[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 15 (Monday, January 27, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H1257-H1258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RANCH A CONSOLIDATION AND MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1684) to convey certain property to the State of Wyoming to 
consolidate the historic Ranch A, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1684

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Ranch A Consolidation and 
     Management Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest 
     Service.
       (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Wyoming.

     SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE.

       (a) In General.--Upon the request of the State submitted to 
     the Secretary not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the 
     State, without consideration and by quitclaim deed, all 
     right, title and interest of the United States in and to the 
     parcel of National Forest System land described in subsection 
     (b).
       (b) Description of Land.--The parcel of land referred to in 
     subsection (a) is approximately 10 acres of National Forest 
     System land located on the Black Hills National Forest, in 
     Crook County, State of Wyoming more specifically described as 
     the E\1/2\ NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\ SE\1/4\ less the south 50 feet, 
     W\1/2\ NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\ SE\1/4\ less the south 50 feet, 
     Section 24, Township 52 North, Range 61 West Sixth P.M.
       (c) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under subsection 
     (a) shall be--
       (1) subject to valid existing rights; and
       (2) made notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a) 
     of section 1 of Public Law 104-276.
       (d) Survey.--If determined by the Secretary to be 
     necessary, the exact acreage and legal description of the 
     land to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined 
     by a survey that is approved by the Secretary and paid for by 
     the State.

     SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS.

       Section 1 of the Act of October 9, 1996 (Public Law 104-
     276) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (b); and
       (2) by designating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wyoming.

                              {time}  1745


                             General Leave

  Mrs. LUMMIS. 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 
gentlewoman from Wyoming?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, my bill, the Ranch A Consolidation and Management 
Improvement Act, would convey approximately 10 acres of National Forest 
Service land to the State of Wyoming to allow for consolidation and 
improvement of the Ranch A site.
  Ranch A is a historic property that was first developed in the 1930s 
and later came under Federal ownership and was used as a fish hatchery. 
The property had fallen into significant neglect under Federal 
ownership. The Ranch A Restoration Foundation was created to restore 
and operate Ranch A as a center for learning and interpretation of 
Western heritage.
  However, when Ranch A was conveyed to the State of Wyoming in 1997, 
an oversight kept 10 acres under Federal ownership. The Babcock House, 
seen in this picture, is owned by the State of Wyoming. This is in 
Crook County, very near the South Dakota border. So we are talking 
about the Black Hills. It is a very pretty area, but the land under the 
Babcock House was not properly conveyed. The Forest Service testified 
that ownership of this isolated parcel has presented ``management 
challenges'' and unknown costs associated with administering the 
property. It is an isolated tract of 10 acres upon which this house, 
owned by the State of Wyoming, is built. H.R. 1684 would address this 
issue by correcting the conveyance and would also allow for the 
Restoration Foundation to make further improvement for the use and 
enjoyment of Ranch A.
  This bill would provide more flexibility for the use of the property,

[[Page H1258]]

which would allow for additional revenue sources to pay for maintenance 
and improvements. Right now, these properties are leased to educational 
organizations for educational uses, including sometimes South Dakota 
State and the South Dakota School of Mines. The foundation itself has 
invested those moneys and raises money at fund-raisers, thereby putting 
together approximately $1 million for facility restoration and 
renovation.
  This next photo shows the deck before it was repaired and acquired by 
the State of Wyoming and then managed by the Ranch A Restoration 
Foundation. You see the damage that occurred under Federal ownership. 
This is its most recent state, which indicates the significant repairs.
  Here, again, are before and after. It shows the state of repair 
having been completed by the Ranch A Foundation, using restoration 
funds that are obtained through the leasing operations.
  We are also going to look at some of the other buildings. There are 
numerous buildings on this property that are used primarily by South 
Dakota School of Mines and South Dakota State University for 
educational purposes.
  This is a very expensive repair to make, Mr. Speaker. When these 
lower logs rot over time because of snow and cold and dry air, followed 
by rain, and are not properly maintained, those lower logs rot, thereby 
causing the building to settle and creating terrible structural 
problems. To repair it, you have to lift the upper logs that are not 
damaged and jack the whole building up, pull the old logs out of the 
bottom, and reinsert new logs--properly treated--in order to maintain 
the historic finish back to its state when it was built in the 1930s.
  It is hugely expensive and very time consuming. The Ranch A 
Foundation has undertaken that under State ownership. This was the 
status of the repairs when the Forest Service had it and it was used as 
a fish hatchery. It is because it is an isolated property the Federal 
Government doesn't have the money to manage. It wasn't being used 
anymore as a fish hatchery.
  The State of Wyoming, since acquiring the property from the Federal 
Government, really has improved its historic condition and its long-
term viability. The degraded wood has been all redone. It prevents 
interior damage from leakage.
  Every project for maintaining and renovating the lodge has to be 
approved under historic designation standards. As we have pointed out, 
this was built in the 1930s by the Annenbergs. It is beautiful. Going 
through the historic design standards is a rigorous process and greatly 
increases the cost, but it also ensures the historic integrity of the 
restoration.
  In order for the foundation to continue to preserve their educational 
facilities, they need long-term revenue generation. The foundation's 
academic board members and the State of Wyoming's oversight office of 
this property have supported the removal-of-use restrictions. With no 
annual appropriations in the State budget for Ranch A, their education 
mission is actually harmed by limiting user fees.
  Ranch A is a cultural and education asset. My legislation will keep 
the ranch financially sustainable and improve its ability to serve 
educational users. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 1684 would require the Forest Service to convey to the State of 
Wyoming 10 acres of land associated with Ranch A in the Black Hills 
National Forest.
  In 1996, Congress conveyed nearly all of Ranch A to the State of 
Wyoming for educational purposes. We remain concerned that enactment of 
this legislation will remove the requirement that this particular 
property continue being used for educational purposes, potentially 
denying the public access to a valuable historic resource. It is our 
hope that, as the bill moves forward, this concern can be addressed.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1684.
  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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