Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2026

(a) In general. In accordance with section 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title affects or diminishes the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping, in the Wilderness.

(b) Management activities. In furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the Secretary concerned may conduct any management activities in the Wilderness that are necessary to maintain or restore any fish or wildlife population, or the habitats to support such a population, if the activities are carried out—

(1) in a manner that is consistent with relevant wilderness management plans; and

(2) in accordance with—

(A) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and

(B) appropriate policies, such as those set forth in Appendix B of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101–405), including the occasional and temporary use of motorized vehicles and aircraft if the use, as determined by the Secretary concerned, would promote healthy, viable, and more naturally distributed wildlife populations that would enhance wilderness values with the minimal impact necessary to reasonably accomplish those tasks.

(c) Existing activities. Consistent with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) and in accordance with appropriate policies such as those set forth in Appendix B of the report of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress (House Report 101–405), the State may continue to use aircraft, including helicopters, to survey, capture, transplant, monitor, and provide water for wildlife populations in the Wilderness.

(d) Cooperative agreement

(1) In general. The State (including a designee of the State) may conduct wildlife management activities in the Wilderness—

(A) in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the cooperative agreement between the Secretary of the Interior and the State entitled Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Wildlife Supplement No. 9 and signed November and December 2003, including any amendments to the cooperative agreement agreed to by the Secretary of the Interior and the State; and

(B) subject to all applicable laws (including regulations).

(2) References. For the purposes of this subsection, any reference to Douglas County in the cooperative agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be considered to be a reference to the Wilderness.