[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H9966-H9967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1415
                WENATACHEE NATIONAL FOREST LAND EXCHANGE

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2518) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to exchange 
certain lands in the Wenatachee National Forest, WA, for certain lands 
owned by Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County, WA, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2518

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

     SECTION 1. LAND EXCHANGE.

       (a) Exchange.--Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of 
     Agriculture (referred to in this section as the 
     ``(Secretary'') shall convey all right, title, and interest 
     of the United States in and to the National Forest System 
     lands described in subsection (b)(1) to Public Utility 
     District No. 1 of Chelan County, Washington (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Public Utility District''), in exchange 
     for the conveyance to the Secretary of Agriculture by Public 
     Utility District of all right, title, and interest of the 
     Public Utility District in and to the lands described in 
     subsection (b)(2).
       (b) Descriptions of Lands.--
       (1) National forest system lands.--The National Forest 
     System lands referred to in subsection (a) are 122 acres, 
     more or less, that are partially occupied by a wastewater 
     treatment facility referred to in subsection (c)(4)(A) with 
     the following legal description:
       (A) The NE\1/4\ of SW\1/4\ of section 27 of township 27 
     north, range 17 east, Willamette Meridian, Chelan County, 
     Washington.
       (B) The N\1/2\ of SE\1/4\ of SW\1/4\ of such section 27.
       (C) The W\1/2\ of NW\1/4\ of SE\1/4\ of such section 27.
       (D) The NW\1/4\ of SW\1/4\ of SE\1/4\ of such section 27.
       (E) The E\1/2\ of NW\1/4\ of the SE\1/4\ of such section 
     27.
       (F) That portion of the S\1/2\ of SE\1/4\ of SW\1/4\ lying 
     north of the northerly edge of Highway 209 right-of-way of 
     such section 27.
       (2) Public utility district lands.--The lands owned by the 
     Public Utility District are 109.15 acres, more or less, with 
     the following legal description:
       (A) S\1/2\ of SW\1/4\ of section 35 of township 26 north, 
     range 17 east, Willamette Meridian Chelan County, Washington.
       (B) The area specified by Public Utility District No. 1 as 
     Government Lot 5 in such section 35.

[[Page H9967]]

       (c) Requirements for Exchange.--
       (1) Title acceptance and conveyance.--Upon offer by the 
     Public Utility District of all right, title, and interest in 
     and to the lands described in subsection (b)(2), if the title 
     is found acceptable by the Secretary, the Secretary shall 
     accept title to such lands and interests therein and shall 
     convey to the Public Utility District all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to the lands described 
     in subsection (b)(1).
       (2) Appraisals required.--Before making an exchange 
     pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct 
     appraisals of the lands that are subject to the exchange to 
     determine the fair market value of the lands. Such appraisals 
     shall not include the value of the wastewater treatment 
     facility referred to in paragraph (4)(A).
       (3) Additional consideration.--If, on the basis of the 
     appraisals made under paragraph (1), the Secretary determines 
     that the fair market value of the lands to be conveyed by one 
     party under subsection (a) is less than the fair market value 
     of the lands to be conveyed by the other party under 
     subsection (a), then, as a condition of making the exchange 
     under subsection (a), the party conveying the lands with the 
     lesser value shall pay the other party the amount by which 
     the fair market value of the lands of greater value exceeds 
     the fair market value of the lands of lesser value.
       (4) Conveyance of wastewater treatment facility.--(A) As 
     part of an exchange made under subsection (a), the Secretary 
     shall convey to the Public Utility District of Chelan County, 
     Washington, all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to the wastewater treatment facility (including 
     the wastewater treatment plant and associated lagoons) 
     located on the lands described in subsection (b)(1) that is 
     in existence on the date of the exchange.
       (B) As a condition for the exchange under subsection (a), 
     the Public Utility District shall provide for a credit equal 
     to the fair market value of the wastewater treatment facility 
     conveyed pursuant to subparagraph (A) (determined as of 
     November 4, 1991), that shall be applied to the United 
     States' share of any new or modified wastewater treatment 
     facilities constructed by the Public Utility District after 
     November 4, 1991.
       (d) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the exchange under this section as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Doolittle] and the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Miller] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle].
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2518, 
introduced by Mr. Hastings of Washington. This legislation provides for 
the transfer of 122 acres of National Forest System lands and a sewage 
treatment plant to Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County. In 
exchange, the Forest Service will receive 109 acres of unencumbered 
land owned by the P.U.D. on the Wenatchee River.
  H.R. 2518 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct an 
appraisal to determine the current fair market value of the lands and 
requires payment needed to equalize any difference in land value. It 
also requires that all right, title, and interest in the wastewater 
treatment facility shall be conveyed to the P.U.D., and that the P.U.D. 
shall provide a credit, equal to the fair market value of the treatment 
facility, applied to the United States' share of any new or modified 
facilities constructed by the P.U.D. after November 4, 1991.
  Mr. Hastings is to be commended for his efforts to ensure that the 
legislation fully meets the needs of both the Forest Service and the 
public utility district. H.R. 2518 is supported by the administration 
and is needed to provide for the more efficient management of 
wastewater treatment in the Lake Wenatchee area of Chelan County, 
Washington. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to facilitate this land 
exchange and support H.R. 2518.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2518 would authorize the transfer of sewage 
treatment facilities and associated lands on the Wenatchee National 
Forest to Public Utility No. 1 of Chelen County, in exchange for lands 
of equal value and other consideration.
  We have no objection to the measure and I would note that the 
administration also supports the bill. It is a fair deal for both the 
local utility district and the Federal Government.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Washington [Mr. Hastings].
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding and rise in strong support of H.R. 2518.
  This noncontroversial bill authorizes the transfer of 122 acres of 
Wenatchee National Forest land that includes a wastewater treatment 
plant, for 109 acres of unencumbered land along the Wenatchee River 
currently owned by Chelan Public Utility District No. 1.
  In recent years, the septic system serving area businesses and 
private residences has failed due to rapid growth and development 
throughout the Lake Wenatchee community. The PUD will use the Forest 
Service facility to provide adequate services to this area.
  H.R. 2518 merely implements this commonsense solution developed by 
the local community. The bill has the strong support of the PUD, the 
Forest Service, and the local county commissioners. All sides agree 
that the transfer of the Forest Service's wastewater treatment plant is 
the answer to the Lake Wenatchee community's current problems.
  I want to thank Subcommittee Chairman Hansen and Ranking Member 
Richardson for their prompt attention to this bill and urge its passage 
today.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2518, 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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