[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 26, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Smith):
  S. 714. A bill to provide for the conveyance of a small parcel of 
Bureau of Land Management land in Douglas County, Oregon, to the county 
to improve management of and recreational access to the Oregon Dunes 
National Recreation Area, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise today, with my friend and colleague 
Senator Smith of Oregon, to introduce legislation to improve the 
management of and recreational access to the Oregon Dunes National 
Recreation Area in Douglas County, OR.
  For the small, rural, coastal community of Winchester Bay in Douglas 
County, OR, this piece of legislation is critical. Hit first in the 
early 90's with a steep downturn in the timber economy, closely 
followed by a near shut-down of the fishing industry, this community 
found itself on the brink of economic ruin. The final blow came in 
March of 2000 when the major employer, International Paper, closed its 
paper mill, putting 300 residents out of work and sending an economic 
shockwave through the community that impacted the city, the school 
district, the hospital district, and literally every resident in the 
area.
  Yet, since that time, Winchester Bay, OR has adopted a ``never give 
up'' attitude, changed its long term outlook, and focused its efforts 
on developing a thriving tourist industry. The bill I introduce today 
directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey approximately 68.5 
acres from the Bureau of Land Management, BLM, in Douglas County, OR, 
to Douglas County to be managed for open space and for recreational 
purposes. The acreage is located just west of tourist and recreational 
area developments already owned and run by Douglas County. The County 
will use the land to provide a staging area for off-highway vehicles, 
thereby improving management of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation 
Area. The land transfer also facilitates the policing of unlawful 
camping and parking along Salmon Harbor Drive and adjacent areas. This 
land transfer will improve tourism on Oregon's economically challenged 
South Coast, as well as improve public safety and reduce traffic 
congestion along Salmon Harbor Drive.
  This legislation is supported by the entire Oregon delegation. It is 
also supported by the BLM, Douglas County Commissioners, and the 
community of Winchester Bay. An identical bill was introduced in the 
last Congress by Representative DeFazio, though the 107th Congress 
ended before both houses could pass it. Representative DeFazio 
reintroduced this land transfer legislation in the 108th Congress, H.R. 
514, in the House of Representatives.
  I 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.

                                 S. 714

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND IN 
                   DOUGLAS COUNTY, OREGON.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Conveyance.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     convey, without consideration, to Douglas County, Oregon 
     (referred to in this section as the ``County''), all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcel 
     described in paragraph (2) for use by the County for 
     recreational purposes.
       (2) Parcel.--The parcel referred to in paragraph (1) is the 
     parcel of real property consisting of approximately 68.8 
     acres under the administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of 
     Land Management in the County, as depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Umpqua River Lighthouse and Coast Guard Museum 
     Master Plan Study'', dated April 17, 2002.
       (b) Purposes of Conveyance.--The purposes of the conveyance 
     under subsection (a) are to improve management of and 
     recreational access to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation 
     Area by--
       (1) improving public safety and reducing traffic congestion 
     along Salmon Harbor Drive (County Road No. 251) in the 
     County;
       (2) providing a staging area for off-highway vehicles; and
       (3) facilitating policing of unlawful camping and parking 
     along Salmon Harbor Drive and adjacent areas.
       (c) Reversionary Interest.--
       (1) In general.--If the Secretary determines that the 
     parcel conveyed under subsection (a) is not being used by the 
     County for a recreational purpose--
       (A) all right, title, and interest in and to the parcel, 
     including any improvements on the parcel, shall revert to the 
     United States; and
       (B) the United States shall have the right of immediate 
     entry onto the parcel.
       (2) Determination on the record.--Any determination of the 
     Secretary under this subsection shall be made on the record 
     after an opportunity for an agency hearing.
       (d) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the 
     parcel to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be 
     determined by a survey--
       (1) that is satisfactory to the Secretary; and
       (2) the cost of which shall be paid by the County.
       (e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States.
                                 ______