Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6365
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-04: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act," aims to mandate the issuance of a right-of-way (a legal permission to use federal land for a specific purpose, like building a road) for an emergency exit on National Park Service (NPS) land along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. The goal is to enhance public safety by providing a designated emergency route, particularly in fire-prone areas, while ensuring environmental reviews are conducted.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Existing Law: The bill modifies Section 2 of the Act of June 30, 1936 (which governs the Blue Ridge Parkway), requiring the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way for the "Proposed Egress" as shown on a specific map (entitled "Blue Ridge Parkway, Proposed Wintergreen Emergency Egress Near Milepost 9.6," numbered 601/194,694, dated September 2024).
- Conditions for Issuance: The Secretary must first report to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, confirming:
- Completion of an evaluation of alternative egress routes that avoid federal land, including options to convert existing trails into roads.
- An analysis of how fires might behave in the area during an emergency, focusing on fire ecology (the study of how fires interact with ecosystems).
- Completion of all required environmental reviews under:
- The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, which requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts before approving projects.
- Relevant sections of Title 54, U.S. Code, which cover historic preservation and other federal land management laws.
- The right-of-way is specifically for an emergency exit near Milepost 9.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, the 1936 Act allowed the Secretary of the Interior discretionary authority ("may issue") rights-of-way for roads or utilities on Blue Ridge Parkway land.
- This bill changes that to a mandatory requirement ("shall issue") for this specific emergency egress, but only after predefined evaluations and reports are completed. This shifts from optional to required action, introducing stricter procedural safeguards tied to environmental and safety analyses.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The NPS and Department of the Interior will face additional administrative burdens to conduct evaluations, analyses, and reports, potentially delaying but ultimately ensuring the project's approval if conditions are met. This could set a precedent for future emergency infrastructure on federal lands.
- On Citizens: Residents and visitors in the Wintergreen area of Virginia (a community near the Parkway) may benefit from improved emergency access, reducing risks during wildfires or other hazards. It could enhance local safety without broadly affecting public access to the Parkway.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic land management issue.
- Overall, the bill promotes safer emergency evacuations in a fire-vulnerable region while protecting federal land through required reviews.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Secretary of the Interior and NPS, responsible for evaluations and issuing the right-of-way.
- Local Communities: Wintergreen residents and property owners in Virginia, who gain a critical emergency exit route.
- Congressional Committees: House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which receive the required report and oversee compliance.
- Environmental and Safety Groups: Organizations focused on conservation (impacted by land use changes) and emergency preparedness (benefiting from the egress).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces NEPA and historic preservation requirements, ensuring environmental due diligence before altering federal land. It could be challenged if reviews are deemed inadequate, but the conditional mandate provides a clear legal pathway.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3) to regulate federal lands, balancing public safety with environmental stewardship without infringing on private property rights.
- Political: Highlights tensions between local safety needs and federal land protections in national parks. As a targeted bill for a specific Virginia location, it may reflect bipartisan interest in emergency infrastructure but could draw criticism from environmental advocates concerned about precedents for encroaching on parklands.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-04: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2026-03-03: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-03-03: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2347)
- 2026-03-03: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2347)
- 2026-03-03: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6365.
- 2026-03-03: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2347-2348)
- 2026-03-03: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2026-02-23: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 437.
- 2026-02-23: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-511.
- 2026-02-23: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-511.
- 2026-01-22: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-01-22: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-01-22: Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
- 2025-12-11: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Bill Versions
- Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act — issued 2026-03-03 — PDF (4 pages)
- Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act — issued 2025-12-02 — PDF (3 pages)
- Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act — issued 2026-03-04 — PDF (3 pages)
- Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act — issued 2026-02-23 — PDF (6 pages)