Administration of wilderness

(a) In general Subject to valid existing rights, land designated as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System by section 101 (referred to in this Act as a wilderness area) shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with this title and the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) to the effective date of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) shall be considered to be a reference to the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Fire management and related activities (1) In general The Secretary of Agriculture may carry out any activities in a wilderness area as are necessary for the control of fire, insects, or disease in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)). (2) Revision and development of local fire management plans As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall amend the local information in the Fire Management Reference System of the Forest Service or individual operational plan that applies to each wilderness area. (3) Funding priorities Nothing in this title limits funding for fire or fuels management in a wilderness area. (4) Administration In accordance with paragraph (1) and any other applicable Federal law, to ensure a timely and efficient response to a fire emergency in a wilderness area, the Secretary of Agriculture shall— (A) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish agency approval procedures (including appropriate delegations of authority to the Forest Supervisor and the head of any other applicable agency for responding to fire emergencies); and (B) enter into agreements with appropriate State or local firefighting agencies. (c) Fish and wildlife (1) In general In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title affects the jurisdiction or responsibilities of California with respect to fish and wildlife in California. (2) Management activities In support of the purposes and principles of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture may conduct any management activity that the Secretary determines to be necessary to maintain or restore a fish, wildlife, or plant population or habitat in a wilderness area, if the management activity is conducted in accordance with— (A) an applicable wilderness management plan; (B) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and (C) appropriate policies, such as the policies established in Appendix B of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (H. Rept. 101–405). (d) Buffer zones (1) In general Nothing in this title establishes a protective perimeter or buffer zone around a wilderness area. (2) Outside activities or uses The fact that a nonwilderness activity or use can be seen or heard from within a wilderness area does not preclude the activity or use outside the boundary of the wilderness area. (e) Military activities Nothing in this title precludes— (1) low-level overflights of military aircraft over a wilderness area; (2) the designation of a new unit of special airspace over a wilderness area; or (3) the use or establishment of a military flight training route over a wilderness area. (f) Horses Nothing in this title precludes horseback riding in, or the entry of recreational or commercial saddle or pack stock into, a wilderness area— (1) in accordance with section 4(d)(5) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(5)); and (2) subject to any terms and conditions the Secretary of Agriculture determines necessary. (g) Withdrawal Subject to valid existing rights, each wilderness 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 materials and geothermal leasing laws. (h) Incorporation of acquired land and interests Any land within the boundary of a wilderness area that is acquired by the United States shall— (1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is located; (2) be withdrawn in accordance with subsection (g); and (3) be managed in accordance with— (A) this section; (B) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and (C) any other applicable law. (i) Climatological data collection In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe, the Secretary may authorize the installation and maintenance of hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological collection devices in a wilderness area if the Secretary determines that the devices and access to the devices are essential to a flood warning, flood control, or water reservoir operation activity. (j) Recreational climbing Nothing in this title prohibits recreational rock climbing activities in a wilderness area, such as the placement, use, and maintenance of fixed anchors, including any fixed anchor established before the date of the enactment of this Act— (1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and other applicable laws; and (2) subject to any terms and conditions the Secretary of Agriculture determines necessary.