[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H2049-H2050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  BOUNDARY MODIFICATION AND TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION, 
                   CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST, NEW MEXICO

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 491) to modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest 
in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land 
Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 491

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

     SECTION 1. BOUNDARY MODIFICATION AND TRANSFER OF 
                   ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION, CIBOLA NATIONAL 
                   FOREST, NEW MEXICO.

       (a) Boundary Modification.--
       (1) Modification.--The boundaries of Cibola National Forest 
     in the State of New Mexico, are modified to include the land 
     depicted for such inclusion on the Forest Service map titled 
     ``Crest of Montezuma Proposed Land Transfer'' and dated 
     October 26, 2009.
       (2) Availability and correction of map.--The map referred 
     to in paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public 
     inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service. 
     The Chief of the Forest Service may make technical and 
     clerical corrections to the map.
       (b) Transfer of Bureau of Land Management Land.--
       (1) Transfer.--The Secretary of the Interior shall transfer 
     to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the 
     Agriculture, for inclusion in, and administration as part of, 
     Cibola National Forest, the public land administered by the 
     Bureau of Land Management and identified as the ``Crest of 
     Montezuma'' on the map referred to in subsection (a).
       (2) Effect of transfer on existing permits.--In the case of 
     any permit or other land use authorization for public land 
     transferred under paragraph (1) that is still in effect as of 
     the transfer date, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     administer the permit or other land use authorization 
     according to the terms of the permit or other land use 
     authorization. Upon expiration of such a permit or 
     authorization, the Secretary of Agriculture may reauthorize 
     the use covered by the permit or authorization under 
     authorities available to the Secretary on such terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary considers in the public interest.
       (c) Land Acquisition Authority.--Subject to the 
     appropriation of funds to carry out this subsection and the 
     consent of the owner of private land included within the 
     boundaries of Cibola National Forest by subsection (a), the 
     Secretary of Agriculture may acquire the private land.
       (d) Management of Acquired Land.--
       (1) Management.--Any federally owned lands that have been 
     or hereafter may be acquired for National Forest System 
     purposes within the boundaries of Cibola National Forest, as 
     modified by subsection (a), shall be managed as lands 
     acquired under the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as 
     the Weeks Act; 16 U.S.C. 515 et seq.), and in accordance with 
     the other laws and regulations pertaining to the National 
     Forest System.
       (2) Withdrawal from mining and certain other uses.--The 
     land depicted on the map referred to in subsection (a) and 
     acquired by the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby withdrawn 
     from--
       (A) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under 
     the public land laws;
       (B) location, entry, and patent under the public land 
     mining laws; and
       (C) operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing 
     laws and the mineral materials laws.
       (e) Relation to Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.--For 
     purposes of section 7 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
     Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l 9), the boundaries of Cibola 
     National Forest, as modified by subsection (a), shall be 
     considered to be boundaries of the Cibola National Forest as 
     of January 1, 1965.

  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. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may 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 Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  This legislation would authorize the transfer of a parcel of land 
known as the Crest of Montezuma from the Bureau of Land Management to 
the Forest Service.
  The Crest of Montezuma is remote from the current BLM-managed areas. 
It can be better managed by the Forest Service as part of the Cibola 
National Forest. Both agencies agree and support this legislation.
  I urge the adoption of this measure, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  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. I rise in support of this legislation, and applaud 
Congressman Heinrich for his hard work. It is hard to reach consensus 
on these issues, and he has achieved that with this legislation.
  With that, I yield such time as he may consume to Congressman 
Heinrich of New Mexico, this bill's sponsor.
  Mr. HEINRICH. I want to thank my friend from Massachusetts for the 
time today and for her leadership on these issues.
  Mr. Speaker, the Cibola National Forest provides a stunning backdrop 
to the city of Albuquerque and much of central New Mexico. Stretching 
north to south through the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, this national 
forest demonstrates the value of preserving wild places near urban 
areas.
  H.R. 491 would expand the boundaries of the forest to streamline 
management and improve recreational access for local residents. It 
would transfer a 917-acre parcel, known as the Crest of Montezuma, from 
the Bureau of Land Management to the Forest Service.
  The Crest of Montezuma is an isolated BLM parcel adjacent to Cibola 
National Forest. The bill would also extend the forest boundary around 
three small parcels of private land adjacent to the Crest of Montezuma 
to allow the future purchase of these parcels subject to available 
funds.
  The owners of these parcels are willing sellers and eager to see 
their land permanently protected for the public good.
  H.R. 491 has strong local support from local residents, including 
from the Las Placitas Association, a 300-member citizen group that 
represents residents near the Crest of Montezuma. Local sportsmen also 
support the bill because of the importance of these lands as wildlife 
habitat.

  Over the last 3 years, I've received many letters from constituents 
asking me to make sure that the Crest of Montezuma is managed in a way 
that preserves its role as a wildlife corridor and opens it up for 
recreation for local residents.
  I am pleased to sponsor this bill to add these critical lands to the 
Cibola National Forest, and I ask my colleagues for their support.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I have no other speakers. Do you have anyone else 
on this issue?
  Ms. TSONGAS. We do not. I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H2050]]

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I also 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. 491.
  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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