§544b Establishment of Scenic Area

Summary

Creates the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and sets its borders by reference to a map called "Boundary Map, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area," NSA–001 sheets 1 and 2, dated September 1986, kept on file and available to the public at the Commission and the Chief of the Forest Service. It excludes about 29 acres owned by the Port of Camas-Washougal (about 19 acres acquired under the Second Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1984 (Public Law 98–396), plus about 10 adjacent acres). Four places inside the scenic area are named Special Management Areas: Gates of the Columbia River Gorge, Wind Mountain, Burdoin Mountain, and Rowena. Their borders are shown on the "Special Management Areas" map SMA–002 sheets 1–17 dated September 1986, include all islands, and were changed as shown on a map dated September 20, 2000 (copies kept at the Forest Service office in Washington, D.C., the Commission, and the scenic area headquarters). The Secretary, working with the Commission, can make small boundary changes for Special Management Areas only after publishing a notice in the Federal Register and telling the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources at least 60 days before the change; final action must also be published. The Dodson/Warrendale Special Purchase Unit is created and shown on map SPU–003 dated September 1986. Several towns are named Urban Areas (listed for Oregon and Washington) and their borders are on map UA–004 sheets 1–11 dated September 1986. The Commission can approve minor urban boundary changes if a county asks, the Secretary is consulted, two-thirds of the Commission (including a majority from each State’s appointees) vote yes, and four findings are met about growth needs, consistency with section 544d and the law’s purposes, land-use efficiency, and no big loss of farm, forest, or open land.