[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H9979-H9980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WYOMING FISH AND WILDLIFE CONVEYANCE

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3579) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain property containing a fish and wildlife facility to the State 
of Wyoming, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3579

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY TO WYOMING.

       (a) Conveyance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey to the State of Wyoming without reimbursement, all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     property described in subsection (b).
       (b) Description of Property.--The property referred to in 
     subsection (a) is the property commonly known as ``Ranch A'' 
     in Crook County, Wyoming, consisting of approximately 680 
     acres of land including all real property, buildings, and all 
     other improvements to real property, and all personal 
     property including art, historic light fixtures, wildlife 
     mounts, draperies, rugs, and furniture directly related to 
     the site, including personal property on loan to museums and 
     other entities, at the time of transfer.
       (c) Use and Reversionary Interest.--
       (1) Use.--The property conveyed to the State of Wyoming 
     under this section shall be retained in public ownership and 
     be used by the State for the purposes of--
       (A) fish and wildlife management and education; and
       (B) using, maintaining, displaying, and restoring, through 
     State or local agreements, or both, the museum quality real 
     and personal property and the historical interests and 
     significance of the real and personal property, consistent 
     with applicable Federal and State laws.
       (2) Access by institutions of higher education.--The State 
     of Wyoming shall provide access to the property for 
     institutions of higher education at a compensation level that 
     is agreed to by the State and the institution of higher 
     education.
       (3) Reversion.--If the property described in subsection (b) 
     is not used for a purpose consistent with paragraphs (1) and 
     (2), all right, title, and interest in and to the property 
     shall revert to the United States. The State of Wyoming shall 
     ensure that all property that reverts to the United States 
     under this subsection is in substantially the same or better 
     condition as at the time of conveyance to the State.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Saxton] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Farr] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton].
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SAXTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)

[[Page H9980]]

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to discuss H.R. 
3579, a bill to convey Ranch A to the State of Wyoming. This bill was 
introduced by our colleague, Barbara Cubin, on June 5 of this year. 
Under the terms of this bill, the Secretary shall convey property to 
the State, within 180 days of enactment and without reimbursement, all 
right, title, and interest in the property commonly known as Ranch A to 
be used for fish and wildlife management and education. The State of 
Wyoming is directed to allow access to the property for institutions of 
higher education at a rate of compensation mutually agreed upon. 
Furthermore, the proposal stipulates that the property will revert to 
the Federal Government if it is used for something other than the 
authorized purpose.
  This is a noncontroversial and meritorious bill. I urge all Members 
to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. FARR of California asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of no objection to 
the bill at this time. Many concerns were raised about this legislation 
when it was first introduced, and several of those issues were 
addressed by the amendments in committee.
  One issue, however, does remain outstanding. While there seems to be 
no disagreement over the transfer to the State of the buildings and 
facilities that compose the ranch itself, there is not agreement with 
respect to the transfer and future management of the surrounding land 
which totals, I think, about 680 acres. It is our understanding that 
the interested parties are continuing to work to address this 
disagreement and that the problem will be addressed in the other body 
when they consider this legislation. For that reason we do not object 
to the passage of this bill today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me just say that on both sides of the aisle there 
are a number of staff members who are here present today who have a lot 
to do from time to time and on an ongoing basis, as a matter of fact, 
with the fact that we are able to address matters on a bipartisan basis 
on the Committee on Resources. So I would just like to take this 
opportunity to thank them.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3579, a bill to transfer the 
property known as Ranch A to the State of Wyoming, was introduced by 
Congresswoman Barbara Cubin on June 5, 1996.
  Ranch A consists of a lodge, a barn, and associated buildings and 
includes approximately 680 acres. The property is located in Crook 
County, WY, which is within Sand Creek Canyon and includes the 
headwaters of Sand Creek.
  The Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the Ranch A property in 1963, 
but has had little, to no, oversight of the property since 1986. The 
Wyoming Department of Game and Fish currently manages the majority of 
the Ranch A property and, up until 1995, raised trout and transplanted 
the trout to waters around the State of Wyoming. Currently, there is 
limited game bird hunting, and a select area of Sand Creek is open to 
fishing. In addition, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 
has been using the facilities for educational purposes.
  H.R. 3579 is similar to measures the House of Representatives has 
approved to transfer certain Federal fish hatcheries to non-Federal 
control, and it contains the standard language requiring that the 
property revert to the Federal Government, if it is used for something 
other than the authorized purposes, which in this case include fish and 
wildlife management and educational endeavors.
  I urge my colleagues to support this non-controversial piece of 
legislation and I compliment our distinguished colleague, Barbara 
Cubin, for her effective leadership on behalf of her Wyoming 
constituents.
  Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker. I support the chairman's substitute to H.R. 
3579, which will transfer property known as Ranch A to the State of 
Wyoming.
  The changes that are incorporated in this amendment directly reflect 
those changes brought to me by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
during subcommittee hearings on this bill.
  This bill is very important to Wyoming and anyone who enjoys the 
beauty of open spaces and historical buildings. Under the management of 
the Federal Government, the buildings at Ranch A have become run down 
and fallen into disrepair.
  It is time for the State of Wyoming to become involved in the 
management of the buildings and the class one trout stream that runs 
through the property. The State management of the stream will continue 
to be the same quality that it has been for the past 16 years.
  John Twiss, Superintendent of Black Hills National Forest, 
acknowledged the fact that the Forest Service could not afford to put 
any money toward restoration of the ranch's historical buildings. The 
Forest Service should not be in the business of restoring historical 
sites and spending much needed resources maintaining these buildings. 
The cost for the restoration is projected to be about $2 million.
  The State of Wyoming is looking forward to and is committed to 
restoring and even making marked improvements to the facility by 
creating lodging for visitor groups and maintaining the historic 
significance of the ranch. Private donations brought about by the 
efforts of the Ranch A Restoration Foundation will give the State of 
Wyoming the ability to do restoration on the buildings without 
burdening the taxpayers of my home State.
  As we all know, during this time of budget restraints and fiscal 
conservatism, it is not a good time for agencies like the Forest 
Service to begin acquiring property. These agencies already have 
difficulty managing what they have. The State of Wyoming is in a better 
position to manage the facility properly and will take in private 
donations to effectively do so. The ability of the Ranch A Restoration 
Foundation to acquire donations will increase when the facility is 
turned over to the State.
  Even though the South Dakota School of Mines, and the State of South 
Dakota as a whole, will continue to use the facility they have not been 
committed to giving financial backing toward the restoration or 
acquisition of Ranch A. In fact, in a May 1995 letter, South Dakota 
Governor Bill Janklow acknowledged he had no desire to purchase the 
Ranch A facility and the South Dakota Game and Fish Department reached 
that same conclusion.
  Since the facility is currently scheduled for disposal by the General 
Service Administration in the next few months, it is my hope this non-
controversial piece of legislation will move quickly through the House, 
along with a companion bill introduced in the Senate by Craig Thomas, 
to assure a expeditious transfer of this property to the State of 
Wyoming.
   Mr. Speaker, it is my desire and it is the State of Wyoming's desire 
to ensure that Ranch A is kept whole and in public ownership; this 
legislation does just that. H.R. 3579, with the USFWS amendments, 
ensures access to Forest Service land through the property and protects 
the blue ribbon fishery that the State of Wyoming holds very close to 
its heart.
  Once again, thank you Mr. Speaker. I ask my colleagues to support 
H.R. 3579 and look forward to the passage of this legislation.
  Mr. SAXTON. 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 New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3579, 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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