[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 188 (Thursday, November 16, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S7299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. RISCH:
  S. 2140. A bill to provide for an exchange of Federal land and non-
Federal land in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Blackrock 
Land Exchange Act of 2017.
  The legislation supports a mutually beneficial effort between the 
Bureau of Land Management and the J.R. Simplot Company in Idaho that 
began over 20 years ago. Simplot proposed an exchange of their 
privately owned land with superior natural resources and recreational 
opportunities for a similar sized parcel of BLM land adjacent to a 
Simplot phosphate processing facility. This facility adds significant 
value to the Pocatello, Idaho area as a large employer that sustains 
over 350 jobs with an over $55 million annual economic impact.
  In 2007, BLM issued a Final Decision Record on the Environmental 
Assessment concluding the exchange would have no significant 
environmental impact, which was reaffirmed in 2009 by the Department of 
Interior Board of Land Appeals. However, the exchange has been held up 
since 2011 due to the District Court for Idaho ruling that BLM needed 
to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement including detailed 
future use to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969.
  This raises the possibility of a dangerous precedent for future land 
conveyances, as the exchange itself does not authorize further 
activities. Future use of the proposed adjacent land by the phosphate 
facility would still be subject to NEPA with opportunity for public 
comment. Halting the Blackrock Land Exchange for this reason could 
largely increase the scope, length, and cost of the NEPA process.
  This bill will allow for this exchange in Idaho that has support 
from--State and local government as well as various land users. It will 
also protect future exchanges from cycles of unnecessary review and 
litigation. The Blackrock Land Exchange Act of 2017 is in the best 
interest of Idaho land users, local economies, and future utilization 
of government land.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
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