Designation of conservation management areas

(a) Establishment of conservation management areas (1) Establishment Subject to valid existing rights, there are designated as conservation management areas in the State the following: (A) Continental divide conservation management area Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising approximately 31,653 acres, as generally depicted on the Map, which shall be known as the Continental Divide Conservation Management Area. (B) Stonewall conservation management area Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service in the State, comprising approximately 13,089 acres, as generally depicted on the Map, which shall be known as the Stonewall Conservation Management Area. (2) Purposes The purposes of the conservation management areas are to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the recreational, scenic, historical, cultural, fish, wildlife, roadless, and ecological values of the conservation management areas. (3) Management (A) In general The Secretary shall manage the conservation management areas— (i) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the resources of the conservation management areas; and (ii) in accordance with— (I) the laws (including regulations) and rules applicable to the National Forest System; (II) this section; and (III) any other applicable law (including regulations). (B) Uses (i) In general The Secretary shall only allow such uses of the conservation management areas that the Secretary determines would further the purposes described in paragraph (2). (ii) Motorized vehicles (I) In general The use of motorized vehicles in the conservation management areas shall be permitted only on roads, trails, and areas designated for use by motorized vehicles as of the date of enactment of this Act. (II) New system roads or temporary roads Except as provided in subclause (III), no new system roads or temporary roads shall be constructed within the conservation management areas. (III) Exceptions Nothing in subclause (I) or (II) prohibits the Secretary from— (aa) rerouting or closing an existing road or trail to protect natural resources from degradation, as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary; (bb) authorizing the use of motorized vehicles for administrative purposes (including noxious weed eradication or grazing management); or (cc) responding to an emergency. (iii) Grazing The Secretary shall permit grazing within the conservation management areas, if established on the date of enactment of this Act— (I) subject to— (aa) such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary determines appropriate; and (bb) all applicable laws; and (II) in a manner consistent with— (aa) the purposes described in paragraph (2); and (bb) the guidelines set forth in the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 5487 of the 96th Congress (H. Rept. 96–617). (iv) Vegetation management Nothing in this section prohibits the Secretary from conducting vegetation management projects within the conservation management areas— (I) subject to— (aa) such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary determines appropriate; and (bb) all applicable laws (including regulations); and (II) in a manner consistent with the purposes described in paragraph (2). (C) Adjacent management (i) In general The designation of the conservation management areas shall not create a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the conservation management areas. (ii) Effect The fact that activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within the conservation management areas shall not preclude the conduct of the activities or uses outside the boundary of the conservation management areas. (D) Incorporation of acquired land and interests Any land or interest in land that is located in a conservation management area that is acquired by the United States shall— (i) become part of the conservation management area; and (ii) be managed in accordance with— (I) the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the Weeks Law) (36 Stat. 961, chapter 186; 16 U.S.C. 552 et seq.); (II) any laws (including regulations) applicable to the National Forest System; (III) this subsection; and (IV) any other applicable law (including regulations). (E) Interpretation In consultation with Tribal Nations, the Secretary shall incorporate into the management of the conservation management areas— (i) public education and interpretation regarding the cultural significance, Native American history, and other historical uses of the conservation management areas; and (ii) Native American place names within the conservation management areas. (4) Withdrawal Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal land located in the conservation management areas is withdrawn from— (A) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (B) location, entry, and patenting under the mining laws; and (C) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (b) Rocky mountain front conservation management area addition Section 3065 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. Buck McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (16 U.S.C. 539r) is amended in subsection (b)(1), by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: (B) Area included The Conservation Management Area shall consist of— (i) approximately 195,073 acres of Federal land managed by the Forest Service and 13,087 acres of Federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the State, as generally depicted on the map; and (ii) approximately 18,126 acres of Federal land managed by the Forest Service in the State, as generally depicted on the map entitled A River Runs Through It Act and dated Sept 2026..