[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3033-H3034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MILES LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1997

  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1021) to provide for a land exchange involving certain 
National Forest System lands within the Routt National Forest in the 
State of Colorado.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1021

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Miles Land Exchange Act of 
     1997''.

     SEC. 2. LAND EXCHANGE, ROUTT NATIONAL FOREST, COLORADO.

       (a) Authorization of Exchange.--If the non-Federal lands 
     described in subsection (b) are conveyed to the United States 
     in accordance with this section, the Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall convey to the party conveying the non-Federal lands all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a 
     parcel of land consisting of approximately 84 acres within 
     the Routt National Forest in the State of Colorado, as 
     generally depicted on the map entitled ``Miles Land 
     Exchange'', Routt National Forest, dated May 1996.
       (b) Receipt of Non-Federal Lands.--The parcel of non-
     Federal lands referred to in subsection (a) consists of 
     approximately 84 acres, known as the Miles parcel, located 
     adjacent to the Routt National Forest, as generally depicted 
     on the map entitled ``Miles Land Exchange'', Routt National 
     Forest, dated May 1996. Title to the non-Federal lands must 
     be acceptable to the Secretary, and the conveyance shall be 
     subject to such valid existing rights of record as may be 
     acceptable to the Secretary. The parcel shall conform with 
     the title approval standards applicable to Federal land 
     acquisitions.
       (c) Approximately Equal in Value.--The values of both the 
     Federal and non-Federal lands to be exchanged under this 
     section are deemed to be approximately equal in value, and no 
     additional valuation determinations are required.
       (d) Applicability of Other Laws.--Except as otherwise 
     provided in this section, the

[[Page H3034]]

     Secretary shall process the land exchange authorized by this 
     section in the manner provided in subpart A of part 254 of 
     title 36, Code of Federal Regulations.
       (e) Maps.--The maps referred to in subsections (a) and (b) 
     shall be on file and available for inspection in the office 
     of the Forest Supervisor, Routt National Forest, and in the 
     office of the Chief of the Forest Service.
       (f) Boundary Adjustment.--Upon approval and acceptance of 
     title by the Secretary, the non-Federal lands conveyed to the 
     United States under this section shall become part of the 
     Routt National Forest, and the boundaries of the Routt 
     National Forest shall be adjusted to reflect the land 
     exchange. Upon receipt of the non-Federal lands, the 
     Secretary shall manage the lands in accordance with the laws 
     and regulations pertaining to the National Forest System. For 
     purposes of section 7 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
     Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-9), the boundaries of the Routt 
     National Forest, as adjusted by this section, shall be 
     considered to be the boundaries of the National Forest as of 
     January 1, 1965.
       (g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyances under this section as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Idaho (Mrs. Chenoweth) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Idaho (Mrs. Chenoweth).

                              {time}  1430

  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mrs. CHENOWETH asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1021, introduced by the gentleman 
from Colorado (Mr. Scott McInnis), authorizes an exchange of 
approximately 84 acres within the Routt National Forest for 
approximately 84 acres of private land known as the Miles parcel, which 
is located adjacent to the Routt National Forest.
  Ms. Marjorie Miles, the owner of the private land, and the Forest 
Service proposed a land exchange to remedy a situation where a private 
inholding adjacent to the forest boundary has created a private-public 
property line that is complex, to say the least, and expensive for the 
Forest Service to maintain. H.R. 1021 provides the authority needed to 
allow the Forest Service to undertake an exchange which will simplify 
and clarify the property line, and reduce the Forest Service's 
maintenance costs.
  I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis) for 
his fine work on this bill. H.R. 1021 is an equal-value exchange which 
enjoys the support of all interested parties, and I urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  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, I rise in support of this legislation, 
which was introduced by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis), and 
reported favorably by the Committee on Resources by voice vote. I note 
that a companion bill sponsored by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of 
Colorado has already passed the Senate.
  In essence, Mr. Speaker, this bill provides for a boundary adjustment 
of 84 acres in the Routt National Forest in Colorado. The Forest 
Service would acquire an inholding which they consider to be a worthy 
addition to the National Forest. In exchange, the private property 
owner will receive an equal number of acres which are currently 
occupied under a special use permit. The bill deems this to be an equal 
value exchange based on assurances from the Forest Service that the 
land values are approximately equal and that the exchange is in the 
public interest.
  Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any opposition from this side of the 
aisle.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bereuter). 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. 1021.
  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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