[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1559 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1559

  To provide for the resolution of several land ownership and related 
 issues with respect to parcels of land located within the Everglades 
                             National Park.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2009

 Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida introduced the following bill; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for the resolution of several land ownership and related 
 issues with respect to parcels of land located within the Everglades 
                             National Park.

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

SECTION 1. EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Company.--The term ``Company'' means Florida Power & 
        Light Company.
            (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal Land'' means the 
        parcels of land that are--
                    (A) owned by the United States;
                    (B) administered by the Secretary;
                    (C) located within the National Park; and
                    (D) generally depicted on the map as--
                            (i) Tract A, which is adjacent to the 
                        Tamiami Trail, U.S. Rt. 41; and
                            (ii) Tract B, which is located on the 
                        eastern boundary of the National Park.
            (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map prepared by the 
        National Park Service, titled ``Proposed Land Exchanges, 
        Everglades National Park'', numbered 160/60411A, and dated 
        September 2008.
            (4) National park.--The term ``National Park'' means the 
        Everglades National Park located in the State.
            (5) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means 
        the land in the State that--
                    (A) is owned by the State, the specific area and 
                location of which shall be determined by the State; or
                    (B)(i) is owned by the Company;
                    (ii) comprises approximately 320 acres; and
                    (iii) is located within the East Everglades 
                Acquisition Area, as generally depicted on the map as 
                ``Tract D''.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (7) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Florida 
        and political subdivisions of the State, including the South 
        Florida Water Management District.
    (b) Land Exchange With State.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the provisions of this 
        paragraph, if the State offers to convey to the Secretary all 
        right, title, and interest of the State in and to specific 
        parcels of non-Federal land, and the offer is acceptable to the 
        Secretary, the Secretary may, subject to valid existing rights, 
        accept the offer and convey to the State all right, title, and 
        interest of the United States in and to the Federal land 
        generally depicted on the map as ``Tract A''.
            (2) Conditions.--The land exchange under paragraph (1) 
        shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
        may require.
            (3) Valuation.--
                    (A) In general.--The values of the land involved in 
                the land exchange under paragraph (1) shall be equal.
                    (B) Equalization.--If the values of the land are 
                not equal, the values may be equalized by donation, 
                payment using donated or appropriated funds, or the 
                conveyance of additional parcels of land.
            (4) Appraisals.--Before the exchange of land under 
        paragraph (1), appraisals for the Federal and non-Federal land 
        shall be conducted in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal 
        Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and the Uniform 
        Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
            (5) Technical corrections.--Subject to the agreement of the 
        State, the Secretary may make minor corrections to correct 
        technical and clerical errors in the legal descriptions of the 
        Federal and non-Federal land and minor adjustments to the 
        boundaries of the Federal and non-Federal land.
            (6) Administration of land acquired by secretary.--Land 
        acquired by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) become part of the National Park; and
                    (B) be administered in accordance with the laws 
                applicable to the National Park System.
    (c) Land Exchange With Company.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the provisions of this 
        paragraph, if the Company offers to convey to the Secretary all 
        right, title, and interest of the Company in and to the non-
        Federal land generally depicted on the map as ``Tract D'', and 
        the offer is acceptable to the Secretary, the Secretary may, 
        subject to valid existing rights, accept the offer and convey 
        to the Company all right, title, and interest of the United 
        States in and to the Federal land generally depicted on the map 
        as ``Tract B'', along with a perpetual easement on a corridor 
        of land contiguous to Tract B for the purpose of vegetation 
        management.
            (2) Conditions.--The land exchange under paragraph (1) 
        shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
        may require.
            (3) Valuation.--
                    (A) In general.--The values of the land involved in 
                the land exchange under paragraph (1) shall be equal 
                unless the non-Federal land is of higher value than the 
                Federal land.
                    (B) Equalization.--If the values of the land are 
                not equal, the values may be equalized by donation, 
                payment using donated or appropriated funds, or the 
                conveyance of additional parcels of land.
            (4) Appraisal.--Before the exchange of land under paragraph 
        (1), appraisals for the Federal and non-Federal land shall be 
        conducted in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards 
        for Federal Land Acquisitions and the Uniform Standards of 
        Professional Appraisal Practice.
            (5) Technical corrections.--Subject to the agreement of the 
        Company, the Secretary may make minor corrections to correct 
        technical and clerical errors in the legal descriptions of the 
        Federal and non-Federal land and minor adjustments to the 
        boundaries of the Federal and non-Federal land.
            (6) Administration of land acquired by secretary.--Land 
        acquired by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) become part of the National Park; and
                    (B) be administered in accordance with the laws 
                applicable to the National Park System.
    (d) Map.--The map shall be on file and available for public 
inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
    (e) Boundary Revision.--On completion of the land exchanges 
authorized by this section, the Secretary shall adjust the boundary of 
the National Park accordingly, including removing the land conveyed out 
of Federal ownership.
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