Overview

Title

To amend the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to add certain land to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

S. 3985 is a plan to make a special forest area in Colorado a bit bigger so that people can enjoy and protect it, while also making sure Native American tribes can still use the land for important traditions and that safety measures like fighting fires are allowed.

Summary AI

S. 3985 aims to update the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 by adding approximately 6,817 acres of land within the Routt National Forest to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness. The bill ensures that treaty rights of Indian Tribes are preserved and allows for traditional, religious, and cultural uses by these tribes in the newly designated area. Additionally, the Secretary of Agriculture is permitted to conduct necessary activities to control fires, insects, and diseases within the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Addition following current laws and regulations.

Published

2024-03-20
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2024-03-20
Package ID: BILLS-118s3985is

Keywords AI

sarvis creek wilderness colorado wilderness act of 1993 routt national forest land designation tribal rights secretary of agriculture fire control insect and disease management wilderness preservation legislative impact assessment

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
4
Words:
501
Pages:
3
Sentences:
21

Language

Nouns: 172
Verbs: 29
Adjectives: 20
Adverbs: 3
Numbers: 29
Entities: 43

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.27
Average Sentence Length:
23.86
Token Entropy:
4.64
Readability (ARI):
13.96

AnalysisAI

General Summary

The proposed legislation, titled the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, seeks to amend the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993. The key objective of the bill is to incorporate approximately 6,817 acres of land from the Routt National Forest into the Sarvis Creek Wilderness. Introduced by Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, the bill outlines definitions and administrative provisions necessary for the integration of this additional land into the wilderness area.

Significant Issues

Several issues within the bill merit attention:

  1. Ambiguity in Land Designation: The bill describes the land to be added as "generally depicted" on a specific map. This leaves room for interpretation about the precise boundaries, potentially leading to disputes or confusion regarding the exact area being designated.

  2. Financial and Resource Management Concerns: The bill lacks detailed provisions for ensuring the efficient allocation of federal resources in managing the newly added land. There is also no cost analysis provided, which could raise concerns about potential budgetary implications.

  3. Complex Legal References: The bill relies heavily on references to other legal documents and acts, which might render it difficult for individuals not well-versed in legal terminology to fully comprehend its implications.

  4. Permitting and Tribal Use: While the bill allows for traditional and cultural access by Indian Tribes, the language used is rather open-ended and might benefit from more precise guidelines to prevent potential misuse.

  5. Vague Administrative Discretion: The Secretary of Agriculture is granted significant discretion, particularly in activities related to controlling fire, insects, and diseases. Without clear guidelines, there is a risk of inconsistent policy implementation.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the addition of land to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness aligns with conservation efforts to protect natural landscapes and biodiversity. However, ambiguity in land boundaries and financial planning could lead to inefficient management, potentially affecting public funds and the quality of conservation efforts.

Impact on Stakeholders

Local Communities: The extension of the wilderness area could impact local economies, particularly those relying on land use for recreational, commercial, or developmental purposes. On the positive side, it may boost eco-tourism and related businesses.

Indian Tribes: The bill’s provisions to respect treaty rights and permit traditional uses are valuable for preserving cultural practices. Nonetheless, clearer guidelines are needed to ensure these rights are effectively safeguarded.

Environmental Organizations: These groups are likely to view the bill positively as it enhances protected areas. However, they may advocate for stricter management guidelines to maintain ecological integrity.

Stakeholders in the administration, including the Secretary of Agriculture, would need to establish clear protocols to avoid mismanagement and ensure that the objectives of the wilderness addition are met efficiently. Overall, while the bill represents a step toward conserving Colorado’s wilderness, addressing noted issues could enhance its implementation and acceptance among diverse stakeholders.

Issues

  • Section 3: The bill involves land designation without specifying measures to ensure the efficient use of federal resources for managing the new wilderness addition, potentially leading to wasteful spending.

  • Section 3: The term 'generally depicted' concerning the land area is ambiguous and could lead to interpretation issues regarding the exact boundaries of the designated land.

  • Section 3: There is no clear indication of financial impact or cost analysis related to managing and maintaining the newly designated area, potentially posing budgetary concerns.

  • Section 3: The reliance on references to other legal documents might make the language overly complex and difficult for the general public to understand.

  • Section 3: The reference date of February 26, 2024, for the map 'Sarvis Creek Wilderness Addition Proposal' might be confusing if viewed before that date.

  • Section 3: There is no mention of potential impacts on stakeholders, local communities, or ecosystems, which could be a concern in terms of comprehensive legislative impact assessment.

  • Section 4: The language regarding permitting Indian Tribes access for traditional, religious, and cultural purposes is open-ended and may require clearer definition to avoid potential misuse.

  • Section 4: Permitting activities for control of fire, insects, and diseases is vague and grants too much discretion to the Secretary without clear guidelines or accountability.

  • Section 2: Definitions are provided but do not clarify what the 'amendment made by section 3(a)' entails, possibly confusing readers unfamiliar with the context.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section provides the short title for the legislation, which is the "Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act."

2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section provides definitions for specific terms used in the Act. “Sarvis Creek Wilderness Addition” refers to the land added to the Sarvis Wilderness as per an amendment, and “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Agriculture.

3. Designation of Sarvis Creek Wilderness addition Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The text describes an amendment to the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to include an additional 6,817 acres of land in the Routt National Forest as part of the Sarvis Creek Wilderness. It also specifies that the effective date for managing this wilderness area is the same as the enactment date of this new Act.

4. Administrative provisions Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section outlines that the rights of Indian Tribes under treaties are unaffected by the Act, and the Secretary can allow Tribes access to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Addition for traditional and cultural activities. Additionally, the Secretary may conduct activities to control fire, insects, and diseases in the area as needed.