[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11442-H11443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REMOVING CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS REGARDING MAMMOTH COMMUNITY WATER 
                          DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 853) to remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community 
Water District's ability to use certain property acquired by that 
District from the United States.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 853

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

     SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTY.

       Notwithstanding Public Law 90-171 (16 U.S.C. 484a; 81 Stat. 
     531), the approximately 25 acres patented to the Mammoth 
     County Water District (now known as the ``Mammoth Community 
     Water District'') by Patent No. 04-87-0038, on June 26, 1987, 
     and recorded in Volume 482, at page 517, of the official 
     records of the Recorder's Office, Mono County, California, 
     may be used for purposes other than the purpose for which 
     those lands were being used prior to the conveyance to the 
     Mammoth County Water District and such lands may be 
     transferred as authorized under State law.

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

[[Page H11443]]

                             General Leave

  Mrs. DRAKE. 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 the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 853, introduced by our colleague from California (Mr. McKeon), 
removes land use restrictions on property acquired from the Forest 
Service by the Mammoth Community Water District in Mono County, 
California.
  In 1987, the U.S. Forest Service conveyed 25 acres to the water 
district under land use conditions at the time. Of these lands, 12 
acres are now needed for different uses, including much-needed water 
utility operations. Implementation of this noncontroversial bill will 
ultimately benefit the local water consumer and will adhere to all 
Federal, State, and local environmental laws.
  I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 853 simply removes outdated restrictions on lands owned by 
Mammoth County Water District in California. We have no objections to 
this noncontroversial bill.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on and offer my strong 
support for HR 953, legislation I introduced earlier this year to 
remove restrictions on 25 acres of land patented to the Mammoth County 
Water District.
  Prior to 1987, the District occupied this land through a special use 
permit with the Forest Service. Of these 25 acres, 12 acres were used 
for the storage of materials, and prior to 1987, for oxidation ponds, 
which had become obsolete by that year.
  After that time, Congress passed Public Law 97-465 that allowed these 
lands to be transferred directly to the District. While the law allowed 
for acquisition of these lands, it also directed that they could only 
be used for those purposes prior to the time of the conveyance.
  Today, however, these 12 acres are no longer needed for the storage 
of materials and the community would like to utilize this land in a 
more economically viable manner.
  This area is a popular ski destination for many tourists during the 
winter months and, every year, the town experiences more and more 
visitors. The town sits in the middle of the Forest Service land and 
contains limited private land for expanded commercial activities. As 
such, passage of this legislation would allow the town to accommodate 
for the growing economic needs of the region.
  This legislation has the support of both the local community and the 
Forest Service and passed through the Committee on Resources without 
any objection.
  I would like to express my deep appreciation to Chairman Pombo for 
bringing this legislation to the floor and ask my colleagues to support 
its passage here today.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers and yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 853.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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