§460eeee Vinagre Wash Special Management Area

Summary

Creates the Vinagre Wash Special Management Area in Imperial County, California, of about 81,880 acres and puts it under the Secretary’s care. Definitions: Management Area — the Vinagre Wash Special Management Area; Map — the map called “Proposed Vinagre Wash Special Management Area and Proposed Wilderness,” dated December 4, 2018; Public land — public lands as defined by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act; State — California. The area must be managed to conserve and protect plants, wildlife, and important ecological, geological, scenic, recreational, archaeological, cultural, and historic resources. The Secretary must send a map and legal description to the House and Senate natural resources committees not later than 3 years after March 12, 2019, and keep copies available at Bureau of Land Management offices. Only uses that match the area’s conservation purposes are allowed, such as hiking, camping, hunting, sightseeing, and travel on designated routes by motor vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses. Off-highway vehicles may use routes shown on the map, but the Secretary can close or reroute routes to prevent damage, protect Tribal cultural sites, address safety, or follow law, and for 3 years after March 12, 2019 must accept public petitions for extra routes and may add them if appropriate. Federal land in the area is withdrawn from new mining, land disposal, and energy leasing, subject to existing rights. The Secretary must provide signs, maps, education, and restore closed areas, do a Tribal cultural resources survey within 2 years of March 12, 2019 with consultation (including the Quechan Nation), and may allow the Navy to use non‑wilderness parts for special warfare training consistent with the rules.