[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S8128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID:
  S. 1330. A bill to give the city of Mesquite, Nevada, the right to 
purchase at fair market value certain parcels of public land in the 
city; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


           conveyance of land to the city of mesquite, nevada

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
authorize the city of Mesquite, Nevada, to acquire approximately 7,690 
acres of public land necessary to provide for urban and economic growth 
and development of a new commercial airport. This legislation will 
amend existing public law and allow for the continued expansion of this 
growing community.
  Mesquite is the one of the fastest growing cities in the fastest 
growing State in the Nation According to figures released by the U.S. 
Census Bureau, Mesquite grew by 441% between 1990 and 1998, increasing 
in population from 1,871 to over 10,000. This phenomenal growth rate is 
being fueled by a variety of factors, including the development of new 
destination resorts and the ``discovery'' of other recreational 
opportunities in the tri-state region of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. As 
the tourism industry in the area continues to grow and prosper, a 
greater capacity for air carrier service will be required to meet the 
needs of the region. In addition, the city of Mesquite is land locked 
by public lands. While some relief has been provided via the existing 
public law, this growth is exceeding demand and the city expects to be 
out of room within a couple of years. This bill is designed to help 
with both growth related and air service issues.
  Although the existing Mesquite Airport is adequate for general 
aviation service, terrain precludes the expansion necessary for 
commercial and cargo service. A new commercial airport is needed to 
meet the future regional demands. The proposed airport site identified 
in this bill is a result of an approved Site Selection Study conducted 
for the Clark County Department of Aviation. This study was funded 
through, and approved by, the Federal Aviation Administration. Of 
course, no airport construction activities will begin without 
completion of a comprehensive Airport Master Plan and environmental 
review. Once these steps are completed, airport construction will be 
financed by the City of Mesquite and its business community.
  Existing state law requires that the airport site be contiguous with 
the city limits in order to be annexed. The legislation I introduce 
today will authorize the city to purchase 5,400 acres of public land to 
meet this connectivity requirement. As some of this land has 
development potential, the city will be required to pay fair market 
value for this acreage. The actual airport site of 2,560 acres would be 
acquired by the city pursuant to existing land acquisition statues 
related to transportation and airport development.
  Mr. President, I request that this legislation be given prompt 
consideration.
  Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1330

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO CITY OF MESQUITE, NEVADA.

       Section 3 of Public Law 99-548 (100 Stat. 3061; 110 Stat. 
     3009-202) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Fifth Area.--
       ``(1) Right to purchase.--For a period of 12 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the city of Mesquite, 
     Nevada, shall have the exclusive right to purchase the 
     parcels of public land described in paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Land description.--The parcels of public land 
     referred to in paragraph (1) are as follows:
       ``(A) In T. 13 S., R. 70 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada:
       ``(i) The portion of sec. 27 north of Interstate Route 15.
       ``(ii) Sec. 28: NE \1/4\, S \1/2\ (except the Interstate 
     Route 15 right-of-way).
       ``(iii) Sec. 29: E \1/2\ NE \1/4\ SE \1/4\, SE \1/4\ SE \1/
     4\.
       ``(iv) The portion of sec. 30 south of Interstate Route 15.
       ``(v) The portion of sec. 31 south of Interstate Route 15.
       ``(vi) Sec. 32: NE \1/4\ NE \1/4\ (except the Interstate 
     Route 15 right-of-way), the portion of NW \1/4\ NE \1/4\ 
     south of Interstate Route 15, and the portion of W \1/2\ 
     south of Interstate Route 15.
       ``(vii) The portion of sec. 33 north of Interstate Route 
     15.
       ``(B) In T. 14 S., R. 70 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada:
       ``(i) Sec. 5: NW \1/4\.
       ``(ii) Sec. 6: N \1/2\.
       ``(C) In T. 13 S., R. 69 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada:
       ``(i) The portion of sec. 25 south of Interstate Route 15.
       ``(ii) The portion of sec. 26 south of Interstate Route 15.
       ``(iii) The portion of sec. 27 south of Interstate Route 
     15.
       ``(iv) Sec. 28: SW \1/4\ SE \1/4\.
       ``(v) Sec. 33: E \1/2\.
       ``(vi) Sec. 34.
       ``(vii) Sec. 35.
       ``(viii) Sec. 36.
       ``(3) Notification.--Not later than 10 years after the date 
     of enactment of this subsection, the city shall notify the 
     Secretary which of the parcels of public land described in 
     paragraph (2) the city intends to purchase.
       ``(4) Conveyance.--Not later than 1 year after receiving 
     notification from the city under paragraph (3), the Secretary 
     shall convey to the city the land selected for purchase.
       ``(5) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, until 
     the date that is 12 years after the date of enactment of this 
     subsection, the parcels of public land described in paragraph 
     (2) are withdrawn from all forms of entry and appropriation 
     under the public land laws, including the mining laws, and 
     from operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing 
     laws.
       ``(6) Use of proceeds.--The proceeds of the sale of each 
     parcel--
       ``(A) shall be deposited in the special account established 
     under section 4(e)(1)(C) of the Southern Nevada Public Land 
     Management Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2345); and
       ``(B) shall be disposed of by the Secretary as provided in 
     section 4(e)(3) of that Act (112 Stat. 2346).
       ``(f) Sixth Area.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall convey to 
     the city of Mesquite, Nevada, in accordance with section 
     47125 of title 49, United States Code, up to 2,560 acres of 
     public land to be selected by the city from among the parcels 
     of land described in paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Land description.--The parcels of land referred to in 
     paragraph (1) are as follows:
       ``(A) In T. 13 S., R. 69 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada:
       ``(i) The portion of sec. 28 south of Interstate Route 15 
     (except S \1/2\ SE \1/4\).
       ``(ii) The portion of sec. 29 south of Interstate Route 15.
       ``(iii) The portion of sec. 30 south of Interstate Route 
     15.
       ``(iv) The portion of sec. 31 south of Interstate Route 15.
       ``(v) Sec. 32.
       ``(vi) Sec. 33: W \1/2\.
       ``(B) In T. 14 S., R. 69 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada:
       ``(i) Sec. 4.
       ``(ii) Sec. 5.
       ``(iii) Sec. 6.
       ``(iv) Sec. 8.
       ``(C) In T. 14 S., R. 68 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada:
       ``(i) Sec. 1.
       ``(ii) Sec. 12.
       ``(3) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, until 
     the date that is 12 years after the date of enactment of this 
     subsection, the parcels of public land described in paragraph 
     (2) are withdrawn from all forms of entry and appropriation 
     under the public land laws, including the mining laws, and 
     from operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing 
     laws.''.
                                 ______