Housatonic Wild and Scenic River Act of 2022

Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

The following segments of the Housatonic River in the State of Connecticut, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior:

(i) The approximately 14.9-mile segment from the Massachusetts-Connecticut boundary to the covered bridge in West Cornwall, as a scenic river.

(ii) The approximately 4.1-mile segment from the covered bridge in West Cornwall to the Cornwall Bridge, as a recreational river.

(iii) The approximately 9.1-mile segment from the Cornwall Bridge to the Route 341 bridge in Kent, as a scenic river.

(iv) The approximately 12.2-mile segment from the Route 341 bridge in Kent to the Boardman Bridge in New Milford, as a recreational river.

The designation of the river segments in subparagraph (A) shall not—

(i) impact or alter the existing terms of permitting, licensing, or operation of—

(I) the Falls Village Hydroelectric Generating Station located in Falls Village, Connecticut (FERC P–2576); or

(II) the Bulls Bridge Hydroelectric Generating Station located in New Milford, Connecticut (FERC P–2576); or

(ii) preclude the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from licensing, relicensing, or otherwise authorizing the operation or continued operation of the facilities named in clause (i).

The Housatonic River segments shall be managed in accordance with—

(A) the Management Plan; and

(B) such amendments to the Management Plan as the Secretary determines are consistent with this Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.).

The Management Plan shall be considered to satisfy the requirements for a comprehensive management plan under section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).

To provide for long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement of the Housatonic River segments, the Secretary shall coordinate management responsibilities under this Act, and may enter into cooperative agreements pursuant to sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e) and 1282(b)(1)), with—

(i) the State of Connecticut;

(ii) the towns of Sharon, Canaan, Cornwall, Salisbury, New Milford, Kent, and North Canaan, Connecticut; and

(iii) appropriate planning, environmental, and recreational organizations, including—

(I) local, regional, State, and multistate organizations; and

(II) any other appropriate organizations, as determined by the Housatonic River Commission, or its successor organization, as defined in the Management Plan.

Each cooperative agreement entered into under this paragraph shall be consistent with the Management Plan and may include provisions for financial or other assistance from the United States.

For the purposes of the Housatonic River segments, the zoning ordinances adopted by the municipalities named in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) shall be deemed to satisfy the standards and requirements of section 6(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)).

The authority of the Secretary to acquire lands for the Housatonic River segments shall be—

(A) limited to acquisition by donation or acquisition with the consent of the owner thereof; and

(B) subject to the additional criteria set forth in the Management Plan.

No land or interest in land may be acquired for the Housatonic River segments by condemnation.

Notwithstanding section 10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), the Housatonic River segments shall not be—

(A) administered as a part or unit of the National Park System; or

(B) subject to regulations that govern the National Park System.

In this subsection:

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

The term Management Plan means the Housatonic River Management Plan, dated September 2006.

The term Housatonic River segments means the river segments designated by the amendments made by section 2(a).