§460qq Establishment

Summary

Designates approximately 23,100 acres in the Allegheny National Forest, shown on a map dated March 1984, as the Allegheny National Recreation Area. The Secretary of Agriculture may change the boundaries to fix mistakes or add nearby lands that are bought. The area must be managed for several goals: outdoor recreation (like hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and boating on the Allegheny Reservoir), protecting fish and wildlife, guarding watersheds and water quality, and preserving scenic and cultural values. Private oil, gas, and mineral development may be allowed, but only under reasonable conditions set by the Secretary to protect the area and to limit environmental harm as much as possible while respecting valid private rights. The Secretary must follow National Forest System laws and write a management plan, which can be part of planning under the National Forest Management Act of 1976. The first plan and major changes need an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Any mineral work must have an approved operations plan with reclamation and, when practical, revegetation after each phase. Hunting, fishing, and trapping are allowed under federal and state laws, but the Secretary can make no-use zones or set closed seasons for safety, management, or public use after consulting the state except in emergencies. Minerals in federally owned land inside the area are withdrawn from mining and leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights. Nothing here changes rules for other National Forest System areas.