[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9923-H9925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CARSON AND SANTA FE NATIONAL FORESTS LAND CONVEYANCES

  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 434) to provide for the conveyance of small parcels of land 
in the Carson National Forest and the Santa Fe National Forest, NM to 
the village of El Rito and the town of Jemez Springs, NM as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 434

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

     SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, CARSON NATIONAL FOREST, NEW 
                   MEXICO.

       (a) Conveyance Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall convey through sale or exchange to the County of Rio 
     Arriba for the benefit of the village of El Rito, New Mexico 
     (in this section referred to as ``El Rito''), all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to a parcel 
     of real property, together with any improvements thereon, 
     consisting of approximately 5 acres located in the Carson 
     National Forest in the State of New Mexico.
       (b) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the real property conveyed under subsection 
     (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the 
     Secretary. The cost of the survey shall be borne by the 
     Forest Service.
       (c) Lands Acquired in Exchange From Rio Arriba County.--
     Except as provided in this Act, any exchange of lands under 
     subsection (a) shall be processed in accordance with the 
     rules of the Secretary of Agriculture setting forth the 
     procedures for conducting exchanges of National Forest System 
     lands (36 CFR part 254). Any lands to be conveyed to the 
     United States in such an exchange shall be acceptable to the 
     Secretary and shall be subject to such valid existing rights 
     or record as may be acceptable to the Secretary. Title to 
     such land shall conform with the title approval standards 
     applicable to Federal land acquisitions.
       (d) Valuation and Appraisals.--Values of any lands 
     exchanged pursuant to subsection (a) shall be equal as 
     determined by the Secretary. If, due to size, location, or 
     use of lands exchanged under subsection (a), the values are 
     not exactly equal, they shall be equalized by the payment of 
     cash. The Secretary may accept cash equalization payments in 
     excess of 25 per centum of the total value of the Federal 
     lands exchanged. Value of any lands sold to the County of Rio 
     Arriba shall be on the basis of fair market value as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (e) Disposition of Funds.--Payments from a sale under 
     subsection (a) or cash equalization payments may be made in 
     equal installments for a period not to exceed 10 years. Any 
     funds received by the Secretary through the sale or by cash 
     equalization shall be deposited into the fund established by 
     the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 484a), known as the 
     Sisk Act, and shall be

[[Page H9924]]

     available for expenditure, upon appropriation, for the 
     acquisition of lands and interests in lands in the State of 
     New Mexico.
       (f) Status of Lands.--Upon approval and acceptance of title 
     by the Secretary, any lands acquired by the United States 
     pursuant to subsection (a) shall become part of the Carson 
     National Forest and the boundaries of the National Forest 
     shall be adjusted to encompass such lands. Such lands 
     shall be managed in accordance with the Act of March 1, 
     1911 (commonly known as the ``Weeks Law'') (36 Stat. 961), 
     and shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture 
     in accordance with the laws and regulations pertaining to 
     the National Forest System. This section shall not limit 
     the Secretary's authority to adjust the boundaries of the 
     Carson National Forest pursuant to section 11 of the Act 
     of March 1, 1911 (``Weeks Act''). For the purpose of 
     section 7 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 
     1965 (16 U.S.C. 4601-9), the boundaries of the Carson 
     National Forest, as adjusted by this Act, shall be 
     considered to be boundaries of the Forest as of January 1, 
     1965.

     SEC. 2. LAND CONVEYANCE, SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST, NEW 
                   MEXICO.

       (a) Conveyance Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall convey, through exchange, to the town of Jemez Springs, 
     New Mexico (in this section referred to as ``Jemez 
     Springs''), all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to a parcel of real property, together with any 
     improvements thereon, consisting of approximately 1 acre 
     located in the Saint Fe National Forest in the State of New 
     Mexico.
       (b) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal 
     description of the real property conveyed under subsection 
     (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the 
     Secretary. The cost of the survey shall be borne by the 
     Forest Service.
       (c) Lands Acquired in Exchange From the Town of Jemez 
     Springs.--Except as provided in this Act, any exchange of 
     lands under subsection (a) shall be processed in accordance 
     with the rules of the Secretary of Agriculture setting forth 
     the procedures for conducting exchanges of National Forest 
     System lands (36 CFR part 254). Any lands conveyed to the 
     United States in such an exchange shall be acceptable to the 
     Secretary and shall be subject to such valid existing rights 
     or record as may be acceptable to the Secretary. Title to 
     such land shall conform with the title approval standards 
     applicable to Federal land acquisitions.
       (d) Valuation and Appraisals.--Values of any lands to be 
     exchanged pursuant to subsection (a) shall be equal as 
     determined by the Secretary. If, due to size, location, or 
     use of lands exchanged under section 1(a), the values are not 
     exactly equal, they shall be equalized by the payment of 
     cash. The Secretary may accept cash equalization payments in 
     excess of 25 per centum of the total value of the involved 
     Federal lands exchanged.
       (e) Disposition of Funds.--Payments for any cash 
     equalization for the exchange under subsection (a) may be 
     made in equal installments for a period of not to exceed 10 
     years. Any funds received by the Secretary through the cash 
     equalization shall be deposited into the fund established by 
     the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 484a), known as the 
     Sisk Act, and shall be available for expenditure, upon 
     appropriation, for the acquisition of lands and interests in 
     lands in the State of New Mexico.
       (f) Status of Lands.--Upon approval and acceptance of title 
     by the Secretary, any lands acquired by the United States 
     pursuant to subsection (a) shall become part of the Santa Fe 
     National Forest and the boundaries of the National Forest 
     shall be adjusted to encompass such lands. Such lands shall 
     be managed in accordance with the Act of March 1, 1911 
     (commonly known as the ``Weeks Law'') (36 Stat. 961), and 
     shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in 
     accordance with the laws and regulations pertaining to the 
     National Forest System. This section does not limit the 
     Secretary's authority to adjust the boundaries of the Carson 
     National Forest pursuant to section 11 of the Act of March 1, 
     1911 (``Weeks Act''). For the purposes of section 7 of the 
     Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 4601-
     9), the boundaries of the Santa Fe National Forest, as 
     adjusted by this Act, shall be considered to be boundaries of 
     the Forest as of January 1, 1965.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth] and the gentleman from America Samoa [Mr. 
Faleomavaega] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth].
  (Mrs. CHENOWETH asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 434, introduced by former Congressman Bill 
Richardson, the current Ambassador to the United Nations, would provide 
a land conveyance for the village of El Rito and Jemez Springs in New 
Mexico. Both of these towns have important needs that deserve the 
attention of the committee.
  I support the desire of the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Redmond] 
to see that El Rito receive land for a public cemetery and Jemez 
Springs to obtain one acre of land within the town in order to 
construct a much needed fire substation.
  It is my understanding that in 1993 the Jemez National Recreation 
Area was carved out of the Santa Fe National Forest and this 
transformed Jemez Springs from an obscure little village located in the 
Santa Fe National Forest to a little community housing over 1 million 
visitors annually. Without much imagination, we can see how this would 
cause significant problems for any community.
  The gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Redmond] has continued the fine 
labors of Mr. Richardson, who worked extensively with the Forest 
Service and local communities to fashion this solution. I commend the 
gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Redmond] and urge passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, this bill was introduced by our former 
colleague, Congressman Bill Richardson, prior to his nomination as 
Ambassador to the United Nations. Serving on the Committee on Resources 
was no doubt good preparation for the many conflicts that he must now 
deal with around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, at the hearing held on this bill in September of this 
year, the Forest Service expressed concerns about the conveyance 
without consideration of lands within the Carson National Forest and 
the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico. I am pleased to note that 
as amended by the committee, the bill provides that the Forest Service 
will receive fair market value in exchange for the properties which 
comprise a total of 6 acres. It is my understanding that the Forest 
Service now supports the bill as amended. I know of no objection on 
this side of the aisle. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. REDMOND. Mr. Speaker, for bringing H.R. 434 to the floor today 
and thank you Mrs. Chenoweth for offering the motion to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill. This bill was introduced on January 9, 1997, 
by my predecessor in the Third District of New Mexico, the Honorable 
Bill Richardson, current Ambassador to the United Nations.
  When I was elected to Congress, I promised my constituents that I 
would do my best to move this legislation, as well as other bills that 
Mr. Richardson introduced on their behalf. I appreciate you working 
with me to accomplish this goal.
  If passed, this bill would provide two simple land conveyances from 
the Santa Fe National Forest and the Carson National Forest to the 
cities of Jemez Springs and El Rito, respectively. These conveyances 
will amount to a total of six acres of land.
  Jemez Springs will use their one-acre land conveyance to build a fire 
substation to accommodate the rapidly growing tourist population that 
is the result of a national recreation area created near their 
community. The city of El Rito will use its five-acre conveyance to 
expand a cemetery.
  These two communities, along with the Forest Service and Mr. 
Richardson worked extensively to craft a piece of legislation that 
would provide El Rito and Jemez Springs with the land that they need to 
continue to provide adequate, efficient community service.
  Several weeks ago, on behalf of the city of Jemez Springs, Mayor 
David Sanchez testified before the Forests and Forest Health 
Subcommittee. I want to thank him for taking the time and effort he 
took to appear before the committee.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fine comments from the 
gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega].
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kingston). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 434, as amended.
  The question was taken.

[[Page H9925]]

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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