Federal

Ouachita National Forest Overnight Camping Act

Source: Congress.gov · 513 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to identify and develop overnight camping areas in the Albert Pike Recreation Area within the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. The bill also requires the Secretary to reopen existing campsites that meet certain safety conditions.

Who It Affects

The Secretary of Agriculture and the public who use the Ouachita National Forest for camping.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary must identify areas suitable for overnight camping within Albert Pike Recreation Area within 6 months of the bill becoming law (Sec. 2(a)(1)) • The Secretary must review identified areas and establish campsites and related facilities for public use within 2 years of the bill becoming law (Sec. 2(a)(2)) • At least 54 campsites must be available, with at least 8 having electric and water hookups (Sec. 2(b)(1)) • All campsites and related facilities must be located outside of the 1 percent annual exceedance probability flood elevation, meaning areas that flood less than once per 100 years (Sec. 2(b)(2)) • The Secretary must reopen existing campsites within Albert Pike Recreation Area that are located outside the 1 percent annual exceedance probability flood elevation within 30 days of the bill becoming law (Sec. 2(c))

What Changes

If this bill becomes law, the Albert Pike Recreation Area will have newly developed and reopened camping facilities available to the public, with guaranteed minimum numbers of sites and specific safety requirements based on flood risk.

Important Definitions

Albert Pike Recreation Area: the recreation area and its grounds located in the Ouachita National Forest approximately six miles north of Langley, Arkansas in southern Montgomery County, Arkansas (Sec. 2(d)(1)) Secretary: the Secretary of Agriculture (Sec. 2(d)(2))

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1667 To require the Secretary of Agriculture to identify and develop campsites and related facilities for public use in the Ouachita National Forest, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 17, 2023 Mr. WESTERMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To require the Secretary of Agriculture to identify and de- velop campsites and related facilities for public use in the Ouachita National Forest, 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 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ouachita National 4 Forest Overnight Camping Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF OVERNIGHT CAMPSITES. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 7 (1) not later than 6 months after the date of 8 the enactment of this Act, identify areas within Al- 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:14 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1667.IH H1667 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1667 IH bert Pike Recreation Area that may be suitable for 1 overnight camping; and 2 (2) not later than 2 years after the date of the 3 enactment of this Act— 4 (A) review each area identified under para- 5 graph (1); and 6 (B) from the areas so identified, select and 7 establish campsites and related facilities within 8 Albert Pike Recreation Area for public use. 9 (b) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO CAMPSITES AND 10 RELATED FACILITIES.—The Secretary shall— 11 (1) ensure that at least 54 campsites are avail- 12 able under subsection (a), of which not less than 8 13 shall have electric and water hookups; and 14 (2) ensure that each campsite and related facil- 15 ity identified or established under subsection (a) is 16 located outside of the 1 percent annual exceedance 17 probability flood elevation. 18 (c) REOPENING OF CERTAIN SITES.—Not later than 19 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 20 Secretary shall open each campsite within Albert Pike 21 Recreation Area that— 22 (1) exists on the date of the enactment of this 23 Act; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:14 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1667.IH H1667 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1667 IH (2) is located outside of the 1 percent annual 1 exceedance probability flood elevation. 2 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 3 (1) ALBERT PIKE RECREATION AREA.—The 4 term ‘‘Albert Pike Recreation Area’’ means the Al- 5 bert Pike Recreation Area and grounds associated 6 with such area located in the Ouachita National 7 Forest, approximately six miles north of Langley, 8 Arkansas in southern Montgomery County, Arkan- 9 sas. 10 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 11 the Secretary of Agriculture. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:14 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1667.IH H1667 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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.