S. 260 would establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area.
Detailed Summary
Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area Act - Establishes the Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area in Lincoln county, New Mexico, to protect, conserve, and enhance the unique and nationally important historic, cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural, and educational subterranean cave resources of the Fort Stanton-Snowy River cave system.
Specifies that the Conservation Area include the area within the boundaries depicted on the map entitled "Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area" and dated November 2005.
Instructs the Secretary to only allow uses of the Conservation Area that are consistent with the protection of the cave resources.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, in administering the Conservation Area, to include providing for management of the surface area of the Conservation Area in accordance with the Fort Stanton Area of Critical Environmental Concern Final Activity Plan dated March, 2001, or any amendments to such plan, consistent with this Act.
Withdraws all federal surface and subsurface land within the Conservation Area and all lands and interests in the surface and subsurface land that are acquired by the United States for inclusion in the Conservation Area from: (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the general land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws.
Directs the Secretary to develop a plan for the long-term management of the Conservation Area. Requires that such plan provide for a cooperative agreement with Lincoln county to address the historical involvement of the local community in the interpretation and protection of the resources of such Area.
Provides that the establishment of the Conservation Area shall not: (1) create a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Conservation Area; or (2) preclude uses or activities outside the Conservation Area that are permitted under other applicable laws, even if the uses or activities are prohibited within such Area.
Authorizes the Secretary to establish facilities for: (1) the conduct of scientific research; and (2) the interpretation of the historical, cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural, and educational resources of the Conservation Area.
Prohibits anything in this Act from constituting an express or implied reservation of any water right.
Authorizes appropriations.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 2/15/2007: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 38.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Free Caver
I am tired of the cave resources getting gated and closed up to the average citizen. These "cave conservationists" want to make it so that you have to see them to go into a cave that the public owns.
Gomez of the B.L.M in New Mexico had a deal going with the local grottos where anyone that wanted to go into a cave had to get the grotto's permission not the B.L.M.
gypcvr
I have expored many caves in NM and always get annoyed that I can not just go into a cave on public land.
The various grottos will support this Act as long as they think it will allow them exclusive rights to the Stanton cave. They still have Lechugilla shock and envy!