[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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