[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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