What This Bill Does
This bill tells the Secretary of the Interior to study the Deerfield River in Massachusetts and Vermont. The study will look at whether the river should be added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, which is a federal program that protects certain rivers.
Who It Affects
The Secretary of the Interior (the federal official in charge of natural resources and public lands).
Key Provisions
• The Secretary of the Interior must complete a study of the entire Deerfield River within 3 years after funding becomes available (Sec. 2)
• The study covers the North, South, East, and West Branches of the Deerfield River (Sec. 2)
• The study covers major tributaries (smaller rivers that flow into the Deerfield River) including the Green River, North River, South River, Clesson Brook, Chickley River, Cold River, Gulf Brook, Bog Brook, and Dunbar Brook (Sec. 2)
• The Secretary must submit a report to Congress describing the results of the study (Sec. 2)
What Changes
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is amended to add the Deerfield River as a river that must be studied for possible inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1312
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.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 1, 2023
Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Mr. NEAL, and 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 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-
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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 ‘‘Deerfield River Wild
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and Scenic River Study Act of 2023’’.
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SEC. 2. DESIGNATION FOR STUDY; REPORT.
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Section 5 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16
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U.S.C. 1276) is amended—
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•HR 1312 IH
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the
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following:
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‘‘(145) DEERFIELD
RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS
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AND VERMONT.—The entire river, including—
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‘‘(A) the North, South, East, and West
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Branches of the Deerfield River; and
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‘‘(B) the major tributaries of the Deerfield
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River, including the Green River, North River,
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South River, Clesson Brook, Chickley River,
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Cold River, Gulf Brook, Bog Brook, and Dun-
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bar Brook.’’; and
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(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the
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following:
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‘‘(22) DEERFIELD RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS AND
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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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‘‘(A) complete the study described in sub-
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section (a)(145); 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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