[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 75 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KYL (for himself and Mr. McCAIN):
  S. 3497. A bill to provide for the exchange of certain Bureau of Land 
Management land in Pima County, Arizona, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, today I am pleased to join with Senator 
McCain to introduce the Las Cienegas Enhancement Act of 2006. This 
legislation directs a land exchange between the Bureau of Land 
Management and the Las Cienegas Conservation, LLC. in southeastern 
Arizona. The bill is the product of consensus. State and local 
officials, conservationists, and other stakeholders have worked 
together to structure an exchange that is fair and in the public 
interest.
  Let me explain the details of the exchange. The land to be 
transferred out of Federal ownership, approximately 1,280 acres, is 
referred to as the ``Sahuarita property.'' This property is BLM-managed 
land south of Tucson near Corona de Tucson. The land is low-lying 
Sonoran desert and has been identified for disposal by the BLM through 
its land-use planning process.
  The private land to be brought into Federal ownership is 
approximately 2,392 acres of land referred to as the ``Empirita-
Simonson property.'' This property lies north of the Las Cienegas 
National Conservation Area managed by the BLM. The Empirita-Simonson 
property lies within the ``Sonoita Valley Acquisition Planning 
District'' established by Public Law 106-538, which designated the Las 
Cienegas National Conservation Area. The act directed the Department of 
the Interior to acquire lands from willing sellers within the planning 
district for inclusion within the conservation area to further protect 
the important resource values for which the area was designated.
  Although this bill is centered on the land exchange I just described, 
it also accomplishes two other important objectives: addressing water 
withdrawals at Ciengas Creek and providing road access to a popular 
recreation destination, the Whetstone Mountains controlled by the 
Forest Service.
  Let's talk about water. Arizonans understand that protecting our 
water supply is crucial to the State's future. For this reason, when we 
can, we look for ways to promote responsible use of our limited water 
supply. This bill is one of those examples of responsible use. There is 
a prior claim to a well site on the private land that will be 
exchanged. That prior claim would allow the developer to withdraw 1,600 
acre feet of water a year. Pima County and the community at large are 
concerned about the future of Ciengas Creek and the entire riparian 
area if these water withdrawals occur.
  To address this concern, the land exchange is conditioned on Las 
Cienegas Conservation Inc. conveying the well site to Pima County and 
relinquishing those water rights it controls. The net result is a water 
savings of 1,050 acre-feet per year. This is a significant benefit to 
this riparian area.
  Overall, this bill allows us to accomplish important environmental 
and conservation objectives while managing our development. It is a 
bill with broad support that includes the Governor of Arizona, Pima 
County, the city of Tucson, and many others. I urge my colleagues to 
work with me to approve this legislation at the earliest possible date.
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