[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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