[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S11645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                            By Mr. BENNETT:

  S. 1664. A bill to clarify the legal effect on the United States of 
the acquisition of a parcel of land in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in 
the State of Utah; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


         red cliffs desert reserve land acquisition legislation

  S. 1665. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to release 
reversionary interests held by the United States in certain parcels of 
land in Washington County, Utah, to facilitate an anticipated land 
exchange; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                 land exchange facilitation legislation

 Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I am introducing two bills which 
address minor technical issues in Washington County, Utah. Given the 
non-controversial nature of these bills, I am hopeful they will be 
given quick consideration.
  The first bill deals with a land exchange between the city of St. 
George and the BLM to facilitate a Washington County, Utah habitat 
conservation plan for the desert tortoise. The parcel of land at issue 
was once used as a landfill. The BLM is interested in acquiring the 
land in an exchange, but it is reluctant to accept liability for any 
unknown toxic materials that may be in the landfill. The bill would 
leave liability for the landfill in the hands of the city. Both the BLM 
and the city of St. George are in favor of this legislation.
  The next bill deals with an exchange between the State of Utah and a 
private party. This exchange would facilitate additional protection for 
the endangered desert tortoise. The parcels of land that the State 
wants to trade were given to them pursuant to the Recreation and Public 
Purposes Act and consequently have a BLM reversionary clause clouding 
title to the property. This bill would remove those reversionary 
clauses so that the State could pass clear title in the land exchange.
  I appreciate once again the leadership of Chairman Hansen on the 
House Committee on Resources in taking the lead on these bills in the 
other body and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the 
Senate Energy Committee to move these bills quickly.
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