S. 636, Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on December 14, 2023
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
2024
2024-2029
2024-2034
Direct Spending (Outlays)
0
*
*
Revenues
0
0
0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit
0
*
*
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)
*
2
not estimated
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035?
*
Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?
Yes
Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035?
*
Contains intergovernmental mandate?
No
Contains private-sector mandate?
No
* = between zero and $500,000.
Summary
S. 636 would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service to establish the Dolores River National Conservation Area and the Dolores River Special Management Area on about 70,000 acres of public land in Colorado. Under the bill, subject to valid existing rights, designated areas of the Dolores River would no longer be available for mining, mineral extraction, and geothermal leasing on public land. The bill would require the agencies to develop management plans and prepare maps of and legal documents for the newly designated areas. In addition, the bill would require BLM to create an advisory council to advise on preparing, implementing, and monitoring the management plans.
Using information from BLM, CBO expects that the agency would need one full-time staff member and a temporary contractor to manage the conservation area at a cost of about $1 million over the 2024-2029 period. CBO estimates that BLM and the Forest Service would incur up‑front costs of less than $500,000 to prepare management plans and update signs. In addition, based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that the reimbursement of the advisory council’s qualified expenses would cost BLM less than $500,000. In total, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $2 million over the 2024‑2029 period; any related spending would be subject to appropriation.
