Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness Act of 2013 - Designates specified lands in Maine within the Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as the Cross Island Wilderness, and within the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as the Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness, as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1808 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1808
To designate certain Federal lands within the Cross Island National
Wildlife Refuge and the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, part of
the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, in Lincoln
County, Hancock County, and Washington County, Maine, as wilderness.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 26, 2013
Mr. Michaud (for himself and Ms. Pingree of Maine) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To designate certain Federal lands within the Cross Island National
Wildlife Refuge and the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, part of
the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, in Lincoln
County, Hancock County, and Washington County, Maine, as wilderness.
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 ``Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness Act
of 2013''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) High-water mark.--The term ``high-water mark'' means
the point on the bank or shore up to which the water, by its
presence and action or flow, leaves a distinct mark indicated
by erosion, destruction of or change in vegetation, or other
easily recognizable characteristic.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM.
(a) Additions.--In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness
Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and subject to subsection (c), the
following Federal lands in the State of Maine are hereby designated as
wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation
System:
(1) Certain lands in the Cross Island National Wildlife
Refuge, comprising approximately 1,703 acres, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ``Cross Island National Wildlife
Refuge: Islands Wilderness Proposal'' and dated May, 2010,
which shall be known as the ``Cross Island Wilderness''. Cross
Island Wilderness includes six islands in a geographic cluster
in Washington County distributed over the following:
(A) Cross Island: 1,654 acres.
(B) Inner Double Head Shot Island: 8 acres.
(C) Outer Double Head Shot Island: 14 acres.
(D) Mink Island: 11 acres.
(E) Scotch Island: 10 acres.
(F) Old Man Island: 6 acres.
(2) Certain lands in the Petit Manan National Wildlife
Refuge, comprising approximately 1,553 acres, as generally
depicted on the maps entitled ``Petit Manan National Wildlife
Refuge: Islands Wilderness Proposal'' and dated May, 2010,
which shall be known as the ``Maine Coastal Islands
Wilderness''. Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness includes seven
islands distributed over the following:
(A) Outer Heron Island (Lincoln County): 66 acres.
(B) Outer White Island (Lincoln County): 16 acres.
(C) Little Marshall Island (Hancock County): 14
acres.
(D) John's Island (Hancock County): 43 acres.
(E) Bois Bubert Island (Washington County): 1,321
acres.
(F) Inner Sand Island (Washington County): 18
acres.
(G) Halifax Island (Washington County): 75 acres.
(b) Maps and Descriptions.--
(1) Filing and availability.--As soon as practicable after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file
a map and legal description of each wilderness area designated
by subsection (a) with the Committee on Natural Resources of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate. The maps and legal
descriptions filed shall be filed and made available for public
inspection by the Secretary in the office of the Director of
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(2) Force and effect.--A map and legal description filed
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct
errors in the map and legal description.
(c) Seaward Boundary of Wilderness Areas.--The seaward boundary of
each wilderness area designated by this section shall be the high-water
mark.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, lands designated
as wilderness by this Act shall be managed by the Secretary in
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this
Act, except that, with respect to any wilderness areas designated by
this Act, any reference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of
the Wilderness Act is deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment
of this Act.
(b) Incorporation of Acquired Land and Interest.--Any land within
the boundary of the land designated as wilderness by section 3 that is
acquired by the United States shall--
(1) become part of the wilderness area; and
(2) be managed in accordance with this section.
(c) Fish and Wildlife.--As provided in section 4(d)(7) of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this Act shall be
construed as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the
State of Maine with respect to wildlife and fish.
(d) Buffer Zones.--Congress does not intend for the designation of
wilderness areas in the State under this section to lead to the
creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around any wilderness
area.
(e) Activities or Uses up to Boundaries.--The fact that
nonwilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from within a
wilderness designated by this Act shall not, of itself, preclude the
activities or uses up to the boundary of the wilderness area.
(f) Navigational Devices.--Consistent with the purpose of the
Wilderness Act, the Secretary may authorize the installation of
navigational devices in any wilderness area designated by this Act for
the purpose of improving public health and safety.
(g) Landing of Watercraft.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed
as prohibiting the landing of a watercraft on an island on which is
located any area designated as a wilderness area by this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
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