§ 460iii–2 — Establishment

(1) There is hereby established the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. (2) The purposes for which the conservation area is established, and shall be managed, are to provide for the conservation, protection, and enhancement of raptor populations and habitats and the natural and environmental resources and values associated therewith, and of the scientific, cultural, and educational resources and values of the public lands in the conservation area. (3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section and section 460iii–3 of this title, uses of the public lands in the conservation area existing on August 4, 1993, shall be allowed to continue. (b) The conservation area shall consist of approximately 482,457 acres of federally owned lands and interests therein managed by the Bureau of Land Management as generally depicted on the map entitled “Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area”, dated November 1991. (c) As soon as is practicable after August 4, 1993, the map referred to in subsection (b) and a legal description of the conservation area shall be filed by the Secretary with the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. Each such map shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter; except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in such map and legal description. Each such map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Director and the Idaho State Director of the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior. (d) Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal lands within the conservation area are hereby withdrawn from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; and from entry, application, and selection under the Act of March 3, 1877 (Ch. 107, 19 Stat. 377, 43 U.S.C. 321 et seq.; commonly referred to as the “Desert Lands Act”), section 641 of title 43, the Act of July 3, 1890 (Ch. 656, 26 Stat. 215; commonly referred to as the “State of Idaho Admissions Act”), section 851 of title 43, and section 852 of title 43. The Secretary shall return to the applicants any such applications pending on August 4, 1993, without further action. Subject to valid existing rights, as of August 4, 1993, lands within the Birds of Prey Conservation Area are withdrawn from location under the general mining laws, the operation of the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and the mineral material disposal laws, except that mineral materials subject to disposal may be made available from existing sites to the extent compatible with the purposes for which the conservation area is established.