[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 110 (Monday, September 18, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7659-H7661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION 
                            IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4226) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or 
exchange all or part of certain administrative sites and other land in 
the Black Hills National Forest and to use funds derived from the sale 
or exchange to acquire replacement sites and to acquire or construct 
administrative improvements in connection with the Black Hills National 
Forest, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4226

       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 ``Black Hills National Forest 
     and Rocky Mountain Research Station Improvement Act''.

[[Page H7660]]

     SEC. 2. SALE OR EXCHANGE OF LAND, BLACK HILLS NATIONAL 
                   FOREST, SOUTH DAKOTA.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to 
     in this section as the ``Secretary'') may, under such terms 
     and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, sell or 
     exchange any right, title, and interest of the United States 
     in and to the approximately 362 acres contained in the 
     following parcels of land in the State of South Dakota:
       (1) Tract BLKH-1 ``Spearfish Dwelling'' (approximately 0.24 
     acres); N\1/2\ of Lot 8 and Lot 9 of Block 16, Section 10, 
     T6N, R2E, Black Hills Meridian.
       (2) Tract BLKH-2 ``Deadwood Garage'' (approximately 0.12 
     acres); Lots 9 and 11 of Block 34, Section 23, T5N, R3E, 
     Black Hills Meridian.
       (3) Tract BLKH-3 ``Deadwood Dwellings'' (approximately 0.32 
     acres); Lots 12-16, inclusive, of Block 44, Section 23, T5N, 
     R3E, Black Hill Meridian.
       (4) Tract BLKH-4 ``Hardy Work Center'' (approximately 150 
     acres); E\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Section 19; 
     NE\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/
     4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, Section 30, T3N, R1E, Black Hills 
     Meridian.
       (5) Tract BLKH-6 ``Pactola Work Center'' (approximately 100 
     acres); W\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, W\1/2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, W\1/
     2\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, Section 25; E\1/
     2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, Section 26, T2N, 
     R5E, Black Hills Meridian.
       (6) Tract BLKH-7 ``Pactola Ranger District Office'' 
     (approximately 8.25 acres); Lot 1 of Ranger Station 
     Subdivision, Section 4, T1N, R7E, Black Hills Meridian.
       (7) Tract BLKH-8 ``Reder Administrative Site'' 
     (approximately 82 acres); Lots 6 and 7, Section 29; Lot A of 
     Reder Placer, Lot 19, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, Section 30, T1S, 
     R5E, Black Hills Meridian.
       (8) Tract BLKH-9 ``Allen Gulch Properties'' (approximately 
     21 acres); Lot 14 less and except Tract STA #0029, Section 
     25, and Lot 1, Section 36, T1S, R4E, Black Hills Meridian.
       (9) Tract BLKH-10 ``Custer Ranger District Office'' 
     (approximately 0.39 acres); Lots 4 and 9 of Block 125 and the 
     East 15 feet of the vacated north/south alley adjacent to Lot 
     4, City of Custer, Section 26, T3S, R4E, Black Hills 
     Meridian.
       (b) Technical Corrections.--The Secretary may make 
     technical corrections to the legal descriptions in paragraphs 
     (1) through (9) of subsection (a).
       (c) Applicable Authorities.--Except as otherwise provided 
     in this section, any sale or exchange of land described in 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to laws (including 
     regulations) applicable to the conveyance and acquisition of 
     land for National Forest System purposes.
       (d) Cash Equalization.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, the Secretary may accept cash equalization payments 
     in excess of 25 percent of the total value of the land 
     described in subsection (a) from any exchange under 
     subsection (a).
       (e) Solicitations of Offers.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Secretary may use solicitations of offers for sale or 
     exchange under this section on such terms and conditions as 
     the Secretary may prescribe.
       (2) Rejection of offers.--The Secretary may reject any 
     offer under this section if the Secretary determines that the 
     offer is not adequate or not in the public interest.
       (f) Disposition of Funds.--Any funds received by the 
     Secretary from a sale under this section or as cash 
     equalization payments from an exchange under this section--
       (1) shall be deposited into the fund established by Public 
     Law 90-171 (commonly known as the ``Sisk Act'') (16 U.S.C. 
     484a); and
       (2) shall be available for expenditure, on appropriation, 
     for--
       (A) the acquisition from willing sellers of land and 
     interests in land in the State of South Dakota; and
       (B) the acquisition or construction of administrative 
     improvements in connection with the Black Hills National 
     Forest.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this section.

     SEC. 3. REPLACEMENT LABORATORY, ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH 
                   STATION, RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary of Agriculture $2,100,000 for a laboratory 
     facility for the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Rapid 
     City, South Dakota, to replace the obsolete laboratory 
     capability at the research station. The replacement facility 
     shall be colocated with at least one of the administrative 
     improvements for the Black Hills National Forest acquired or 
     constructed under the authority of section 2(f)(2)(B).
       (b) Conditions on Acquisition of Property.--No funds 
     available to carry out this section may be used to purchase 
     or otherwise acquire property unless--
       (1) the acquisition is from willing sellers; and
       (2) the property is located within the boundaries of the 
     State of South Dakota.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the bill now being considered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4226 was introduced by our esteemed colleague, the 
gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune). This legislation would allow 
the Forest Service to consolidate and upgrade several administrative 
sites in the Black Hills National Forest as well as provide 
authorization of $2.1 million for the construction of a replacement lab 
for a branch of the Rocky Mountain Research Center currently located in 
Rapid City, South Dakota.
  The subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a hearing on May 
3, 2000 where the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune) and the 
Forest Service testified in support of the legislation. However, the 
Forest Service requested the bill to be amended to formally identify 
the sites to be relocated, and requested that the Rapid City branch of 
the Rocky Mountain Research Station not be required to co-locate a new 
administrative site in the Black Hills National Forest. Negotiations 
continued on this bill throughout the entire committee process and the 
bill that is satisfactory to all of those involved was ordered reported 
by the full committee, as amended, on July 26, 2000, by unanimous 
consent.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote for this important piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4226 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
sell or exchange nine administrative sites on approximately 367 acres 
of land in the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota. Funds from 
the sale or exchange of the lands which are valued at around $2.4 
million will be used to relocate, consolidate and upgrade 
administrative offices through land acquisition and construction of 
facilities. Construction costs to combine four district ranger offices 
into two new buildings are estimated to be around $4 million.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill also authorizes $2.1 million to be appropriated 
for the construction of a laboratory facility in the Rocky Mountain 
Research Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. This facility is to be 
allocated with one of the administrative sites acquired or constructed 
through the sale of the lands. The existing research station center is 
in need of significant repair and does not meet OSHA and the provisions 
of the Americans With Disabilities Act requirements.
  The administration supports this legislation, it has bipartisan 
support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune), and I commend him for 
coming from one of the more beautiful States in this country and 
representing the heritage of the Black Hills.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for 
yielding me this time. As always, I welcome him to come to South Dakota 
to enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 4226, the Black Hills National Forest 
and Rocky Mountain Research Center improvement act of 2000.
  Mr. Speaker, early this spring, I held a land use summit in Rapid 
City, South Dakota. At that event, Members, departments, and multiple-
use groups voiced their frustration about the possible closing of the 
Rocky Mountain Research Center for Great Plains Ecosystem Research 
located in Rapid City.
  In response to the concerns raised at the land use summit, I 
introduced H.R. 4226. The funds authorized by this bill would help 
preserve important research positions and allow the Rocky Mountain 
Research Center to continue studying and addressing a range of wildlife 
issues on the region's grasslands and woodlands. The research station 
plays an important role in helping

[[Page H7661]]

 manage the Black Hills National Forest and grasslands. The station, 
which focuses on managing prairies to sustain livestock and wildlife, 
has been instrumental in decisions affecting wood production and stream 
flows, and in providing forage for livestock and wildlife species.
  Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, in light of the 
devastating fires that raged in the Black Hills region this summer, the 
research station provides vital fire ecology research.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill contains two major provisions that address 
these important forest management and health needs for South Dakota.
  First, H.R. 4226 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or 
exchange certain lands owned by the Forest Service and to use the funds 
to acquire land in order to construct two administrative sites for the 
Black Hills National Forest. By allowing the Black Hills National 
Forest to construct two new administrative facilities, the Forest 
Service will be able to eliminate two leased offices which have an 
annual cost of $150,000, thereby consolidating four administrative 
sites into two.
  Additionally, by allowing the sale or exchange of these lands, the 
Black Hills National Forest can increase efficiency and communications, 
decrease public confusion over the location of administrative sites, 
and make the Black Hills more visible and available to the over four 
million people that visit the area each year. Furthermore, according to 
the Forest Service, this bill will save the taxpayers an additional 
$109,000 in annual maintenance costs and $880,000 in deferred 
maintenance costs.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4226 also contains a provision to protect private 
property owners from being forced to sell their land for the project. 
Second, this bill authorizes $2.1 million to build a new research 
laboratory for the Rocky Mountain Research Center to be co-located with 
one of the new Forest Service administrative buildings.
  Authorizing the funds to build the new research laboratory is 
essential, because the Forest Service has indicated it may close the 
research station if it does not have a new facility. Currently the 
station's laboratory needs major repairs, is not handicap accessible, 
does not meet OSHA regulations and is inadequate to support the unit's 
mission. In fact, it is my understanding that the current facility 
housing the Rocky Mountain Research Center in Rapid City was among the 
lowest ranked in a recent review of all USDA research facilities by the 
strategic planning task force on USDA research.
  The Forest Service has estimated the construction of a new lab co-
located with one of the new administrative sites would save the 
taxpayers $10,200 in annual maintenance costs, and $219,700 in deferred 
maintenance costs.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 
Young), the chairman of the Committee on Resources, and the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Miller), the ranking member. I would also like to 
thank the gentlewoman from Idaho (Mrs. Chenoweth-Hage), the chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health and the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Smith), the ranking member, for their work on this 
bill. I would also like to thank their staff and, in particular, 
Veronica Rolocut and Erica Rosenberg.
  Additionally, I want to thank Dan Uresk at the Rocky Mountain 
Research Center as well as Black Hills National Forest Supervisor John 
Twiss for their help on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will streamline administrative operations in 
the Black Hills National Forest as well as provide a future for the 
Rocky Mountain Research Station and the valuable information that it 
provides.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation by 
voting to pass H.R. 4226.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the gentleman 
from South Dakota for an excellent presentation, especially as the 
chief sponsor of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not have any additional speakers, so I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4226, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________