Management Plan''
means the Housatonic River Management Plan, dated
September 2006.
(C) Housatonic river segments.--The term
``Housatonic River segments'' means the river segments
designated by the amendments made by section 2(a).
<all>