[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16426-S16427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Craig, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. 
        Burns):
  S. 1371. A bill entitled the ``Snowbasin Land Exchange Act of 1995''; 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                THE SNOWBASIN LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1995

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
effectuate a land exchange at the Snowbasin Ski Resort located east of 
Ogden, Utah. Senators Craig, Bennett, and Burns are cosponsoring this 
legislation.
  Basically, the intent of this legislation is simple. It directs the 
Secretary of Agriculture to exchange 1,320 acres of federally owned 
land within Utah's Cache National Forest for lands of approximately 
equal value owned by the Sun Valley Company, which owns the Snowbasin 
Ski Resort. Snowbasin is located 30 miles north of Salt Lake City and 
has been open for skiing since the early 1940s. It is one of the 
world's greatest areas for snow and winter sports as evidenced by the 
recent decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to have 
Salt Lake City host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. It is precisely 
because of the IOC's decision that this legislation is necessary.
  In 1985, a year after it purchased financially plagued Snowbasin, the 
Sun Valley Company, recognized as an enviromentally sensitive manager 
of its recreational lands, asked the Forest Service to exchange 2,500 
areas of land to improve the resort's base facilities and 
infrastructure. This request was initially reduced to 1,320. Five years 
later, after conducting an environmental impact statement and extensive 
studies and public reviews, the Forest Service decided to exchange 
approximately 700 acres. At the same time, the Forest Service reached 
the conclusions that the future success of Snowbasin requires private 
ownership of lands at the base of the ski area and that a land exchange 
was consistent with the priorities established in the 1985 Wasatch-
Cache Land and Reserve Management Plan.
  Unfortunately, since 1990 and despite the diligent efforts of both 
the Forest Service and the Sun Valley Company, little progress has 
occurred toward the exchange. I will not take the time to detail these 
difficulties. However, my colleagues should know that the land exchange 
process has been long, tedious, and very costly to all parties, 
particularly to Snowbasin.
  Last June, Salt Lake City was selected as the site for the 2002 
Winter Olympic Games. Due to its rugged mountain terrain, gradient and 
technical difficulty, Snowbasin has been identified as the venue for 
all Downhill, Combined Downhill, and Super G events for men and women. 
These highly popular races traditionally attract some of the largest 
Olympic audiences. The snail's pace with which the exchange process has 
been moving has many people associated with Snowbasin and the Salt Lake 
City Olympic Organizing Committee, including myself, worried that 
Snowbasin will not be sufficiently prepared to handle the Olympic 
skiing events and their accompanying crowds.
  I am sure my colleagues can appreciate what it requires for a 
community to prepare a venue to host any Olympic event. In the case of 
Snowbasin, these pre-2002 activities include the installation of 
chairlifts, construction of a connector road, fencing and safety 
netting, additional ski runs, maintenance buildings, new spectator and 
service areas, parking lot expansion, restrooms and other items 
identified in Phase 1 of the Sun Valley Company's Master Plan for 
Snowbasin. These activities must be done in the near future and can be 

[[Page S16427]]

more effectively and environmentally accomplished if done on private 
property.
  In exchange for the forested acreage, the Sun Valley Company will 
convey four major parcels to the Forest Service that have been 
previously identified by the Forest Service as desirable for 
acquisition. These parcels are specifically listed in our legislation, 
and their combined acreage exceeds 4,000 acres. Obviously, this land 
possesses outstanding recreational, wildlife, mountain, and access 
values for public use and enjoyment. The values of the Federal and non-
federal lands involved in this exchange will be determined by utilizing 
nationally recognized appraisal standards.
  Mr. President, we in Utah are overjoyed that the eyes of the world 
will be upon us, upon our mountains, and upon the ``Greatest Snow on 
Earth.'' At the same time, there is serious concern whether the 
facilities to support the Olympics can be constructed, tested for 
safety, and become fully operational by 2002, especially when 
considering it will take three summer seasons to complete the 
development of Phase 1 of the Snowbasin Master Plan. Pursuit of a land 
exchange at Snowbasin through the administrative process, and possibly 
the courts, does not alleviate this concern and only exacerbates the 
problems of timing and uncertainty. Legislative action on Snowbasin 
places control of this matter with the Congress, rather than the 
courts, and will ensure that all aspects of the 2002 Winter Olympic 
Games are in their proper place once the world focuses on Salt Lake 
City.
  I urge my colleagues to carefully review this legislation and the 
reasons why it is crucial that this proposal be adopted during the 
104th Congress. I look forward to working with them to achieve this 
goal.
  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, as Utah prepares to host the 2002 Winter 
Olympics, I am pleased today to join my colleague Senator Hatch in 
introducing the Snowbasin Land Exchange Act of 1995. Snowbasin Ski 
Resort, which is owned by Sun Valley Company, will host both the men's 
and women's downhill ski events. This land exchange will direct the 
Secretary to exchange 1,320 acres of Forest Service Lands within the 
Cache National Forest for lands of approximate and equal value owned by 
Sun Valley Co. This legislation is fundamental to the success of the 
2002 Winter Olympics. It is a win-win situation for all parties 
involved and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
                                 ______