[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 902 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 902

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain parcels of 
National Forest System land in the State of Idaho, to use the proceeds 
 for the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of facilities in 
  the Panhandle National Forest in the State of Idaho, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 25, 2003

  Mr. Otter introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain parcels of 
National Forest System land in the State of Idaho, to use the proceeds 
 for the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of facilities in 
  the Panhandle National Forest in the State of Idaho, 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 ``Idaho Panhandle National Forest 
Improvement Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE ADMINISTRATIVE SITES, NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND, 
              IDAHO.

    (a) Conveyance Authorized.--
            (1) Authority.--The Secretary of Agriculture may convey any 
        or all right, title, and interest of the United States in and 
        to the parcels of National Forest System land, including any 
        improvements thereon, described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Parcels authorized for conveyance.--The following 
        parcels of National Forest System land are authorized to be 
        conveyed under this section:
                    (A) Granite/Reeder Bay, Priest Lake parcel, 
                consisting of approximately 80 acres, and described as 
                the S.\1/2\ NE.\1/4\ of section 17, township 61 north, 
                range 4 east, Boise meridian.
                    (B) North South Ski area, consisting of 
                approximately 50 acres, and described as the SE.\1/4\ 
                SE.\1/4\ SW.\1/4\, S.\1/2\ SW.\1/4\ SE.\1/4\, NE.\1/4\ 
                SW.\1/4\ SE.\1/4\, and SW.\1/4\ SE.\1/4\ SE.\1/4\ of 
                section 13, township 43 north, range 3 west, Boise 
                meridian.
                    (C) Shoshone work camp (including easements for 
                utilities), consisting of a portion of S.\1/2\ SE.\1/4\ 
                of section 5, township 50 north, range 4 east, Boise 
                meridian.
            (3) Modification of descriptions.--The Secretary may modify 
        the descriptions in paragraph (2) to correct errors in the 
        descriptions or to reconfigure the parcels to facilitate their 
        conveyance under this section.
    (b) Consideration.--
            (1) Market value required.--As consideration for the 
        conveyance of a parcel of National Forest System land under 
        this section, the recipient of the parcel shall pay to the 
        Secretary an amount equal to the market value of the parcel, as 
        determined under subsection (c). At the election of the 
        Secretary, the consideration may be in the form of cash or 
        other consideration, including the acquisition by the Secretary 
        of improved or unimproved property or property with 
        improvements constructed to the specifications of the 
        Secretary.
            (2) Valuation.--The value of a parcel to be conveyed under 
        this section, and the value of any property or improvements to 
        be received in exchange for the parcel, shall be determined by 
        an appraisal that--
                    (A) is acceptable to the Secretary; and
                    (B) conforms with the Uniform Appraisal Standards 
                for Federal Land Acquisitions.
            (3) 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 a parcel 
        conveyed under this section.
    (c) Conveyance Process.--
            (1) Solicitations of offers.--The Secretary may solicit 
        offers for the conveyance of property under this section on 
        such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe. The 
        Secretary may reject any offer made under this section if the 
        Secretary determines that the offer is not adequate or not in 
        the public interest.
            (2) Methods of conveyance.--The Secretary may convey 
        property under this section at public or private sale, 
        including at auction, or by exchange, in accordance with such 
        terms, conditions, and procedures as the Secretary determines 
        to be in the best interests of the United States.
            (3) Applicable law.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        section, the conveyance of National Forest System land under 
        this section shall be subject to the laws applicable to the 
        conveyance and acquisition of land for the National Forest 
        System. The Agriculture Property Management Regulations shall 
        not apply to the conveyance of National Forest System land 
        under this section or any other action taken under this 
        section.
    (d) Deposit and Use of Proceeds.--
            (1) Deposit.--The Secretary shall deposit the proceeds 
        derived from the conveyence of property under this section in 
        the fund established by Public Law 90-171 (commonly known as 
        the ``Sisk Act''; 16 U.S.C. 484a).
            (2) Use.--Amounts deposited under this subsection shall be 
        available to the Secretary, without further appropriation and 
        until expended--
                    (A) for the acquisition of, construction of, or 
                rehabilitation of existing facilities for, a new ranger 
                station in the Silver Valley portion of the Panhandle 
                National Forest in the State of Idaho; and
                    (B) to the extent that the amount of funds 
                deposited exceeds the amount needed for the purpose 
                described in subparagraph (A), for the acquisition, 
                construction, or rehabilitation of other facilities in 
                the Panhandle National Forest.
            (3) Limitations.--Funds deposited under this subsection 
        shall not--
                    (A) be paid or distributed to States or counties 
                under any provision of law; or
                    (B) be considered to be moneys received from units 
                of the National Forest System for purposes of--
                            (i) the sixth paragraph under the heading 
                        ``Forest Service'' in the Act of May 23, 1908 
                        (16 U.S.C. 500);
                            (ii) section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 
                        (commonly known as the ``Weeks Law''; 16 U.S.C. 
                        500); or
                            (iii) the fourteenth paragraph under the 
                        heading ``Forest Service'' in the Act of March 
                        4, 1913 (16 U.S.C. 501).
            (4) New administrative facilities authorized.--The 
        Secretary may acquire, construct, or rehabilitate the ranger 
        station described in paragraph (2)(A), and acquire associated 
        land, using amounts deposited under this subsection and, to the 
        extent such amounts are insufficient for such purpose, other 
        funds appropriated or otherwise made available for such 
        purpose.
    (e) Management of Acquired Law.--Subject to valid existing rights, 
the Secretary shall manage any land acquired under this section in 
accordance with the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the ``Weeks 
Act''; 16 U.S.C. 480 et seq.) and other laws relating to the National 
Forest System.
    (f) Withdrawals and Revocations.--
            (1) Public land orders.--Effective on the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, any public land order withdrawing the 
        property authorized for conveyance under this section from 
        appropriation under the public land laws is revoked with 
        respect to the property.
            (2) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
        property authorized for conveyance under this section is 
        withdrawn from location, entry, and patent under the mining 
        laws of the United States.
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