[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 131 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7483-H7484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CIBOLA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE LAND EXCHANGE

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 3006) to authorize a land exchange involving 
the acquisition of private land adjacent to the Cibola National 
Wildlife Refuge in Arizona for inclusion in the refuge in exchange for 
certain Bureau of Land Management lands in Riverside County, 
California, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3006

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

     SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act--
       (1) Map 1.--The term ``Map 1'' means the map entitled 
     ``Specified Parcel of Public Land in California'' and dated 
     July 18, 2014.
       (2) Map 2.--The term ``Map 2'' means the map entitled 
     ``River Bottom Farm Lands'' and dated July 18, 2014.

     SEC. 2. LAND EXCHANGE, CIBOLA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, 
                   ARIZONA, AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND IN 
                   RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

       (a) Conveyance of Bureau of Land Management Land.--In 
     exchange for the land described in subsection (b), the 
     Secretary of the Interior shall convey to River Bottom Farms 
     of La Paz County, Arizona, all right, title and interest of 
     the United States in and to certain Federal land administered 
     by the Secretary through the Bureau of Land Management 
     consisting of a total of approximately 80 acres in Riverside 
     County, California, identified as ``Parcel A'' on Map 1. The 
     conveyed land shall be subject to valid existing rights, 
     including easements, rights-of-way, utility lines, and any 
     other valid encumbrances on the land as of the date of the 
     conveyance under this section.
       (b) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance of 
     the Federal land under subsection (a), River Bottom Farms 
     shall convey to the United States all right, title, and 
     interest of River Bottom Farms in and to two parcels of land 
     contiguous to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in La Paz 
     County, Arizona, consisting of a total of approximately 40 
     acres in La Paz County, Arizona, identified as ``Parcel 301-
     05-005B-9'' and ``Parcel 301-05-008-0'' on Map 2.
       (c) Equal Value Exchange.--The values of the Federal land 
     and non-Federal land to be exchanged under this section shall 
     be equal or equalized by the payment of cash to the Secretary 
     by River Bottom Farms, if appropriate, pursuant to section 
     206(b) of the Federal Land Policy Management Act (43 U.S.C. 
     1716(b)). The value of the land shall be determined by the 
     Secretary through an appraisal performed by a qualified 
     appraiser mutually agreed to by the Secretary and River 
     Bottom Farms and performed in conformance with the Uniform 
     Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions (U.S. 
     Department of Justice, December 2000). If the final appraised 
     value of the non-Federal land (``Parcel 301-05-005B-9'' and 
     ``Parcel 301-05-008-0'' on Map 2) exceeds the value of the 
     Federal land (``Parcel A'' on Map 1), the surplus value of 
     the non-Federal land shall be considered to be a donation by 
     River Bottom Farms to the United States.
       (d) Exchange Timetable.--The Secretary shall complete the 
     land exchange under this section not later than one year 
     after the date of the expiration of any existing Bureau of 
     Land Management lease agreement or agreements affecting the 
     Federal land (``Parcel A'' on Map 1) to be exchanged under 
     this section, unless the Secretary and River Bottom Farms 
     mutually agree to extend such deadline.
       (e) Administration of Acquired Land.--The land acquired by 
     the Secretary under subsection (b) shall become part of the 
     Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and be administered in 
     accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable 
     to the National Wildlife Refuge System.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. 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 Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3006, introduced by our colleague from California 
(Mr. Calvert), authorizes an equal value land exchange of private and 
Federal property. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to 
convey 80 acres of Bureau of Land Management lands in California to 
River Bottom Farms.
  In exchange, River Bottom Farms would be required to donate a 40-acre 
parcel in Arizona to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge.
  Both land transfers will be subject to valid existing rights, rights-
of-way, and other valid encumbrances on the land as of the date of the 
conveyance. The transaction will be executed as an equal value exchange 
with values determined by appraisals conducted in accordance with 
Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and the 
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
  In the event the exchange difference is a detriment to the United 
States, River Bottom Farms will be required to reimburse the Federal 
Government to ensure that there is no cost to the American taxpayers.
  I urge its adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3006 is commonsense legislation that 
directs a land exchange between the Federal Government and a private 
citizen. The land to be conveyed is 80 acres of BLM land in Riverside 
County, California, that has limited conservation value and is only 
suitable for farming.
  In return, the exchange will add two parcels of land contiguous to 
the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge that will improve the management 
efficiency of that refuge.
  The refuge lies in the flood plain of the lower Colorado River and is 
surrounded by desert ridges and washes that serve as the lifeline for 
thousands of species of animals including the iconic bald eagle that 
call the refuge its home.
  I am pleased to see this bill come to the floor under suspension. 
This is a bill I have worked on for many years when the refuge was in 
my district, and I applaud the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) 
for taking the lead and seeing it through. Although the refuge is no 
longer in my district, the area is still important to the people of 
Arizona and my constituents.
  H.R. 3006 is supported by a bipartisan congressional coalition that 
does not always see eye to eye on many issues, but I am glad to see 
that we can all agree on this.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 
minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the author of 
this legislation.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the management of our vast amount of 
Federal lands in our West is a complex challenge that requires the 
constant attention of our Federal agencies and Congress.

                              {time}  1715

  The legislation before the House today, H.R. 3006, would transfer 40 
acres of privately-owned land to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in 
Arizona, and in exchange, the Federal Government would transfer 80 
acres of isolated Bureau of Land Management land into private 
ownership. The 80

[[Page H7484]]

acres of land being transferred by the BLM was identified for disposal 
in the 2010 Resource Management Plan by the Yuma Field Office.
  Both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the BLM, in addition to the 
private landowner, support the exchange as proposed by my legislation.
  Both land transfers will be subject to valid existing rights, rights-
of-way, utility lines, and any valid encumbrances on the land as of the 
date of the conveyance. As was mentioned, furthermore, the value of the 
lands to be exchanged will be equalized so the Federal Government will 
not incur any expenses resulting from this exchange. The legislation 
represents a net reduction of lands managed by the Federal Government.
  The congressional coalition supporting this bill speaks for itself. 
Its sponsor and three original cosponsors include one Republican and 
one Democrat from California, as well as one Republican and one 
Democrat from Arizona.
  I am pleased that the House will be taking action on this bill, H.R. 
3006, today, and I would encourage all my colleagues to support this 
commonsense measure.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Natural Resources Committee 
Chairman Doc Hastings and the Subcommittee on Public Lands and 
Environmental Regulation Chairman Rob Bishop for their continued 
leadership on public lands issues that are especially critical to those 
of us from the West.
  I thank my friend from Arizona for leading his side on this bill and 
look forward to its passage.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and with that, 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3006, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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