Deerfield River Study Act

Summary#

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the Deerfield River to see if it should be added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The study area is the entire river in Massachusetts and Vermont, including the North, South, East, and West Branches and named major tributaries: Green River, North River, South River, Clesson Brook, Chickley River, Cold River, Gulf Brook, Bog Brook, and Dunbar Brook. The Secretary must finish the study and send a report to the appropriate congressional committees within 3 years after funds are made available to carry out the work.

What it means for you#

• The bill requires a federal study and a report; it does not itself add the river to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
• The study covers the whole Deerfield River and the listed branches and tributaries in Massachusetts and Vermont.
• The study must be completed and reported to Congress within 3 years after funding is provided.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on the cost of the study. The bill does not authorize a specific appropriation; it requires the study to be completed within 3 years after funds are made available.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on proponents' stated reasons. The bill was introduced by Senators Edward Markey, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Peter Welch.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' views.