§7915 Identifying Opportunities for Recreation, Hunting, and Fishing on Federal Land

Summary

Requires the federal agencies that manage parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and BLM lands to make public priority lists of places where people are allowed to hunt, fish, or recreate but have no or very limited public access. The first list must be made no later than 1 year after March 12, 2019, and then every two years for 10 years after the first list is finished. Each listed area must be at least 640 contiguous acres and must be shown by State or regional office. The agencies must consider whether access is absent or just limited, how likely it is the problem can be fixed, the site’s recreational potential, public nominations, and other factors. For each parcel the list must say if getting access would need an easement, right-of-way, or purchase from another federal agency, a State/local/Tribal government, or a private owner. The public may nominate parcels for the list. For lands on a list, the agencies must send a report to the Senate Committees on Appropriations and Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committees on Appropriations and Natural Resources that shows how access to the legal boundaries could be provided while minimizing harm to wildlife and water, and what steps are recommended (including buying easements or coordinating with other governments). Reports must follow the land’s travel management plan. The agencies must not include personal names or addresses in the lists or reports, must not penalize owners who before granted or denied access when making permits or agreements, and must consider access by motorized or non-motorized vehicles, foot, or horseback. Being on a list does not change whether a type of recreation is allowed; only uses already allowed when the list is made can be considered.