Collapse to view only § 460ggg-1. National scenic area
- § 460ggg. Wilderness
- § 460ggg-1. National scenic area
- § 460ggg-2. Recreation area
- § 460ggg-3. Maps and legal descriptions
§ 460ggg. Wilderness
(a) Designation
In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131–1136), the following lands in the State of Georgia are hereby designated as wilderness and therefore as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Certain lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia, which comprise approximately 7,800 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled “Blood Mountain Wilderness—Proposed”, dated October 1991, and which shall be known as Blood Mountain Wilderness.
(2) Certain lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia, which comprise approximately 16,880 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled “Chattahoochee Headwaters Wilderness—Proposed”, dated July 1991, and which shall be known as Mark Trail Wilderness.
(3) Certain lands in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia, which comprise approximately 1,160 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled “Brasstown Wilderness Addition—Proposed”, dated July 1991, and which is hereby incorporated in and shall be part of the Brasstown Wilderness as designated by section 2(2) of the Georgia Wilderness Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 3129).
(b) Administration
(Pub. L. 102–217, § 2, Dec. 11, 1991, 105 Stat. 1667.)
§ 460ggg–1. National scenic area
(a) Designation and purposes
(b) Administration
(1) Subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall administer the scenic area in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the National Forest System in such a way as to further the purposes of this section.
(2) The Secretary may permit additional road construction in the scenic area in furtherance of the purposes for which the scenic area is established. Except as provided in this section, the Secretary may not conduct timber harvesting in the scenic area. The Secretary may remove timber in the scenic area in furtherance of this section, but only in a manner which does not impair the purposes for which the scenic area is established. Salvage or sanitation harvesting of timber stands which are substantially damaged by fire, windthrow or other catastrophe, or are in imminent danger from insect or disease attack, is authorized to maintain forest health. Timber harvesting is authorized to provide for visitor safety.
(3) By virtue of this designation alone, the Secretary need not change patterns of public access or closure on existing permanent national forest development roads. At his discretion, however, the Secretary may open or close such existing roads for public use for reasons of sound resource management.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the completion of existing timber sales under contract.
(5) The scenic area is hereby withdrawn from the operation of all laws pertaining to mineral leasing.
(6) The Secretary may also permit, in his discretion, the continued maintenance of existing wildlife openings, in cooperation with the State of Georgia and other Federal, State, and private cooperators, and may permit new wildlife openings in furtherance of the purposes for which the scenic area is established.
(7) The Secretary shall protect, enhance, and promote the public’s opportunities for primitive and semiprimitive experiences in the scenic area.
(Pub. L. 102–217, § 3, Dec. 11, 1991, 105 Stat. 1667.)
§ 460ggg–2. Recreation area
(a) Designation and purposes
(b) Administration
(1) Subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall administer the recreation area in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the national forests in such a way as to further the purposes of this section. Except as provided in this section, the Secretary may not conduct timber harvesting in the recreation area. The Secretary may remove timber in the recreation area in furtherance of this section, but only in a manner which does not impair the purposes for which the recreation area is established. Salvage or sanitation harvesting of timber stands which are substantially damaged by fire, windthrow or other catastrophe, or are in imminent danger from insect or disease attack, is authorized to maintain forest health. Timber harvesting is authorized to provide for visitor safety.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent the completion of existing timber sales under contract. The Secretary may permit additional road construction in the area in furtherance of the purposes for which the recreation area is established.
(3) By virtue of the designation under this section, the Secretary need not change patterns of public access or closure on existing permanent national forest development roads. At his discretion, however, the Secretary may open or close such existing roads to public use for reasons of sound resource management.
(4) Lands within the recreation area are hereby withdrawn from the operation of all laws pertaining to mineral leasing.
(5) The Secretary may permit, in his discretion, the continued maintenance of existing wildlife openings, in cooperation with the State of Georgia and other Federal, State, and private cooperators, and may permit new wildlife openings in furtherance of the purposes for which the recreation area is established.
(6) The Secretary shall protect, enhance, and promote the public’s opportunities for primitive and semiprimitive recreation in the recreation area.
(7) Designation by this section shall not interfere with rights of access to privately held lands.
(Pub. L. 102–217, § 4, Dec. 11, 1991, 105 Stat. 1668; Pub. L. 102–456, § 2, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2264.)
§ 460ggg–3. Maps and legal descriptions
As soon as practicable after December 11, 1991, the Secretary of Agriculture shall file a map and a legal description of each area designated by this subchapter with the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and with the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. Each such map and description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter, except that correction of clerical and typographical errors in each such map and description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
(Pub. L. 102–217, § 5, Dec. 11, 1991, 105 Stat. 1669;