PUBLIC Lands Act

Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California Lands Act or the PUBLIC Lands Act

This bill sets forth provisions concerning the restoration, economic development, and conservation of, and recreational access to, certain public lands in California.

The bill establishes

• the South Fork Trinity-Mad River Restoration Area,
• the California Public Lands Remediation Partnership,
• the Horse Mountain Special Management Area,
• the Elk Camp Ridge Recreation Trail,
• the Sanhedrin Special Conservation Management Area, and
• the Condor National Scenic Trail.

The bill designates specified federal lands as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System or as potential wilderness areas and renames the North Fork Wilderness as the North Fork Eel River Wilderness. It also designates wild and scenic rivers.

The bill

• authorizes the utilization of certain forest residues for research and development of biobased products that result in net carbon sequestration,
• authorizes initiatives to restore degraded redwood forest ecosystems in the Redwood National Forest and state parks,
• requires specified recreational studies and partnerships, and
• expands the boundaries of the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

Finally, the bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to issue a special use authorization to the owners of a water transport or diversion facility in the Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness for the continued operation, maintenance, and reconstruction of the facility if specified conditions are met.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov