GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1577*
Committee Substitute Favorable 5/24/00

Short Title:  Bullhead Mountain State Natural Area.	(Public)

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors:

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to: 

─────────────────────────────────────── 

May 18, 2000

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ADDITION OF BULLHEAD MOUNTAIN STATE NATURAL AREA TO THE STATE PARKS SYSTEM, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMISSION.
Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the North Carolina Constitution states that it shall be a proper function of the State of North Carolina to acquire and preserve park, recreational, and scenic areas and, in every other appropriate way, to preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State its open lands and places of beauty; and
Whereas, the General Assembly enacted the State Parks Act in 1987, declaring that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geological, biological, scenic, and recreational resources, and that such resources are part of the heritage of the people of the State to be preserved and managed by those people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and
Whereas, Bullhead Mountain in Alleghany County contains examples of outstanding scenic beauty; is a key component of a major hawk migration corridor through North Carolina; would provide outstanding opportunities for the public to observe the natural phenomenon of bird migration; and has been found to possess biological, scenic, and recreational resources of statewide significance; and
Whereas, the North Carolina State Office of the National Audubon Society has expressed particular interest in the protection of Bullhead Mountain and is willing to partner with the State to provide long-term management for the site; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to add Bullhead Mountain State Natural Area to the State Parks System as provided in G.S. 113-44.14(b).
Section 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.