York River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2013


The York River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2013 is a bill that would require the National Park Service to study a segment of the York River in the state of Maine for potential addition to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The study would be to determine how the proposed designation would affect current recreational and commercial activities. The study would cost approximately $500,000.
The bill was introduced into the United States House of Representatives during the 113th United States Congress. The bill died in the United States Senate during the 112th United States Congress.

Background

The National Park Service supported the version of this bill that was passed by the House during the 112th Congress. It was reported in January 2013 that the National Park Service had agreed to conduct a "reconnaissance survey" of the river as a preliminary measure to determining if the river was eligible for "Scenic and Wild" status.

Provisions of the bill

This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, a public domain source.
The York River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2013 would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a specified segment of the York River in Maine and all of its associated tributaries for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
The bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to study the York River to: determine the designation's effect on existing commercial and recreational activities, the construction and operation of energy production and transmission infrastructure, and the authority of state and local governments to manage those activities; and identify all authorities that will authorize or require the Secretary to influence local land use decisions or place restrictions on non-federal land if designated under this Act, all authorities that the Secretary may use to condemn property, and all private property located in the area studied pursuant to this Act.

Congressional Budget Office report

This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Budget Office, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 24, 2013. This is a public domain source.
H.R. 2197 would require the National Park Service to study a segment of the York River in the state of Maine for potential addition to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Based on information provided by the NPS, Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementing the legislation would cost about $300,000 over the next three years, assuming availability of appropriated funds. Enacting H.R. 2197 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 2197 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.

Procedural history

The York River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2013 was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on May 23, 2013 by Rep. Chellie Pingree. It was referred to the United States House Committee on Natural Resources and the United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation. It was reported by the committee on September 20, 2013 alongside . On February 29, 2014, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced that H.R. 2197 would be considered under a suspension of the rules on March 3, 2014. Consideration was delayed until March 4, 2014 due to a snowstorm in Washington D.C.

Debate and discussion

Conservation groups supported the bill.