[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E352-E353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF PITKIN COUNTY LAND EXCHANGE LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing a bill to 
provide for completion of a land exchange that involves Pitkin County, 
Colorado, on one hand and two federal agencies--the Forest Service and 
BLM--on the other.
  The bill would direct a land exchange under which the county would 
transfer two items to the Forest Service: A 35-acre tract (known as the 
``Ryan property'') near the ghost town of Ashcroft; and 18.2 acres 
(patented mining claims) on Smuggler Mountain near Aspen, Colorado.
  In return, the Federal government would transfer to the county 3 
items: A 5.5 acre tract south of Aspen known as the ``Wildwood'' 
parcel, which the county will reconvey to private ownership after 
reserving a permanent public easement for a trail; 5.92 acres in 12 
scattered locations on Smuggler Mountain that abut or are near lands 
now owned by the county; a 40-acre tract of BLM land along the Crystal 
River, which will be subject to a permanent conservation easement 
limiting future use to recreational, fish and wildlife, and open space 
purposes.
  The bill requires standard appraisals of all properties involved. If 
the lands going to the county are worth less than what the county is 
giving to the federal government, the county will waive additional 
payment. On the other hand, if the lands provided by the county are 
worth less than those the county is to receive, the county will either 
pay cash to equalize or will convey an additional tract (160 acres in 
the Sellers' Meadow area near Hagerman Pass) to make up the difference.
  The bill is fair, balanced, and not controversial. A similar measure 
(S. 100) has been introduced by Colorado's senior Senator, Wayne 
Allard, with the cosponsorship of Senator Ken Salazar.
  For the information of our colleagues, here is a summary of the 
legislation and a list of groups that have expressed their support for 
its enactment.

    Summary of Proposed Pitkin County (Ryan Property) Land Exchange


                           United States gets

       35 acre Ryan Property in the White River National Forest 
     near Ashcroft and Aspen, Colorado. Forest Service acquisition 
     of property will complete the Ashcroft Preservation Project, 
     which was initiated by the Forest Service in 1980 to 
     consolidate National Forest land ownership in and around the 
     historic Ashcroft Townsite. The Ryan Property and surrounding 
     lands are: (1) an extremely popular sightseeing and 
     recreation destination; (2) heavily used for nordic skiing on 
     public and private trails associated with the Ashcroft 
     touring center; (3) abut the popular Cathedral Lake Trail and 
     Trailhead; and (4) contain historic structures associated 
     with the World War II 10th Mountain Division.
       18.2 acre Grand Turk and Pontiac patented mining claims on 
     Smuggler Mountain directly above Aspen. Smuggler Mountain is 
     a heavily used recreational area where the Forest Service is 
     trying to consolidate its ownership, where feasible.


                           Pitkin County gets

       5.5 acre ``Wildwood'' parcel south of Aspen, which will re-
     conveyed by the County into private ownership. Conveyance 
     will be subject to a permanent public easement for the East 
     of Aspen Trail.
       5.92 acres in 12 scattered mining claim remnants on 
     Smuggler Mountain. The 12 parcels (ranging from 1.5 to 0.02 
     acres in size) abut or are near existing County owned lands.
       40 acre BLM parcel (Parcel 79) along the Crystal River near 
     Carbondale, Colorado. Pitkin County must grant BLM a 
     permanent conservation easement on the parcel for continued 
     public access, and limiting future use to recreational, fish 
     and wildlife and open space purposes only. Easement 
     requirement will not reduce parcel's exchange value.


                     Additional exchange provisions

       Exchange values will be deemed equal if Forest Service 
     appraiser determines approximate equal value. If the 
     appraiser determines value is owed by Pitkin County, the 
     County will additionally convey to the Forest Service the 160 
     acre Sellar Park property,

[[Page E353]]

     a Forest inholding currently owned and managed by Pitkin 
     County as open space.
       Endorsements: As of September 7, 2004 proposed the exchange 
     has been endorsed by: Aspen Valley Land Trust; Aspen 
     Historical Society; Ashcroft Ski Touring; The Conservation 
     Fund; Crystal River Caucus; Friends of Ashcroft; Wilderness 
     Workshop; Aspen Center for Environmental Studies; Aspen 
     Skiing Company; Board of County Commissioners, Pitkin County; 
     City of Aspen; Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Assn.; 
     Roaring Fork Conservancy; Crystal-Maroon Caucus.

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