[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 20 (Monday, February 6, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H983-H984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARAPAHO NATIONAL FOREST BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2017
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 688) to adjust the boundary of the Arapaho National Forest,
Colorado, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 688
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 ``Arapaho National Forest
Boundary Adjustment Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. ARAPAHO NATIONAL FOREST BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
(a) In General.--The boundary of the Arapaho National
Forest in the State of Colorado is adjusted to incorporate
the approximately 92.95 acres of land generally depicted as
``The Wedge'' on the map entitled ``Arapaho National Forest
Boundary Adjustment'' and dated November 6, 2013, and
described as lots three, four, eight, and nine of section 13,
Township 4 North, Range 76 West, Sixth Principal Meridian,
Colorado. A lot described in this subsection may be included
in the boundary adjustment only after the Secretary of
Agriculture obtains written permission for such action from
the lot owner or owners.
(b) Bowen Gulch Protection Area.--The Secretary of
Agriculture shall include all Federal land within the
boundary described in subsection (a) in the Bowen Gulch
Protection Area established under section 6 of the Colorado
Wilderness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 539j).
(c) Land and Water Conservation Fund.--For purposes of
section 200306(a)(2)(B)(i) of title 54, United States Code,
the boundaries of the Arapaho National Forest, as modified
under subsection (a), shall be considered to be the
boundaries of the Arapaho National Forest as in existence on
January 1, 1965.
(d) Public Motorized Use.--Nothing in this Act opens
privately owned lands within the boundary described in
subsection (a) to public motorized use.
(e) Access to Non-Federal Lands.--Notwithstanding the
provisions of section 6(f) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of
1993 (16 U.S.C. 539j(f)) regarding motorized travel, the
owners of any non-Federal lands within the boundary described
in subsection (a) who historically have accessed their lands
through lands now or hereafter owned by the United States
within the boundary described in subsection (a) shall have
the continued right of motorized access to their lands across
the existing roadway.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).
General Leave
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 688, sponsored by Congressman Jared Polis and cosponsored by
Congressman Tipton and myself, would adjust the boundary of the Arapaho
National Forest in the State of Colorado to incorporate 93 acres. It
passed the House under suspension of the rules during the 113th and
114th Congresses.
The legislation would incorporate 10 undeveloped parcels of land into
the Arapaho National Forest. The parcels sit between the Arapaho and
the Rocky Mountain National Park and will help the Forest Service to
better manage this land. The bill ensures that private landowners with
parcels within the national forest will continue to have access through
these parcels. Additionally, the land purchased by the Forest Service
must be with the written consent of the landowner.
I urge adoption of the measure.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have introduced the Arapaho National
Forest Boundary Adjustment Act, also known as the Wedge Act.
Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I wish all of my bills could come to the floor
so quickly, within a week of introducing them. But I am very glad, on
behalf of Grand County, which I am honored to represent, that we could
move so expeditiously, at least through the House, through this body.
Once again, I will call upon the Senate, upon passage, to move on
this bill. Again, this is another bill the House did its work on, we
did pass last session, and the Senate failed to pass into law.
[[Page H984]]
It is very important for Grand County. It is a commonsense protection
of public lands. It was coordinated with local landowners and local
officials, supported by the county commissioners and Federal land
agencies.
The legislation involves a parcel of 10 lots in Grand County, which
we and locals call the ``wedge.'' As indicated by its name, the parcel
is wedged between Arapaho National Forest and Rocky Mountain National
Park, effectively separating the two. Although the wedge is integral
for the successful management of the public land, it remains outside of
the National Forest Service boundary.
Millions of visitors already enjoy the parcel's beauty as they travel
west from the 13,000-foot apex of the Rocky Mountains, along the Trail
Ridge scenic byway and into the destination town of Grand Lake, in my
district. The area is undeveloped. Seven of the ten parcels are already
being managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The owners of the remaining
parcels are all in favor of this bill. It is very important to point
out that all of the stakeholders are supportive of this effort in
statute.
Development of the wedge parcel would significantly affect the health
of Rocky Mountain National Park and hurt the adjoining Colorado River
headwaters. Not only would the development harm clean water for
millions, but it could also harm the economic potential for what is
truly a jewel of the National Park System, Rocky Mountain National
Park, supporting millions of visitors in the surrounding communities.
In recognition of these potential threats to the quality and
character, as well as the economy and jobs in the area, there has been
significant support locally for this bill. Supporters include everyone
from local officials, like the Grand County Commissioners and the town
of Grand Lake, to conservation and outdoor recreation groups, including
Headwaters Trails Alliance, Conservation Colorado, and the Rocky
Mountain Nature Conservancy.
H.R. 688 simply responds to the wishes of my constituency--including
the landholders in these areas, particularly those living in and around
the wedge, as well as the visitors every year--by incorporating it into
the Arapaho National Forest boundary and adding the lots owned by the
Forest Service into the adjacent Bowen Gulch Protection Area, just as
we did when the House passed this exact bill last year.
This strong, bipartisan bill has the express support of my Colorado
colleagues in both chambers, including the cosponsorship of Mr. Tipton
and Mr. Lamborn, and introduction by Senator Bennet and Senator Gardner
in the Senate.
It was passed out of the Natural Resources Committee unanimously last
Congress and passed here on the House floor. Unfortunately, the clock
ran out before the Senate was able to consider it. I am looking forward
to, after expeditiously moving it out of this body, allowing the Senate
to do their work and pass this bill into law.
I am extremely grateful for the House Natural Resources Committee's
support of this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of its
passage.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to just build on what my
colleague was saying about the rest of his bills.
On this one, there is strong collaboration and consensus. I look
forward to working with him to pass it. I will make an offer on the
rest of his bills. If he lets me help him write them, I bet we could
get them to the floor sooner.
In all seriousness, the Rocky Mountain National Park is a crown jewel
of the National Park System. I believe it is in the top five of all
parks in the entire country in terms of visitorship. It is very
popular, and for good reason. It is a spectacular and accessible place
near Boulder, Colorado, not far from Denver.
Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.
Furthermore, I call upon the United States Senate to bring up these
series of bills that are very important to those of us like Mr. Tipton,
Mr. Lamborn, and me, who represent areas with substantial public land
where our constituents in the private sector, our residents, interact
every day with issues around public land and land management. These
issues will improve the quality of life in our communities. This bill
will help improve the quality of the tourism experience, as well as the
conservation goals of Rocky Mountain National Park.
I urge a ``yes'' vote.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LAMBORN. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 688.
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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