Sierra National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey specified land in Mt. Diablo Meridian, California, in exchange for certain non-Federal land and a payment of $50,000, if the owner of such land: (1) offers to make such exchange during the year following enactment of this Act; and (2) agrees to convey the Federal land to the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America within four months of receiving it. Assigns values to the lands to be conveyed.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) manage the non-Federal land received in accordance with the Weeks Act and other laws and regulations pertaining to National Forest System lands; and (2) deposit the cash payment received into the fund established by the Sisk Act, to be expended for the acquisition of lands and interests in lands for the National Forest System in California.
Makes the owner of the non-Federal land responsible for all direct costs associated with processing the land exchange.
Grants an easement to the owner of a specified hydroelectric project located on Federal land authorized for exchange under this Act. Requires that the easement owner be given the right of first offer for any subsequent conveyance of the Federal land by the Sequoia Council as a condition of the initial conveyance to the Council.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1651 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1651
To provide for the exchange of land within the Sierra National Forest,
California, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2003
Mr. Radanovich (for himself, Mr. Nunes, and Mr. Dooley of California)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the exchange of land within the Sierra National Forest,
California, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sierra National Forest Land Exchange
Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. LAND EXCHANGE, SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the
parcels of land and improvements thereon comprising
approximately 160 acres and located in township 9 south, range
25 east, section 30, E\1/2\SW\1/4\ and W\1/2\ SE\1/4\, Mt.
Diablo Meridian, California.
(2) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means
a parcel of land comprising approximately 80 acres and located
in township 8 south, range 26 east, section 29, N\1/2\NW\1/4\,
Mt. Diablo Meridian, California.
(b) Exchange Authorized.--
(1) In general.--If, during the one-year period beginning
on the date of enactment of this Act, the owner of the non-
Federal land offers the United States the exchange of the non-
Federal land, together with a cash equalization payment in
accordance with this section, the Secretary shall convey by
quit claim deed all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the Federal land. The conveyance of the
Federal land shall be subject to valid existing rights and
under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.
(2) Acceptable title.--Title to the non-Federal land shall
conform with the title approval standards of the Attorney
General applicable to Federal land acquisitions and shall be
acceptable to the Secretary.
(3) Correction and modification of legal descriptions.--The
Secretary, in consultation with the owner of the non-Federal
land, may make corrections to the legal descriptions of the
Federal land and non-Federal land. The Secretary and the owner
of the non-Federal land may make minor modifications to such
descriptions insofar as such modifications do not affect the
overall value of the exchange by more than 5 percent.
(c) Valuation of Land to Be Conveyed.--For purposes of this
section, during the period referred to in subsection (b)(1), the value
of the non-Federal land shall be deemed to be $200,000 and the value of
the Federal land shall be deemed to be $250,000.
(d) Equalization of Values.--Notwithstanding section 206(b) of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(b)), the
Secretary may accept a cash equalization payment in excess of 25
percent of the value of the Federal land.
(e) Administration of Land Acquired by United States.--Once
acquired, the Secretary shall manage the non-Federal land in accordance
with the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the Weeks Act; 16
U.S.C. 480 et seq.), and in accordance with the other laws and
regulations pertaining to National Forest System lands.
(f) Reconveyance.--The conveyance under subsection (b) shall be
subject to the condition that the recipient of the Federal land agree
to convey the land, within a time period agreed to by the Secretary and
the recipient, to the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
(g) Disposition and Use of Cash Equalization Funds.--The Secretary
shall deposit any cash equalization payment received under this section
in the fund established by Public Law 90-171 (commonly known as the
Sisk Act; 16 U.S.C. 484a). Funds so deposited shall be available to the
Secretary until expended, without further appropriation, for the
acquisition of lands and interests in lands for the National Forest
System in the State of California.
(h) Cost Collection Funds.--The owner of the non-Federal land shall
be responsible for all direct costs associated with processing the land
exchange under this section and shall pay the Secretary the necessary
funds, which shall be deposited in a cost collection account. Funds so
deposited shall be available to the Secretary until expended, without
further appropriation, for the cost associated with the land exchange.
Any funds remaining after completion of the land exchange, which are
not needed to cover expenses, shall be refunded to the owner of the
non-Federal land.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health Discharged.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-256.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-256.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
Mr. Souder moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
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Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR 11/19/2003 H11459-11460)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1651.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 11/19/2003 H11459-11460)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 11/19/2003 H11459-11460)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held.