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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4870 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4870
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain streams in
the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the State of Montana as components
of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2025
Mr. Zinke introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain streams in
the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the State of Montana as components
of the 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 ``Greater Yellowstone Recreation
Enhancement And Tourism Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the streams designated as components of the Wild and
Scenic Rivers System by the amendment made by section 3(a) are
cherished by the people of the State of Montana and visitors
from across the United States and around the world for their
clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, spectacular natural
settings, and outstanding recreational opportunities;
(2) Indian Tribes have used the streams referred to in
paragraph (1) for hunting, fishing, gathering, and other
cultural purposes since time immemorial;
(3) recreational activities (including fishing, hunting,
camping, paddling, hiking, swimming, rock climbing, horseback
riding, and wildlife watching) on the streams referred to in
paragraph (1) and the surrounding land generate billions of
dollars annually for the economy of the State of Montana;
(4) the multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry in the
State of Montana thrives on the availability of clean water
that originates in headwaters streams on Federal public land;
(5) facilities on the Madison River, the Gibson and Madison
Dams, have been integral in improving and maintaining fish
populations, enabling its blue-ribbon fishery values, while
generating 12 MW of carbon free hydropower;
(6) the streams referred to in paragraph (1)--
(A) are national treasures;
(B) possess outstandingly remarkable values; and
(C) merit the high level of protection afforded by
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.)
in order to maintain the benefits provided by the
streams described in paragraphs (1) through (3) for
future generations to enjoy; and
(7) designation of select public land segments of the
streams referred to in paragraph (1) under the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) would maintain the
outstandingly remarkable values of each stream while--
(A) preserving public access;
(B) respecting private property rights;
(C) allowing appropriate maintenance of existing
infrastructure, including major repairs and safety
improvements to roads and bridges;
(D) allowing for emergency intervention; and
(E) allowing historical uses to continue.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to designate certain
segments of the Gallatin, Madison, and Yellowstone Rivers and their
select tributaries in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the State of
Montana as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to
preserve and protect for present and future generations the
outstandingly remarkable values of each stream and tributary.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SEGMENTS.
(a) In General.--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:
``(233) Madison river, montana.--The approximately 42-mile
segment of the Madison River in the State of Montana from the
confluence of Cabin Creek downstream to the point at which the
river leaves Bureau of Land Management land at the north
boundary of T. 8 S., R. 1 W., sec. 10, approximately 1 mile
north of the confluence of Cherry Creek, to be administered by
the Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river.
``(234) Gallatin river, montana.--The approximately 39.5-
mile segment of the Gallatin River in the State of Montana from
the Yellowstone National Park boundary downstream to the
confluence of Spanish Creek, to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture as a recreational river.
``(235) Hyalite creek, montana.--The approximately 4.6-mile
segment of Hyalite Creek in the State of Montana from the
source in the Gallatin Range downstream to Grotto Falls
Trailhead, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture
as a scenic river.
``(236) Cabin creek, montana.--The approximately 7.3-mile
segment of Cabin Creek in the State of Montana from the source
in the Madison Range downstream to above the fish barrier, to
be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic
river.
``(237) Middle fork of cabin creek, montana.--The
approximately 5.1-mile segment of the Middle Fork of Cabin
Creek in the State of Montana from the source in the Madison
Range downstream to the confluence with Cabin Creek, to be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic
river.''.
(b) Consent of Owner of Land Required.--No land or interest in land
located within the boundary of a covered segment may be acquired by the
Secretary of Agriculture without the consent of the owner of the land
or interest in land.
(c) Effect of Designations on Water Rights.--Nothing in this Act or
an amendment made by this Act affects valid existing rights,
including--
(1) Federal, Tribal, and interstate water compacts in
existence on the date of enactment of this Act (including full
development of any apportionment made in accordance with the
compacts);
(2) water rights in the State of Montana; and
(3) water rights held by the United States.
(d) Effect of Designations on Hebgen and Madison Developments.--
(1) Hebgen dam and reservoir and madison dam and
reservoir.--The Hebgen Dam and Reservoir and the Madison Dam
and Reservoir are located entirely outside of the covered
segments, and these dams (including all aspects of their
facilities and operations) are compatible with the designation
made by the amendments made by subsection (a).
(2) Effects on current and future hydroelectric
facilities.--
(A) In general.--The designation of the river
segments by the amendments made by subsection (a) shall
not--
(i) impact or alter the existing terms of
permitting, licensing, or operation of--
(I) the Hebgen Dam located on the
Upper Madison River in Montana (FERC P-
2188); or
(II) the Madison Dam located near
Ennis, Montana (FERC P-2188); 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) Hydropower generation.--Nothing in this Act
abrogates adding hydropower generation facilities to
the Hebgen Dam.
(3) Licensing and expansion.--Notwithstanding Section 7(a)
of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, section 4(e) of the Federal
Power Act shall govern the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
consideration of licenses, relicenses, or expansion of the
Hebgen and Madison Developments.
(4) Limitation.--The Hebgen and Madison Developments shall
not be expanded to the area within the covered segments.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act,
including the amendments made by this Act.
(f) Covered Segment Defined.--The term ``covered segment'' means a
river segment designated by paragraphs (233) through (237) of section
3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) (as amended
by subsection (a) of this section).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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