[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H4853-H4854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REQUIRING THE EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN LANDS LOCATED IN HINSDALE, CO

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 951) to require the Secretary of the Interior to exchange 
certain lands located in Hinsdale, CO.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 951

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

     SECTION 1. LARSON AND FRIENDS CREEK EXCHANGE.

       In exchange for conveyance to the United States of an equal 
     value of offered lands acceptable to the Secretary of the 
     Interior

[[Page H4854]]

     which lie within, or in proximity to, the Handies Peak or Red 
     Cloud Peak Wilderness Study Areas or the Alpine Loop 
     Backcountry Bi-way in Hinsdale County, Colorado, the 
     Secretary of the Interior shall convey to Lake City Ranches, 
     Ltd., a Texas limited partnership (in this section referred 
     to as ``LCR''), approximately 560 acres of selected land 
     located in the same county and generally depicted on a map 
     entitled ``Larson and Friends Creek Exchange'', dated June 
     1996. The exchange shall be contingent upon LCR granting the 
     Secretary a permanent conservation easement on the 
     approximate 440 acre Larson Creek portion of the selected 
     lands (as depicted on the map) which limits future use of 
     such lands to agricultural, wildlife, recreational, or open 
     space purposes. The exchange shall also be subject to the 
     standard appraisal requirements and equalization payment 
     limitations set forth in section 206 of the Federal Land 
     Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716), and to 
     reviews and approvals relating to threatened species and 
     endangered species, cultural and historic resources, and 
     hazardous materials under other Federal laws. The costs of 
     such appraisals and reviews shall be paid by LCR. The 
     Secretary may credit such payments against the value of the 
     selected land, if appropriate, pursuant to section 206(f) of 
     the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
     1716(f).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Hansen] and the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. 
Faleomavaega] each will control 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, H.R. 951 is a bill introduced by my colleague, the 
gentleman from Colorado [Mr. McInnis]. Because of the outstanding 
effort of the gentleman from Colorado, this bill is agreeable to the 
administration, to the environmental community, and to the private 
property owners.
  I would also like to commend another colleague, the gentleman from 
Texas [Mr. Thornberry], who has added his support to this bill.
  H.R. 951 requires the Secretary of the Interior to exchange 
approximately 560 acres of Federal land located in Colorado to Lake 
City Ranches, Ltd. This land is currently managed by the Bureau of Land 
Management. In return, the U.S. Government will receive inholdings 
within the proposed Handies Peak or Red Cloud Wilderness Areas, or 
along the Alpine Loop Backcountry Bi-way. The BLM is also granted a 
permanent conservation easement on 440 acres of the lands conveyed to 
be used for agricultural, wildlife, recreation, or open space purposes.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill has very wide community support and I urge my 
colleagues' support of H.R. 951.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and again I commend the gentleman from Colorado for his 
sponsorship of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 951 provides for the exchange of certain public 
lands in Hinsdale County in the State of Colorado for private lands 
that are located within or in proximity to several wilderness study 
areas and a backcountry bi-way. The bill provides that the exchange be 
of equal value. In addition, as a condition of the exchange, the 
private landowner will keep approximately 440 of the 560 acres under a 
conservation easement.
  The exchange is supported by the local community, by the 
environmental groups, and the administration. I am unaware of any 
controversy associated with the bill and certainly will support this 
legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I 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. 951.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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