Federal

Deerfield River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 338 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the Deerfield River in Massachusetts and Vermont to determine if it should be added to the national wild and scenic rivers system. The study must be completed within 3 years of receiving funding, and the results must be reported to Congress.

Who It Affects

The Secretary of the Interior (the government official leading the Department of the Interior) and the appropriate committees of Congress.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of the Interior must complete a study of the entire Deerfield River, including its North, South, East, and West Branches, plus major tributaries like the Green River, North River, South River, Clesson Brook, Chickley River, Cold River, Gulf Brook, Bog Brook, and Dunbar Brook (Sec. 2) • The study must be completed no later than 3 years after funds become available to carry out the study (Sec. 2) • The Secretary of the Interior must submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress describing the results of the study (Sec. 2)

What Changes

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is amended to add the Deerfield River to the list of rivers that require study for potential inclusion in the national wild and scenic rivers system.

Important Definitions

None defined in the bill text.

118TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 608 AN ACT To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the Deer- field River 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- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 2 † S 608 ES SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Deerfield River Wild 2 and Scenic River Study Act of 2023’’. 3 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY; REPORT. 4 Section 5 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 5 U.S.C. 1276) is amended— 6 (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 7 following: 8 ‘‘(147) DEERFIELD RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS 9 AND VERMONT.—The entire river, including— 10 ‘‘(A) the North, South, East, and West 11 Branches of the Deerfield River; and 12 ‘‘(B) the major tributaries of the Deerfield 13 River, including the Green River, North River, 14 South River, Clesson Brook, Chickley River, 15 Cold River, Gulf Brook, Bog Brook, and Dun- 16 bar Brook.’’; and 17 (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 18 following: 19 ‘‘(24) DEERFIELD RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS AND 20 VERMONT.—Not later than 3 years after the date on 21 which funds are made available to carry out this 22 paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall— 23 ‘‘(A) complete the study described in sub- 24 section (a)(147); and 25 3 † S 608 ES ‘‘(B) submit to the appropriate committees 1 of Congress a report describing the results of 2 such study.’’. 3 Passed the Senate December 18 (legislative day, De- cember 16), 2024. Attest: Secretary. 118TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 608 AN ACT To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the Deerfield River for potential addition to the national wild and scenic rivers system, and for other purposes.

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.