Position on S. 90, S. 446, S. 1516 & S. 2881

S. 90 – Historic Roadways Protection Act: NPCA opposes this bill which prevents funding for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to complete travel management plans in Utah. Red rock canyons, rivers, fossils, and wildlife, among other natural and cultural resources, are found in the areas identified in this bill. Travel planning allows BLM to ensure the roads take visitors and permittees to destinations while also ensuring the road system does not fragment important wildlife habitat or harm the abundant cultural resources. This bill stops important agency work and instead promotes cow paths and barely noticeable two-tracks as part of the road system. RS2477 right of way disputes are and should be addressed through the judiciary branch.

S. 446 - To prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness: NPCA opposes this legislation which would prevent the National Park Service (NPS) from carrying out well-established mandates in accordance with the Wilderness Act and longstanding policy. NPCA views wilderness as a valuable conservation tool for protecting some of the most sensitive areas for imperiled wildlife and habitats. We believe the habitat conservation situation in Big Cypress has become dire, and that designating parts of the preserve as wilderness is one of the pathways to better protect the preserve’s threatened habitat and wildlife. Oil and gas operations and rampant off-road vehicle use have wreaked havoc across the preserve and threatened its rare species and rich biodiversity.

However, NPCA does not and would not support any potential wilderness designation that violates the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida or Seminole Tribe of Florida’s rights to access and live in the Preserve. Tribal rights to customary and traditional use and access are established in the enabling legislation that founded Big Cypress and must be upheld. We have a deep and abiding respect for both Tribal Nations and the unique cultural connection they have with this land. NPS can and should continue its work with the Tribes through meaningful government-to-government consultation to honor Tribal interests. Any future potential wilderness designation must protect Big Cypress’ ecosystems while simultaneously protecting Tribal rights and access to the land they have stewarded for generations. NPCA is committed to working together to find and apply conservation tools and solutions to protect Big Cypress.

S. 1516 - Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act: NPCA supports this legislation which authorizes a special resource study of the Cahokia Mounds and surrounding lands to consider a federal effort to preserve and interpret the historic, cultural and natural resources associated with the life of the Mississippian Culture. This site is an established Illinois State Historic Site as well as a World Heritage Site. Currently managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, it is the state’s most-visited historic site.

S. 2881 - A bill to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California: NPCA supports this legislation to exchange land parcels between the US Forest Service (USFS) and National Park Service (NPS) within the Ackerson Meadow area shared by Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park. Following a 2016 private donation, noncontiguous portions of Ackerson Meadow were acquired by Yosemite National Park. Both NPS and USFS have sought for years to exchange a checkerboard of parcels within the jurisdiction of each agency to ensure jurisdictional boundaries within Ackerson Meadow align more seamlessly with desired park and forest boundaries. This exchange would bolster local recreation, conservation and ecosystem rehabilitation opportunities in the meadow, and is supported by relevant ranching interests with forest service grazing allotments impacted by the current boundaries.