[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.

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