[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7395-H7396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PINE SPRINGS LAND EXCHANGE ACT

  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4806) to provide for a land exchange involving Federal lands 
in the Lincoln National Forest in the State of New Mexico, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4806

       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 ``Pine Springs Land Exchange 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. LAND EXCHANGE, LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST, NEW MEXICO.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the 
     three parcels of land, and any improvements thereon, 
     comprising approximately 80 acres in the Lincoln National 
     Forest, New Mexico, as depicted on the map entitled ``Pine 
     Springs Land Exchange'' and dated May 25, 2004, and more 
     particularly described as S1/2SE1/4NW1/4, SW1/4SW1/4, W1/2E1/
     2NW1/4SW1/4, and E1/2W1/2NW1/4SW1/4 of section 32 of township 
     17 south, range 13 east, New Mexico Principal Meridian.
       (2) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means 
     the parcel of land owned by Lubbock Christian University 
     comprising approximately 80 acres, as depicted on the map 
     referred to in paragraph (1) and more particularly described 
     as N1/2NW1/4 of section 24 of township 17 south, range 12 
     east, New Mexico Principal Meridian.
       (b) Land Exchange Required.--
       (1) Exchange.--In exchange for the conveyance of the non-
     Federal land by Lubbock Christian University, the Secretary 
     of Agriculture shall convey to Lubbock Christian University, 
     by quit-claim deed, all right, title, and interest of the 
     United States in and to the Federal land. The conveyance of 
     the Federal land shall be subject to valid existing rights 
     and such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States. To the extent practicable, and subject to paragraph 
     (2), the Secretary shall complete the land exchange not later 
     than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Acceptable title.--Title to the non-Federal land shall 
     conform with the title approval standards of the Attorney 
     General applicable to Federal land acquisitions and shall 
     otherwise be acceptable to the Secretary.
       (3) Costs of implementing the exchange.--The costs of 
     implementing the land exchange shall be shared equally by the 
     Secretary and Lubbock Christian University.
       (c) Treatment of Map and Legal Descriptions.--The Secretary 
     and Lubbock Christian University may correct any minor error 
     in the map referred to in subsection (a)(1) or the legal 
     descriptions of the Federal land and non-Federal land. In the 
     event of a discrepancy between

[[Page H7396]]

     the map and legal descriptions, the map shall prevail unless 
     the Secretary and Lubbock Christian University otherwise 
     agree. The map shall be on file and available for inspection 
     in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service and the 
     Office of the Supervisor of Lincoln National Forest.
       (d) Equal Value Exchanges.--The fair market values of the 
     Federal land and non-Federal land exchanged under subsection 
     (b) shall be equal or, if they are not equal, shall be 
     equalized in the manner provided in section 206 of the 
     Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716). 
     The fair market value of the land shall be determined by 
     appraisals acceptable to the Secretary and Lubbock Christian 
     University. The appraisals shall be performed in conformance 
     with subsection (d) of such section and the Uniform Appraisal 
     Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions.
       (e) Revocation and Withdrawal.--
       (1) Revocation of orders.--Any public orders withdrawing 
     any of the Federal land from appropriation or disposal under 
     the public land laws are revoked to the extent necessary to 
     permit disposal of the Federal land.
       (2) Withdrawal of federal land.--Subject to valid existing 
     rights, pending the completion of the land exchange, the 
     Federal land is withdrawn from all forms of location, entry 
     and patent under the public land laws, including the mining 
     and mineral leasing laws and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 
     (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
       (f) Administration of Land Acquired by United States.--
       (1) Boundary adjustment.--Upon acceptance of title by the 
     Secretary of the non-Federal land, the acquired land shall 
     become part of the Lincoln National Forest, and the 
     boundaries of the Lincoln National Forest shall be adjusted 
     to include the land. 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 Lincoln National Forest, as adjusted 
     pursuant to this paragraph, shall be considered to be 
     boundaries of the Lincoln National Forest as of January 1, 
     1965.
       (2) Management.--The Secretary shall manage the acquired 
     land in accordance with the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly 
     known as the Weeks Act; 16 U.S.C. 480, 500, 513-519, 521, 
     552, 563), and in accordance with the other laws and 
     regulations applicable to National Forest System lands.
       (g) Relation to Other Laws.--Subchapters II and III of 
     chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, and the 
     Agriculture Property Management Regulations shall not apply 
     to any action taken pursuant to this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).


                             General Leave

  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4806.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4806 would authorize a land exchange involving 
Federal land in the Lincoln National Forest in the State of New Mexico.
  This legislation would exchange 80 acres between the Lincoln National 
Forest and Lubbock Christian University for a much-needed expansion of 
the University's Pine Spring Camp. The camp is used in the summer for 
week-long camp sessions, and utilized in the winter by college groups, 
youth groups, and churches for retreats. In recent years, the camp has 
seen an increase in its visitors and will soon run out of room, forcing 
the camp to turn visitors away. Both the camp and Lubbock Christian 
University are nonprofit.
  While the land exchange takes place in the gentleman from New 
Mexico's (Mr. Pearce) district, LCU is in my district and approached me 
for assistance for this issue. I would like to thank the gentleman from 
New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) for his willingness to work with me on this 
issue, and I thank him for cosponsorship and support of this bill. 
Additionally, I would like to thank and recognize Lubbock Christian 
University not only for providing recreation and outdoor opportunities 
for students, but also for its notable contributions to the community 
of Lubbock and the State of Texas.
  I urge support of this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4806, the Pine Springs Land Exchange takes 
approximately 80 acres of forest lands in the Lincoln National Forest 
and exchanges that for private land currently owned by Lubbock 
Christian University.
  Currently, Lubbock Christian University operates a summer camp in New 
Mexico on private land adjacent to Lincoln National Forest. Their 
summer camp program has reached its capacity and the university desires 
to expand onto adjacent Forest Service lands.
  In exchange for approximately 80 acres of lands adjacent to their 
existing camp, Lubbock Christian University will provide the Forest 
Service with approximately 80 acres of privately owned lands surrounded 
by Federal forests.
  Our committee has worked hard to refine language that will make this 
exchange fair to the U.S. taxpayer. The bill we are considering today 
requires that the exchange be of equal value. If the land appraisals 
determine that the parcels are not of equal value, the bill provides 
for the equalization of values through cash payments.
  We appreciate that land exchanges can often be controversial. 
However, we have tried very hard to ensure that this package 
consolidates Federal ownership in some parts of the forests while 
enabling Lubbock Christian University to expand its summer camp.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4806, 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.

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