What This Bill Does
This bill amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to study two rivers in Vermont: the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream. The study will determine if these rivers should be added to the national wild and scenic rivers system, which is a program that protects certain rivers.
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Who It Affects
The Secretary of the Interior (the federal official in charge of managing public lands and natural resources)
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Key Provisions
• The bill adds the Nulhegan River's main stem (approximately 22 miles from the headwaters near Nulhegan Pond to where it meets the Connecticut River) and its connected branches (North, Yellow, Black, and East Branches) to the list of rivers that must be studied (Sec. 2(a))
• The bill adds Paul Stream's approximately 18-mile segment (from the headwaters on West Mountain to where it meets the Connecticut River) and any associated tributaries (smaller streams that flow into it) to the list of rivers that must be studied (Sec. 2(a))
• The Secretary of the Interior must complete the study within 3 years after receiving funding and submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees (Sec. 2(b))
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What Changes
If this becomes law, the Secretary of the Interior will be required to study these two Vermont rivers to evaluate whether they should become part of the national wild and scenic rivers system.
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Important Definitions
None defined in bill text
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Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1063
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Nulhegan River
and Paul Stream in the State of Vermont for potential addition to
the national wild and scenic rivers system, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 17, 2023
Ms. BALINT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate
the Nulhegan River and Paul Stream in the State of
Vermont for potential addition to the national wild and
scenic rivers system, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nulhegan River and
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Paul Stream Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2023’’.
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•HR 1063 IH
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS
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ACT.
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(a) DESIGNATION FOR STUDY.—Section 5(a) of the
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Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amend-
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ed by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(147) NULHEGAN RIVER AND PAUL STREAM,
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VERMONT.—The following segments:
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‘‘(A) The approximately 22-mile segment
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of the main stem of the Nulhegan River from
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the headwaters near Nulhegan Pond to the con-
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fluence with the Connecticut River, and any as-
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sociated tributaries (including the North, Yel-
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low, Black, and East Branches).
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‘‘(B) The approximately 18-mile segment
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of Paul Stream from the headwaters on West
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Mountain to the confluence with the Con-
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necticut River, and any associated tributaries.’’.
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(b) STUDY AND REPORT.—Section 5(b) of the Wild
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and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(b)) is amended
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by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(24) NULHEGAN RIVER AND PAUL STREAM,
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VERMONT.—Not later than 3 years after the date on
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which funds are made available to carry out this
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paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall—
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•HR 1063 IH
‘‘(A) complete the study of the Nulhegan
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River and Paul Stream segments in Vermont
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described in subsection (a)(147); and
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‘‘(B) submit to the appropriate committees
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of Congress a report describing the results of
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such study.’’.
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Æ
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