Establishment of Special Management Areas

(a) Bennet mountains special management area (1) Establishment Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Bennett Mountains Special Management Area (referred to in this subsection as the Special Management Area), comprising approximately 6,165.05 acres of Federal land in the State administered by the Bureau, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Bennet Mountains Special Management Area and dated November 15, 2023. (2) Administration The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary. (3) Purpose The purpose of the Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational, values of the area. (4) Management (A) In general The Secretary shall manage the Special Management Area— (i) in furtherance of the purpose described in paragraph (3); and (ii) in accordance with— (I) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable to the Bureau; (II) this subsection; and (III) any other applicable law (including regulations). (B) Roads; motorized vehicles (i) Roads The construction of new permanent roads in the Special Management Area shall not be allowed. (ii) Motorized vehicles Except as needed for administrative purposes, emergency response, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management, and range improvement, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles. (iii) Travel management plan Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a travel management plan for the Special Management Area. (C) Grazing Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau. (D) Timber harvesting Commercial timber harvesting shall not be allowed in the Special Management Area. (5) Withdrawal (A) In general Subject to valid existing rights and subparagraph (B), the Special Management Area is withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. (B) Exception The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production. (b) Black Cat Special Management Area (1) Establishment Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Black Cat Special Management Area (referred to in this subsection as the Special Management Area), comprising approximately 1,178 acres of Federal land in Carbon County, Wyoming, as generally depicted on the map entitled Black Cat Special Management Area and dated November 13, 2023. (2) Administration The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. (3) Purpose The purpose of the Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational values of the area. (4) Management (A) In general The Secretary of Agriculture shall manage the Special Management Area— (i) in furtherance of the purpose described in paragraph (3); and (ii) in accordance with— (I) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable to National Forest System land; (II) this subsection; and (III) any other applicable law (including regulations). (B) Roads; motorized vehicles (i) Roads The construction of new permanent roads in the Special Management Area shall not be allowed. (ii) Motorized vehicles Except as needed for administrative purposes, emergency response, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management, and range improvement, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles. (iii) Travel management plan Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a travel management plan for the Special Management Area. (C) Grazing Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to grazing on National Forest System land. (D) Timber harvesting Commercial timber harvesting shall not be allowed in the Special Management Area. (5) Withdrawal (A) In general Subject to valid existing rights and subparagraph (B), the Special Management Area is withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. (B) Exception The Secretary may, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production. (c) Sweetwater rocks special management area (1) Establishment Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Sweetwater Rocks Special Management Area (referred to in this subsection as the Special Management Area), comprising approximately 34,347.79 acres of Federal land in Fremont and Natrona Counties, Wyoming, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Sweetwater Rocks Special Management Area and dated November 15, 2023. (2) Administration The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary. (3) Purpose The purpose of the Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational, values of the area. (4) Management (A) In general The Secretary shall manage the Special Management Area— (i) in furtherance of the purpose described in paragraph (3); and (ii) in accordance with— (I) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable to the Bureau; (II) this subsection; and (III) any other applicable law (including regulations). (B) Roads; motorized vehicles (i) Roads The construction of new permanent roads in the Special Management Area shall not be allowed. (ii) Motorized vehicles Except as needed for administrative purposes, emergency response, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management, and range improvement, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles. (iii) Travel management plan Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a travel management plan for the Special Management Area. (C) Grazing Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to the Bureau. (D) Prohibition of certain overhead towers No new overhead transmission or communications tower shall be constructed in the Special Management Area. (E) Land exchanges The Secretary may propose to, and carry out with, an individual or entity owning land in the vicinity of the Special Management Area any land exchange that— (i) increases access to the Special Management Area; and (ii) does not result in a net loss of Federal land. (F) Underground rights-of-way Notwithstanding paragraph (5), the Secretary may expand any underground right-of-way in the Special Management Area that exists as of the date of enactment of this Act. (5) Withdrawal (A) In general Subject to valid existing rights and subparagraph (B), the Special Management Area is withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. (B) Exception The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production. (C) Wind and solar energy withdrawal Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the land within the boundaries of the Special Management Area is withdrawn from right-of-way leasing and disposition under laws relating to wind or solar energy. (d) Fortification creek special management area; fraker mountain special management area; north fork special management area (1) Definition of special management area In this subsection, the term Special Management Area means a special management area established by paragraph (2). (2) Establishment of special management areas Subject to valid existing rights there are established the following: (A) The Fortification Creek Special Management Area, comprising approximately 12,520.69 acres of Federal land administered in the State by the Bureau, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Fortification Creek Management Area and dated November 15, 2023. (B) The Fraker Mountain Special Management Area, comprising approximately 6,248.28 acres of Federal land administered in the State by the Bureau, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Fraker Mountain Management Area and dated November 15, 2023. (C) The North Fork Special Management Area, comprising approximately 10,026.15 acres of Federal land administered in the State by the Bureau, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed North Fork Management Area and dated November 15, 2023. (3) Administration The Special Management Areas shall be administered by the Secretary. (4) Purpose The purpose of a Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, recreational, wildlife habitat, forest health, watershed protection, and ecological and cultural values of the area. (5) Management (A) In general The Secretary shall manage each Special Management Area— (i) in furtherance of the purpose described in paragraph (4); and (ii) in accordance with— (I) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable to the Bureau; (II) this subsection; and (III) any other applicable law (including regulations). (B) Roads; motorized vehicles (i) Roads The construction of new permanent roads in a Special Management Area shall not be allowed. (ii) Motorized vehicles Except as needed for administrative purposes, emergency response, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management, and range improvement, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in a Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles. (iii) Travel management plan Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a travel management plan for each Special Management Area. (C) Grazing Grazing of livestock in a Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau. (D) Prohibition of certain infrastructure The development, construction, or installation of infrastructure for recreational use shall not be allowed in— (i) the Fraker Mountain Special Management Area; or (ii) the North Fork Special Management Area. (6) Withdrawal (A) In general Subject to valid existing rights and subparagraph (B), the Special Management Areas are withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. (B) Exception The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of a Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production. (e) Cedar mountain special management area (1) Establishment Subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Cedar Mountain Special Management Area (referred to in this subsection as the Special Management Area), comprising approximately 20,745.73 acres of Federal land in the State administered by the Bureau, as generally depicted on the map entitled Proposed Cedar Mountain Special Management Area and dated November 15, 2023. (2) Administration The Special Management Area shall be administered by the Secretary. (3) Purpose The purpose of the Special Management Area is to enhance the natural, historic, scenic, recreational, ecological, wildlife, and livestock production values of the area. (4) Management (A) In general The Secretary shall manage the Special Management Area— (i) in furtherance of the purpose described in paragraph (3); and (ii) in accordance with— (I) the laws (including regulations) generally applicable to the Bureau; (II) this subsection; and (III) any other applicable law (including regulations). (B) Roads; motorized vehicles (i) Roads The construction of new permanent roads in the Special Management Area shall not be allowed. (ii) Motorized vehicles Except as needed for administrative purposes, emergency response, fire management, forest health and restoration, weed and pest control, habitat management, livestock management, and range improvement, the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles in the Special Management Area shall be allowed only on existing roads and trails designated for the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles. (iii) Travel management plan Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a travel management plan for the Special Management Area. (C) Grazing Grazing of livestock in the Special Management Area shall be administered in accordance with the laws generally applicable to land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau. (5) Withdrawal (A) In general Subject to valid existing rights, the Special Management Area is withdrawn from— (i) all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. (B) Exception The Secretary may lease oil and gas resources within the boundaries of the Special Management Area if— (i) the lease may only be accessed by directional drilling from a lease that is outside of the Special Management Area; and (ii) the lease prohibits, without exception or waiver, surface occupancy and surface disturbance within the Special Management Area for any activities, including activities related to exploration, development, or production.