118 HR 6718 IH: City of Ridgecrest Land Exchange Act U.S. House of Representatives 2023-12-12 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.

I118th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 6718IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 12, 2023Mr. McCarthy (for himself, Mr. Kiley, and Mr. Obernolte) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo authorize, direct, expedite, and facilitate a land exchange in California, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the City of Ridgecrest Land Exchange Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

City

The term City means the City of Ridgecrest, California.(2)

Federal land

The term Federal land means the approximately 500 acres of Federal land generally depicted as Proposed BLM to City of Ridgecrest Land Transfer on the Federal land map. (3)

Federal land map

The term Federal land map means the map titled Proposed Bureau of Land Management to City of Ridgecrest Land Exchange and dated October 5, 2023.(4)

Non-Federal land

The term non-Federal land means the approximately 640 acres of land in California, generally depicted as Proposed City of Ridgecrest to BLM Land Transfer on the non-Federal land map. (5)

Non-Federal land map

The term non-Federal land map means the map titled Proposed City of Ridgecrest to Bureau of Land Management Land Exchange and dated August 31, 2023. (6)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Land exchange

(a)

In general

If the City offers to convey to the Secretary all right, title, and interest of the City in and to the non-Federal land, the Secretary shall accept the offer and, as soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year after receiving the offer from the City, convey to the City all right, title, and interest of the United States to the Federal land.(b)

Title approval

(1)

In general

Title to the land to be exchanged under this section shall be in a format acceptable to the Secretary and the City.(2)

Non-Federal land

Title to the non-Federal land conveyed to the Secretary under this section shall conform to the title approval standards of the Attorney General of the United States applicable to land acquisitions by the Federal Government.(c)

Maps, estimates, and descriptions

(1)

Minor errors

The Secretary and the City may, by mutual agreement—(A)make minor boundary adjustments to the Federal land and non-Federal land involved in the exchange; and(B)correct any minor errors in any map, acreage estimate, or description of the land to be exchanged. (2)

Conflict

If there is a conflict between a map, an acreage estimate, or a description of land under this section, the map shall control unless the Secretary and City mutually agree otherwise. (3)

Availability of maps

The Federal land map and non-Federal land map shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate office of the Bureau of Land Management.(d)

Survey

The exact acreage and legal description of the land exchanged under this section shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.(e)

Costs of conveyance

As a condition for the land exchange under this section, the City shall pay the reasonable costs incurred by the Secretary for—(1)the survey required by subsection (d); and(2)any environmental analysis or administrative expenses related to the exchange.(f)

Effect; Terms and conditions

The land exchange under this section—(1)is not subject to section 206 of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716); (2)shall not affect the administration or ownership of any highways;(3)shall not affect and shall further reserve for the continued and perpetual benefit of utilities all those existing rights on or to the land exchanged under this section, including any easements, and rights-of-way for electrical transmission and distribution poles, lines, and other appurtenances, regardless of whether such rights were created by patent, prescription, contract, or applicable law; and(4)is subject to the condition that, with respect to Federal land conveyed to the City, the City shall, to the extent practicable, maintain access—(A)to all officially designated motorized routes depicted on the Federal land map; and(B)for non-motorized recreation activities.(g)

Restriction on gaming

The Federal land conveyed to the City under this section shall not be eligible, or used, for any class II or class III gaming (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)). (h)

Management of land

Land acquired by the Secretary under this section shall become part of the Owens Peak Wilderness Area and be managed in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to that wilderness area.