[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H2046-H2047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SPECIAL RULES FOR INYO NATIONAL FOREST LAND EXCHANGE
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 2157) to facilitate a land exchange involving certain
National Forest System lands in the Inyo National Forest, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2157
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SPECIAL RULES FOR INYO NATIONAL FOREST LAND
EXCHANGE.
(a) Authority To Accept Lands Outside Boundaries of Inyo
National Forest.--In any land exchange involving the
conveyance of certain National Forest System land located
within the boundaries of Inyo National Forest in California,
as shown on the map titled ``Federal Parcel'' and dated June
2011, the Secretary of Agriculture may accept for acquisition
in the exchange certain non-Federal lands in California lying
outside the boundaries of Inyo National Forest, as shown on
the maps titled ``DWP Parcel Interagency Visitor Center
Parcel'' and ``DWP Parcel Town of Bishop Parcel'' and dated
June 2011, if the Secretary determines that acquisition of
the non-Federal lands is desirable for National Forest System
purposes.
(b) Cash Equalization Payment; Use.--In an exchange
described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture may
accept a cash equalization payment in excess of 25 percent.
Any such cash equalization payment shall be deposited into
the account in the Treasury of the United States established
by Public Law 90 171 (commonly known as the Sisk Act; 16
U.S.C. 484a) and shall be made available to the Secretary for
the acquisition of land for addition to the National Forest
System.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to grant the Secretary of Agriculture new land
exchange authority. This section modifies the use of land
exchange authorities already available to the Secretary as of
the date of the enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Tsongas)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
General Leave
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I, again, ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on this bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. This is another good bill that solves a problem
that should have been solved at another level, and to introduce it I
would yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor, the gentleman
from California (Mr. McKeon).
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I
rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 2157.
I want to thank Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey, as well
as Subcommittee Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva, for giving
my legislation a fair hearing and moving the bill through the
committee.
Mr. Speaker, the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is located in the northern
half of my district in the eastern
[[Page H2047]]
Sierra Mountains. Mammoth provides between 10 and 30 percent of the
total employment in Mono County, and it's a primary recreation
destination for tourists all throughout California and the United
States. Each winter, Mammoth sees an average of 1.3 million visitors.
{time} 1640
These visitors pump vital money into the local economy by populating
hotels, motels, restaurants, and stores throughout the region.
Tourism is the lifeblood of the eastern Sierra. Mammoth has operated
on a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service since 1953. The
base area of the mountain is aging rapidly and is in need of renovation
and redevelopment in order to provide a safer, more enjoyable
experience for visitors to Mammoth Mountain; however, these renovations
are difficult to achieve under the terms of the special use permit.
Since 1998, Mammoth Mountain has been working with the Forest Service
to complete a land exchange between their main base parcel and other
desired Forest Service acquisitions. These acquisitions include high-
resource value lands in the Inyo, El Dorado, Stanislaus, and Plumas
National Forests. The exchange would allow the main base to undergo
significant and needed renovations.
My legislation is meant to supplement and codify this agreement. It
is needed for two reasons:
Number one, the two parcels that the Forest Service wants are outside
Inyo National Forest boundaries. Both parcels are currently leased by
the Inyo National Forest from the Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power;
Number two, there's more value in the Mammoth Mountain parcel than in
all the land parcels exchanged in total. So Mammoth needs legislation
for permission to pay a cash equalization to the Federal Government
that will be used for future forest acquisition.
The agreement is widely supported by the local community because
residents, business owners, local governments understand the great
value of having Mammoth Mountain in their community. Besides jobs and
recreation, Mammoth supports a significant portion of the tax base
providing needed revenue throughout the region.
We've received numerous letters of support from community members,
including those from Duane Hazard, chair of the Mono County Board of
Supervisors; Vikki Bauer, member of the Mono County Board of
Supervisors; the Mono Lake Committee; the Eastern Sierra Land Trust;
and the Mammoth Lakes Town Council.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving my bill time on the floor. Mammoth
Mountain has been a good steward of the environment, a solid partner in
economic vitality for the region, and an honest party in negotiations
with the Forest Service. This land exchange will be mutually beneficial
for all parties involved, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
2157.
Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Ms. TSONGAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. TSONGAS. H.R. 2157 provides for a land exchange between the
United States Forest Service and the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. We
applaud Congressman McKeon for this legislation and support the passage
of this bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. This is another great bill. I urge its adoption.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2157.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
____________________