[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H3824-H3825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TARGHEE NATIONAL FOREST LAND EXCHANGE

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 529) to authorize the exchange of National Forest System 
lands in the Targhee National Forest in Idaho for non-Federal lands 
within the forest in Wyoming, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 529

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,
     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF EXCHANGE.

       (a) Conveyance.--Notwithstanding the requirements in the 
     Act entitled ``An Act to Consolidate National Forest Lands'', 
     approved March 20, 1922 (16 U.S.C. 485), and section 206(b) 
     of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
     U.S.C. 1716(b)) that Federal and non-Federal lands exchanged 
     for each other must be located within the same State, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture may convey the Federal lands 
     described in section 2(a) in exchange for the non-Federal 
     lands described in section 2(b) in accordance with the 
     provisions of this Act.
       (b) Applicability of Other Provisions of Law.--Except as 
     otherwise provided in this Act, the land exchange authorized 
     by this section shall be made under the existing authorities 
     of the Secretary.
       (c) Acceptability of Title and Manner of Conveyance.--The 
     Secretary shall not carry out the exchange described in 
     subsection (a) unless the title to the non-Federal lands to 
     be conveyed to the United States, and the form and procedures 
     of conveyance, are acceptable to the Secretary.

     SEC. 2. DESCRIPTION OF LANDS TO BE EXCHANGED.

       (a) Federal Lands.--The Federal lands referred to in this 
     Act are located in the Targhee National Forest in Idaho, are 
     generally depicted on the map entitled ``Targhee Exchange, 
     Idaho-Wyoming--Proposed, Federal Land'', dated September 
     1994, and are known as the North Fork Tract.
       (b) Non-Federal Lands.--The non-Federal lands referred to 
     in this Act are located in the Targhee National Forest in 
     Wyoming, are generally depicted on the map entitled ``Non-
     Federal Land, Targhee Exchange, Idaho-Wyoming--Proposed'', 
     dated September 1994, and are known as the Squirrel Meadows 
     Tract.
       (c) Maps.--The maps referred to in subsections (a) and (b) 
     shall be on file and available for inspection in the office 
     of the Targhee National Forest in Idaho and in the office of 
     the Chief of the Forest Service.

     SEC. 3. EQUALIZATION OF VALUES.

       Prior to the exchange authorized by section 1, the values 
     of the Federal and non-Federal lands to be so exchanged shall 
     be established by appraisals of fair market value that shall 
     be subject to approval by the Secretary. The values either 
     shall be equal or shall be equalized using the following 
     methods:
       (1) Adjustment of lands.--
       (A) Portion of federal lands.--If the Federal lands are 
     greater in value than the non-Federal lands, the Secretary 
     shall reduce the acreage of the Federal lands until the 
     values of the Federal lands closely approximate the values of 
     the non-Federal lands.
       (B) Additional federally-owned lands--If the non-Federal 
     lands are greater in value than the Federal lands, the 
     Secretary may convey additional federally owned lands within 
     the Targhee National Forest up to an amount necessary to 
     equalize the values of the non-Federal lands and the lands to 
     be transferred out of Federal ownership. However, such 
     additional federally owned lands shall be limited to those 
     meeting the criteria for land exchanges specified in the 
     Targhee National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
       (2) Payment of money.--The values may be equalized by the 
     payment of money as provided in section 206(b) of the Federal 
     Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(b)).

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act:
       (1) The term ``Federal lands'' means the Federal lands 
     described in section 2(a).
       (2) The term ``non-Federal lands'' means the non-Federal 
     lands described in section 2(b).
       (3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
     Agriculture.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Hansen] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman 
from New Mexico [Mr. Richardson] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen].
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 529, to authorize the 
exchange of National Forest System lands in the Targhee National Forest 
in Idaho for non-Federal lands within the forest in Wyoming. Sponsored 
by Mr. Crapo of Idaho, this legislation will facilitate the exchange of 
critical grizzly bear habitat in Wyoming for surplus Forest Service 
lands in Idaho. This is an equal value exchange that benefits both 
parties. This legislation passed the House under suspension during the 
103d Congress and I urge my colleagues to support this measure once 
again. I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Idaho [Mr. Crapo] for 
his work on this issue and look forward to its final passage.
  [[Page H3825]] Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Idaho [Mr. Crapo].
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 529, the Targhee 
National Forest Land Exchange bill.
  Before I begin, I want to thank Chairman Hansen, the subcommittee 
staff, and the Forest Service for the outstanding work they have done 
on behalf of this legislation.
  Legislation which is almost identical to H.R. 529 was passed by the 
House of Representatives on October 3, 1994. It was unfortunate that 
the 103d Congress came to a close before the Senate could act on this 
legislation. However, I am delighted that this noncontroversial 
legislation is once again before the House of Representatives.
  H.R. 529, as has been said by the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen], 
would allow the exchange of a section of property in Wyoming known as 
Squirrel Meadows for parcels of National Forest Service land located in 
Idaho. This is one of those exchanges where all parties are winners.
  This legislation requires a fair and equal land exchange. This land 
exchange involved approximately 26 acres of National Forest System 
lands and 95 acres of private land owned by Ricks College.
  Situated on this forest service land are several cabins owned by 
private citizens and a lodge, and these citizens own the cabins but not 
the land, and in this exchange critical grizzly bear habitat will go to 
the Government for protection. The private citizens will be able to 
purchase the land on which their cabins sit and, therefore, solidify 
their situation in the forest, and the Federal Government will be able 
to benefit, as all are involved in accomplishing an objective that each 
believes in and supports.
  Upon completion of the land exchange, these cabin owners will be 
allowed to purchase the land upon which their buildings sit. Ricks 
College plans to use the proceeds from these land sales to purchase 
lands along the Yale-Kilgore Road in Island Park, ID. The acquisition 
of the lands along the Yale-Kilgore Road will allow Ricks College to 
more effectively administer its educational programs.
  Within the confines of the private lands being exchanged is situation 
1 grizzly bear habitat. The transfer of this private property to the 
ownership of the Forest Service will allow the Forest Service to 
protect this unique area which is capable of supporting viable grizzly 
bear populations.
  The Forest Service has been in extended negotiations to obtain the 
Squirrel Meadows property for some time. This unanimously agreed upon 
land transfer is a prime example of private citizenry and conservation 
management taking the initiative to protect areas of environmental 
habitat importance.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity we have had to work with 
the gentlewoman from Wyoming [Mrs. Cubin] on this issue, with the 
Forest Service, Ricks College and all other interested parties to forge 
this agreement and to encourage support by those in the House for this 
legislation.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 529 is a noncontroversial measure 
that authorizes an equal value interstate land exchange within the 
Targee National Forest. Legislation is required because the Forest 
Service does not have authority to do land exchanges between two 
States. As a result of the exchange authorized by the bill, the Forest 
Service will receive a 95-acre portion of a pristine and scenic tract 
of land known as Squirrel Meadows in Wyoming. The Forest Service will 
exchange a developed 10-acre tract in Idaho that has numerous summer 
homes owned by private individuals but located on National Forest lands 
leased to them by the Forest Service.
  H.R. 529 is similar to legislation that passed the House in the last 
Congress. The bill before us today has a number of amendments that have 
been worked out to simplify the bill. With regards to the amendment 
deleting section 4, this matter was to be addressed in the committee 
report. The second amendment incorporates language suggested by the 
Forest Service to correct the bill's reference on the lands available 
for exchange.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 529, as amended, and recommend its 
adoption by the House.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I, too, yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 529, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended, and the bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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