Pub. L. 115-101 - An act to amend the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act to provide access to certain vehicles serving residents of municipalities adjacent to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and for other purposes.

115th Congress

SECTION 1. VEHICULAR ACCESS AND FEES.

Section 4 of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act (Public Law 109–156)119 Stat. 2948. is amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 4. USE OF CERTAIN ROADS WITHIN THE RECREATION AREA.“(a) In General.—Except as otherwise provided in this section, Highway 209, a federally owned road within the boundaries of the Recreation Area, shall be closed to all commercial vehicles. “(b) Exception for Local Business Use.—Until September 30, 2021, subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to the use of commercial vehicles that have four or fewer axles and are—“(1) owned and operated by a business physically located in—“(A) the Recreation Area; or “(B) one or more adjacent municipalities; or “(2) necessary to provide services to businesses or persons located in—“(A) the Recreation Area; or “(B) one of more adjacent municipalities. “(c) Fee.—The Secretary shall establish a fee and permit program for the use by commercial vehicles of Highway 209 under subsection (b). The program shall include an annual fee not to exceed $200 per vehicle. All fees received under the program shall be set aside in a special account and be available, without further appropriation, to the Secretary for the administration and enforcement of the program, including registering vehicles, issuing permits and vehicle identification stickers, and personnel costs. “(d) Exceptions.—The following vehicles may use Highway 209 and shall not be subject to a fee or permit requirement under subsection (c):“(1) Local school buses. “(2) Fire, ambulance, and other safety and emergency vehicles. “(3) Commercial vehicles using Federal Road Route 209, from—“(A) Milford to the Delaware River Bridge leading to U.S. Route 206 in New Jersey; and131 STAT. 2247 “(B) mile 0 of Federal Road Route 209 to Pennsylvania State Route 2001.”

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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

Section 2 of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act (Public Law 109–156)119 Stat. 2946. is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; and

(2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this section) the following:

(2)“(1) The term ‘adjacent municipalities’ means Delaware Township, Dingman Township, Lehman Township, Matamoras Borough, Middle Smithfield Township, Milford Borough, Milford Township, Smithfield Township and Westfall Township, in Pennsylvania.”

(2) .

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

Section 702 of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–333)110 Stat. 4185. is repealed.

Legislative History

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 560:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):

Jan. 30, considered and passed House.

Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate.