[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4023 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4023

 To provide for the conveyance of the Forest Service property in Kern 
County, California, in exchange for county lands suitable for inclusion 
                      in Sequoia National Forest.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 9, 1998

  Mr. Thomas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Commerce, 
 and Transportaton and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for the conveyance of the Forest Service property in Kern 
County, California, in exchange for county lands suitable for inclusion 
                      in Sequoia National Forest.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. LAND EXCHANGE, CAMP OWEN AND RELATED PARCELS, KERN COUNTY, 
              CALIFORNIA.

    (a) Exchange Required.--If the non-Federal lands described in 
subsection (b) are conveyed to the United States in accordance with 
this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall convey to Kern County, 
California, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and 
to three parcels of land under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service 
in Kern County, as follows
            (1) Approximately 140 acres known as Camp Owen.
            (2) Approximately 4 acres known as Wofford Heights Park.
            (3) Approximately 3.4 acres known as the French Gulch 
        maintenance yard.
    (b) Description of Non-Federal Lands.--The non-Federal lands 
referred to in subsection (a) consist of Greenhorn Mountain Park, in 
Kern County, California, which is a 160 acre, forested park owned by 
the County within Sequoia National Forest. The park consists of camp 
sites (including outdoor grills, picnic tables, and parking spurs), 
cabins, dining facilities, a recreational hall, paved roads and parking 
lot, restroom and shower facilities, storage buildings, and an outdoor 
amphitheater.
    (c) Conditions on Acceptance.--Title to the non-Federal lands to be 
conveyed under this section must be acceptable to the Secretary, and 
the conveyance shall be subject to such valid existing rights of record 
as may be acceptable to the Secretary. The non-Federal lands shall 
conform with the title approval standards applicable to Federal land 
acquisitions.
    (d) Time for Conveyance.--The Secretary shall complete the 
conveyance of the Federal lands under subsection (a) within three 
months after Kern County tenders Greenhorn Mountain Park to the 
Secretary under subsection (b).
    (e) Approximately Equal in Value.--The values of both the Federal 
and non-Federal lands to be exchanged under this section are deemed to 
be approximately equal in value, and no additional valuation 
determinations or cash equalization payments shall be required.
    (f) Status of Acquired Lands.--Upon approval and acceptance of 
title by the Secretary, the non-Federal lands conveyed to the United 
States under this section shall become part of Sequoia National Forest, 
and the boundaries of the national forest shall be adjusted to include 
the acquired lands. The Secretary shall manage the acquired lands for 
recreational purposes in accordance with the laws and regulations 
pertaining to the National Forest System. For purposes of section 7 of 
the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-9), 
the boundaries of the national forest, as adjusted pursuant to this 
section, shall be considered to be the boundaries of the national 
forest as of January 1, 1965.
    (g) Protection Against Liability for Environmental Remediation.--
The United States (including the departments, agencies, and employees 
of the United States) and Kern County (including the departments, 
agencies, and employees of the county) shall not be liable under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), or any other Federal, State, or local law 
solely as a result of the acquisition of an interest in land under this 
section or because of circumstances or events occurring before the 
acquisition of the land, including any release or threat of release of 
a hazardous substance.
    (h) Legal Descriptions.--The exact acreage and legal description of 
the real property to be exchanged under this section shall be 
determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
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