16 U.S.C. § 410fff: Findings

Summary

Congress says the land at and around Black Canyon of the Gunnison needs stronger protection. The canyon and nearby uplands have rare plants, animals, rocks, views, and history. People already use the area for hiking, camping, fishing, and quiet time. Nearby public land downstream also has wilderness and scientific value. Some private parcels next to the canyon are especially scenic and could be harmed by future development. Making surrounding public and private land a national park would protect those resources and allow more visitor use. The area is also fit to be a national conservation area, and the Gunnison Gorge itself should be part of the national wilderness system.

Title 16, §410fff

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Congress finds that—

(1)Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument was established for the preservation of its spectacular gorges and additional features of scenic, scientific, and educational interest;

(2)the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and adjacent upland include a variety of unique ecological, geological, scenic, historical, and wildlife components enhanced by the serenity and rural western setting of the area;

(3)the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and adjacent land provide extensive opportunities for educational and recreational activities, and are publicly used for hiking, camping, and fishing, and for wilderness value, including solitude;

(4)adjacent public land downstream of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument has wilderness value and offers unique geological, paleontological, scientific, educational, and recreational resources;

(5)public land adjacent to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument contributes to the protection of the wildlife, viewshed, and scenic qualities of the Black Canyon;

(6)some private land adjacent to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument has exceptional natural and scenic value that would be threatened by future development pressures;

(7)the benefits of designating public and private land surrounding the national monument as a national park include greater long-term protection of the resources and expanded visitor use opportunities; and

(8)land in and adjacent to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge is—

(A)recognized for offering exceptional multiple use opportunities;

(B)recognized for offering natural, cultural, scenic, wilderness, and recreational resources; and

(C)worthy of additional protection as a national conservation area, and with respect to the Gunnison Gorge itself, as a component of the national wilderness system.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

of 2003 Amendment Pub. L. 108–128, § 1, Nov. 17, 2003, 117 Stat. 1355, provided that: “This Act [amending section 410fff–2, 410fff–3, and 410fff–5 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 410fff–2 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Black Canyon of the Gunnison Boundary Revision Act of 2003’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 106–76, § 1, Oct. 21, 1999, 113 Stat. 1126, provided that: “This Act [enacting this subchapter and amending provisions listed in a table of National Monuments Established Under Presidential Proclamation set out under section 431 of this title and provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Act of 1999’.”

§410fff Findings

Summary

Title 16, §410fff

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

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Citations & Metadata