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119-hr-177119th CongressWALLET

Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act

Sponsored By: Representative McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

In Committee

Summary

Raises the annual rent San Francisco pays for Hetch Hetchy from $30,000 to $2.0 million, indexed to inflation. It also directs the National Park Service to expand and manage public recreation at the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Lake Eleanor while preserving scenic, historic, and scientific features.

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  • San Francisco (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) must pay a much higher annual rent of $2.0 million instead of $30,000 and may not pass that cost to wholesale water or power customers.
  • Park visitors get broader access and activities at Hetch Hetchy and Lake Eleanor. Allowed uses include swimming, nonmotorized boats, camping above ordinary high water marks, picnicking, and vehicle access on roads needed to reach those areas, all subject to NPS rules.
  • The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service get new authority to use collected rent for wildfire mitigation and park improvements. The bill also requires a report within one year analyzing past access and revenue options, including treating the City of San Francisco as a concessioner and evaluating rate or fee adjustments.

*Increases federal receipts by about $2.0 million a year, with funds available for wildfire mitigation and park work.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Higher City payment and rate protections

This bill would raise the annual payment the City of San Francisco must make from $30,000 to $2,000,000. Those annual sums would be adjusted each year to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers after July. The bill would also say the City could not pass these sums on to its wholesale water or power customers. Finally, the bill would allow those sums to be used for wildfire mitigation activities. All changes would take effect upon enactment.

New recreation access at Hetch Hetchy

This bill would direct the Interior Secretary and the National Park Service to run the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Lake Eleanor Basin for public recreation and benefit. If enacted, allowed activities would include swimming, non-motorized boats, picnicking, and camping outside ordinary high-water marks. The Secretary could set limits and rules, and vehicles could use necessary access roads only if they do not harm dam operations.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

CA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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