16 U.S.C. § 460qqq–3 — Management

(a) In general. The Secretary, through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, manages the Conservation Area: (1) to conserve, protect, and enhance its resources; and (2) following the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and other applicable law, including this Act. (b) Management plan. (1) In general. Within three years of November 6, 2002, the Secretary, consulting with the State, the City of Henderson, the County, and other interested people, must develop a management plan for the Conservation Area. (2) Requirements. The plan must: (A) describe appropriate uses and management of the Conservation Area; (B) authorize motorized vehicle use for installing, repairing, maintaining, and rebuilding water development projects (including guzzlers) that help wildlife populations, subject to limits no stricter than those allowed in wilderness areas, and include recommendations for minimizing the visual impact of such activities; (C) include a plan for litter cleanup and a public-lands-awareness campaign in and around the Conservation Area; and (D) recommend a location for a right-of-way for a rural roadway giving the City of Henderson access to the Conservation Area, tied to application number N–65874. (c) Uses. The Secretary may only allow uses that further the purpose named in section 460qqq of this title. (d) Motorized vehicles. Except for administrative or emergency needs, motorized vehicle use in the Conservation Area is allowed only on roads and trails designated for that purpose by the management plan. (e) Withdrawal. (1) In general. Subject to valid existing rights, all public land in the Conservation Area is withdrawn from all entry and appropriation under public land laws, from location, entry, and patent under mining laws, and from mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (2) Additional land. If the Secretary acquires mineral or other interests in a Conservation Area parcel after November 6, 2002, that parcel is withdrawn the same way, effective the date it is acquired. (f) Hunting, fishing, and trapping. (1) In general. Nothing in this subchapter affects Nevada's authority over fish and wildlife, including hunting, fishing, and trapping, in the Conservation Area. (2) Limitations. (A) Regulations. The Secretary may, by regulation, designate areas and periods with no hunting, fishing, or trapping, for public safety, administration, or legal compliance reasons. (B) Consultation. Except in emergencies, the Secretary must consult the appropriate State agency before issuing a regulation that closes part of the Conservation Area to hunting, fishing, or trapping. (g) No buffer zones. (1) In general. Establishing the Conservation Area does not create an express or implied protective perimeter or buffer zone around it. (2) Private land. If a use of, or activity on, neighboring private land is otherwise lawful, nothing in this subchapter prohibits or limits it because of the Conservation Area. (h) Horizon lateral pipeline right-of-way. (1) In general. Despite certain sections of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and subject to valid existing rights and paragraph (3), the Secretary must, within one year of May 19, 2026, grant the Southern Nevada Water Authority — at no cost — the water pipeline, powerline, facility, and access road rights-of-way shown on the map, outside the Conservation Area's boundaries, to: (A) perform geotechnical investigations; and (B) build and run water transmission and related facilities. (2) Excavation and disposal. (A) In general. The Authority may, at no cost, excavate and use or dispose of sand, gravel, minerals, or other tunneling materials needed for the rights-of-way's purpose. (B) Memorandum of understanding. Within 30 days of granting the rights-of-way, the Secretary and the Authority must sign a memorandum of understanding identifying federal land where the Authority may dispose of these materials to benefit the Bureau of Land Management. (3) Requirements. Any such right-of-way must: (A) include reasonable terms and conditions the Secretary sets to protect Conservation Area resources; (B) not permanently harm the Conservation Area's surface resources during pipeline construction; and (C) not run through or under any area designated as wilderness.