Management of backcountry areas

(a) Purposes The purposes of the backcountry areas are— (1) to protect and restore wildlife habitat, migration corridors, and connectivity pathways, including for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (2) to establish, restore, and maintain fire-resilient forest structures that reduce the threat of uncharacteristic wildfire and restore historic forest patterns and fire regimes; (3) to enhance the restoration of Federal land; (4) to provide for wildlife dependent recreations opportunities, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and photography, and quiet recreation; (5) to allow visitors to enjoy the scenic, natural, cultural, and wildlife values; (6) to conserve, protect, and enhance the scenic, fish and wildlife, recreational and cultural resources, and other natural resource values; and (7) to maintain and improve ecological functions that provide ecosystem services, including water, clean air, and carbon sequestration. (b) Management (1) In general The Secretary shall manage the backcountry areas— (A) in a manner consistent with the purposes described in subsection (a); and (B) in accordance with— (i) the 2021 Missoula Field Office Resource Management Plan (as in effect as of the date of enactment); (ii) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); (iii) this Act; and (iv) any other applicable law (including regulations). (2) Priority Consistent with applicable law and this section, the Secretary shall ensure the implementation of restoration activities are a management priority in the backcountry areas. (c) Withdrawal Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal land located within a backcountry area is withdrawn from— (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (d) Release of wilderness study areas Congress finds that, for the purposes of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)), the public lands within the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area in the State have been adequately studied for wilderness designation and shall no longer be subject to section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)).