[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 47 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2633-H2634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONVEYANCE OF LAND BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TO PARK CITY, UTAH

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 838) to provide for the conveyance of the Bureau of Land 
Management parcels known as the White Acre and Gambel Oak properties 
and related real property to Park City, Utah, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 838

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF LAND BY THE BUREAU OF LAND 
                   MANAGEMENT TO PARK CITY, UTAH.

       (a) Land Transfer.--Notwithstanding the planning 
     requirements of sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land 
     Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713), the 
     Secretary of the Interior shall convey, not later than 180 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to Park 
     City, Utah, all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to two parcels of real property located in Park 
     City, Utah, that are currently under the management 
     jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and designated 
     as parcel 8 (commonly known as the White Acre parcel) and 
     parcel 16 (commonly known as the Gambel Oak parcel). The 
     conveyance shall be subject to all valid existing rights.
       (b) Deed Restriction.--The conveyance of the lands under 
     subsection (a) shall be made by a deed or deeds containing a 
     restriction requiring that the lands be maintained as open 
     space and used solely for public recreation purposes or other 
     purposes consistent with their maintenance as open space. 
     This restriction shall not be interpreted to prohibit the 
     construction or maintenance of recreational facilities, 
     utilities, or other structures that are consistent with the 
     maintenance of the lands as open space or its use for public 
     recreation purposes.
       (c) Consideration.--In consideration for the transfer of 
     the land under subsection (a), Park City shall pay to the 
     Secretary of the Interior an amount consistent with 
     conveyances to governmental entities for recreational 
     purposes under the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as 
     the Recreation and Public Purposes Act; 43 U.S.C. 869 et 
     seq.).

     SEC. 2. SALE OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND IN PARK CITY, 
                   UTAH, AT AUCTION.

       (a) Sale of Land.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
     shall offer for sale any right, title, or interest of the 
     United States in and to two parcels of real property located 
     in Park City, Utah, that are currently under the management 
     jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and are 
     designated as parcels 17 and 18 in the Park City, Utah, area. 
     The sale of the land shall be carried out in accordance with 
     the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
     1701) and other applicable law, other than the planning 
     provisions of sections 202 and 203 of such Act (43 U.S.C. 
     1712, 1713), and shall be subject to all valid existing 
     rights.
       (b) Method of Sale.--The sale of the land under subsection 
     (a) shall be consistent with subsections (d) and (f) of 
     section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
     1976 (43 U.S.C. 1713) through a competitive bidding process 
     and for not less than fair market value.

     SEC. 3. DISPOSITION OF LAND SALES PROCEEDS.

       (a) In General.--All proceeds derived from the sale of the 
     lands described in this Act shall be deposited in a special 
     account in the treasury of the United States and shall be 
     available without further appropriation to the Secretary of 
     the Interior until expended for--
       (1) the reimbursement of costs incurred by the Bureau of 
     Land Management in implementing the provisions of this Act, 
     including surveys, appraisals, and compliance with applicable 
     Federal laws; and
       (2) environmental restoration projects on Bureau of Land 
     Management administered public lands within the Salt Lake 
     City Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management.
       (b) Investment of Special Account.--Any amounts deposited 
     in the special account shall earn interest in an amount 
     determined by the Secretary of the Treasury on the basis of 
     the current average market yield on outstanding marketable 
     obligations of the United States of comparable maturities, 
     and may be expended according to the provisions of this 
     section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days 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 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 838, sponsored by the ranking member of the National Parks, 
Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee, Representative Rob Bishop, is 
intended to preserve existing open space in Park City, Utah. The bill 
would transfer two parcels of land owned by the Bureau of Land 
Management to Park City, with a deed restriction that the land be 
maintained as open space. Park City will pay fair-market value for the 
land.
  Two other parcels in the area owned by the BLM are encumbered with 
unpatented mining claims. The bill directs that these parcels, which 
the BLM had previously identified for disposal, be sold at auction, 
subject to any valid existing rights, to resolve these outstanding 
issues. Park City is expected to bid for these properties at the 
auction.
  It is our understanding that Park City has undertaken an aggressive 
campaign to maintain open space and that the citizens of Park City have 
proven their commitment by approving a local bond initiative to fund 
this project.
  We applaud Park City's efforts and congratulate Representative Bishop 
for working hard to bring this legislation to the floor.
  Madam Speaker, identical legislation was approved by the House in the 
109th Congress. We support passage of H.R. 838 and urge its adoption by 
the House today.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 838 and 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 838 conveys to Park City about 110 acres of Bureau of Land 
Management land that was previously marked for disposal. This land 
would be used by Park City as recreational open space. The residents of 
Park City have placed a premium on preserving this space for the 
character of their resort town; and as the chairman accurately said, 
they have approved a $20 million bond to purchase this environmentally 
sensitive land. The conveyance of this is consistent with Park City's 
long-range plan to protect its sensitive landscape.
  Park City hosted many of the events of the 2002 Olympics, and 
visitors from around the world visit there to ski and

[[Page H2634]]

partake of the scenic vistas, which will be enhanced by this bill. As 
was stated, this bill, as passed by the 109th session of Congress and 
as considered today, enjoys the support of both Republicans and 
Democrats and does have a companion bill that has been introduced in 
the United States Senate.
  I ask for your support of this particular bill.
  Madam Speaker, I actually have no additional speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, we have no additional speakers, and we 
yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 838.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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