115 HR 2630 RH: La Paz County Land Conveyance Act U.S. House of Representatives 2017-05-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IB Union Calendar No. 401 115th CONGRESS2d Session H. R. 2630 [Report No. 115–536] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 24, 2017 Mr. Gosar (for himself, Mr. Franks of Arizona, and Mr. Biggs) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources January 29, 2018Additional sponsor: Ms. Sinema January 29, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 24, 2017 A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to La Paz County, Arizona, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the La Paz County Land Conveyance Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

County

The term County means La Paz County, Arizona. (2)

Federal land

The term Federal land means the approximately 8,800 acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and designated as Federal land to be conveyed on the map. (3)

Map

The term map means the map prepared by the Bureau of Land Management entitled Proposed La Paz County Land Conveyance and dated May 24, 2017. (4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Conveyance to La Paz County, Arizona

(a)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a request from the County to convey all or a portion of the Federal land, subject to valid existing rights and to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary and notwithstanding the land use planning requirements of sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713), the Secretary shall convey to the County all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land identified on the map. (b)

Phased conveyance

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall convey the public land described in subsection (a) in parcels over a period of up to 20 years, as is required to carry out the phased development of renewable energy or other economic development. (2)

Payment of fair market value

A parcel shall be conveyed by the Secretary on payment by La Paz County, Arizona, to the Secretary, of the fair market value of the parcel, as determined under paragraph (3). (3)

Appraisal to determine fair market value

The Secretary shall determine the fair market value of the Federal land to be conveyed— (A)in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and (B)based on an appraisal that is conducted in accordance with— (i)the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition; and (ii)the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. (c)

Protection of tribal cultural artifacts

To the greatest extent practicable, the County and all subsequent owners of land conveyed under this Act shall— (1)make good faith efforts to avoid disturbing Tribal artifacts; (2)minimize impacts on Tribal artifacts if they are disturbed; (3)work with the Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Historic Preservation Office to identify artifacts of cultural and historic significance; and (4)allow Tribal representatives to rebury unearthed artifacts at or near where they were discovered. (d)

Availability of map

(1)

In general

The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management. (2)

Corrections

The Secretary and the County may, by mutual agreement— (A)make minor boundary adjustments to the Federal land to be conveyed under subsection (a); and (B)correct any minor errors in the map, an acreage estimate, or the description of the Federal land. (e)

Withdrawal

The Federal land is withdrawn from the operation of the mining and mineral leasing laws of the United States. (f)

Costs

As a condition of the conveyance of the Federal land under subsection (a), the County shall pay— (1)an amount equal to the appraised value determined in accordance with subsection (b)(3); and (2)all costs related to the conveyance, including all surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs associated with the conveyance of the Federal land to the County under subsection (a).

January 29, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed