As used in this section the term “Secretary” shall mean the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers. The Secretary, in accordance with the national recreation area concept included in the interagency report prepared pursuant to section 218 of the Flood Control Act of 1968 (Public Law 90–483) by the Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Agriculture, as modified by this section, is authorized and directed to establish on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in Kentucky and Tennessee the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (hereafter in this section referred to as the “National Area”) for the purposes of conserving and interpreting an area containing unique cultural, historic, geologic, fish and wildlife, archeologic, scenic, and recreational values, preserving as a natural, free-flowing stream the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, major portions of its Clear Fork and New River stems, and portions of their various tributaries for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations, the preservation of the natural integrity of the scenic gorges and valleys, and the development of the area’s potential for healthful outdoor recreation. The boundaries shall be as generally depicted on the drawing prepared by the Corps of Engineers and entitled “Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area” identified as map number BSF–NRRA(1)(A) and dated October 1972, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District, Nashville, Tennessee. The Secretary may acquire sites at locations outside such boundaries, as he determines necessary, for administrative and visitor orientation facilities. The Secretary may also acquire a site outside such boundaries at or near the location of the historic Tabard Inn in Ruby,[1] Tennessee, including such lands as he deems necessary, for the establishment of a lodge with recreational facilities as provided in subsection (e)(3).
Effective upon November 15, 1990, responsibility for all planning, acquisition, and development, as well as administrative jurisdiction over all Federal lands, water, interests therein, and improvements thereon, within the National Area is hereby transferred to the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary may complete all acquisition and development activities in progress on November 15, 1990, and the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior may, by mutual agreement, provide for an orderly and phased assumption of responsibilities (including but not limited to land acquisition and the construction of necessary access roads, day-use facilities, campground facilities, lodges, and administrative buildings) and available funds by the Secretary of the Interior in furtherance of the purposes of this section. The Secretary of the Interior shall administer the National Area in accordance with the provisions of the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2–4),[2] as amended and supplemented. The authorities set forth in this section which were available to the Secretary immediately prior to November 15, 1990, shall after November 15, 1990, be available to the Secretary of the Interior. In the administration of the National Area the Secretary may utilize such statutory authority available to him for the conservation and management of wildlife and natural resources as he deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section. The Secretary of the Interior may, after transfer to him, revise the boundaries from time to time, but the total acreage within such boundaries shall not exceed one hundred and twenty-five thousand acres. Following such transfer the authorities available to the Secretary in subsection (c) of this section shall likewise be available to the Secretary of the Interior.
The Secretary, and the Secretary of the Interior after jurisdiction over the National Area has been transferred to him under subsection (b) of this section, shall permit hunting, fishing, and trapping on lands and waters under his jurisdiction within the boundaries of the National Area in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws, except that he may designate zones where, and establish periods when, no hunting, fishing, or trapping shall be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, fish or wildlife management, or public use and enjoyment. Except in emergencies, any rules and regulations of the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to this subsection shall be put into effect only after consultation with the appropriate State agency responsible for hunting, fishing, and trapping activities.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall not license the construction of any dam, water conduit, reservoir, powerhouse, transmission line, or other project works under the Federal Power Act (41 Stat. 1063) as amended (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.), within or directly affecting the National Area and no department or agency of the United States shall assist by loan, grant, license, or otherwise in the construction of any water resources project that would have a direct and adverse effect on the values for which the National Area was established. Nothing contained in the preceding sentence shall preclude licensing of, or assistance to, developments below or above the National Area or on any stream tributary thereto which will not invade the National Area or unreasonably diminish the scenic, recreation, and fish and wildlife values present in the area on March 7, 1974. No department or agency of the United States shall recommend authorization of any water resources project that would have a direct and adverse effect on the values for which the National Area was established, or request appropriations to begin construction of any such project, whether heretofore or hereafter authorized, without advising the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior, after jurisdiction over the National Area has been transferred to him under subsection (b) of this section, in writing of its intention so to do at least sixty days in advance, and without specifically reporting to the Congress in writing at the time it makes its recommendations or request in what respect construction of such project would be in conflict with the purposes of this section and would affect the National Area and the values to be protected under this section.
The Secretary shall study transportation facilities in the region served by the National Area and shall establish transportation facilities to enhance public access to the National Area. In this connection the Secretary is authorized to acquire and maintain public roads, other than State highways, necessary to serve the public use facilities within the National Area, and to establish and maintain, at Federal cost an interior and circulating road system sufficient to meet the purposes of this section. Any existing public road, which at the time of its acquisition continues to be a necessary and essential part of the county highway system, may, upon mutual agreement between the Secretary and the owner of such road, be relocated outside of the National Area and if not so relocated such road shall be maintained at Federal expense and kept open at all times for general travel purposes. Nothing in this subsection shall abrogate the right of egress and ingress of those persons who may remain in occupancy under subsection (c) of this section. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the adjustment, relocation, reconstruction, or abandonment of State highways situated in the National Area, with the concurrence of the agency having the custody of such highways upon entering into such arrangements as the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior, after jurisdiction over the National Area has been transferred to him under subsection (b) of this section, deems appropriate and in the best interest of the general welfare.
In furtherance of the purpose of this subsection the Secretary in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, the heads of other Federal departments and agencies involved, and the State of Tennessee and its political subdivisions, shall formulate a comprehensive plan for that portion of the New River that lies upstream from United States Highway Numbered 27. Such plan shall include, among other things, programs to enhance the environment and conserve and develop natural resources, and to minimize siltation and acid mine drainage. Such plan, with recommendations, including those as to costs and administrative responsibilities, shall be completed and transmitted to the Congress within one year from March 7, 1974.
The Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior, after jurisdiction over the National Area has been transferred to him under subsection (b) of this subsection,[4] shall consult and cooperate with other departments and agencies of the United States and the States of Tennessee and Kentucky in the development of measures and programs to protect and enhance water quality within the National Area and to insure that such programs for the protection and enhancement of water quality do not diminish other values that are to be protected under this section.
There are authorized to be appropriated $156,122,000 to carry out the provisions of this section, other than subsection (j) of this section. Costs for the National Area shall be provided in the same manner as costs for national recreation areas administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the National Park Service.