[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8854-H8856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NEVADA LANDS BILL TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2018

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6299) to modify the process of the Secretary of the Interior 
for examining certain mining claims on Federal lands in Storey County, 
Nevada, to facilitate certain pinyon-juniper-related projects in 
Lincoln County, Nevada, to modify the boundaries of certain wilderness 
areas in the State of Nevada, to fully implement the White Pine County 
Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6299

       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 ``Nevada Lands Bill Technical 
     Corrections Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LAND IN STOREY 
                   COUNTY, NEVADA.

       Section 3009(d) of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' 
     McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2015 (128 Stat. 3751) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking subparagraphs (B) through (D) and 
     redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D); and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B) Federal land.--The term `Federal land' means the land 
     generally depicted as `Federal land' on the map.
       ``(C) Map.--The term `map' means the map entitled `Storey 
     County Land Conveyance' and dated June 6, 2018.''.
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``after completing 
     the mining claim validity review under paragraph (2)(B), if 
     requested by the County,''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) in clause (i)--

       (I) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking 
     ``each parcel of land located in a mining townsite'' and 
     inserting ``any Federal land'';
       (II) in subclause (I), by striking ``mining townsite'' and 
     inserting ``Federal land''; and
       (III) in subclause (II), by striking ``mining townsite 
     (including improvements to the mining townsite), as 
     identified for conveyance on the map'' and inserting 
     ``Federal land (including improvements)'';

       (ii) by striking clause (ii);
       (iii) by striking the subparagraph designation and heading 
     and all that follows through ``With respect'' in the matter 
     preceding subclause (I) of clause (i) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(B) Valid mining claims.--With respect''; and
       (iv) by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as clauses 
     (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
       (3) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``a mining townsite 
     conveyed under paragraph (3)(B)(i)(II)'' and inserting 
     ``Federal land conveyed under paragraph (2)(B)(ii)'';
       (4) in paragraph (5), by striking ``a mining townsite under 
     paragraph (3)'' and inserting ``Federal land under paragraph 
     (2)'';
       (5) in paragraph (6), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A), by striking ``mining townsite'' and inserting ``Federal 
     land'';
       (6) in paragraph (7), by striking ``A mining townsite to be 
     conveyed by the United States under paragraph (3)'' and 
     inserting ``The exterior boundary of the Federal land to be 
     conveyed by the United States under paragraph (2)'';

[[Page H8855]]

       (7) in paragraph (9)--
       (A) by striking ``a mining townsite under paragraph (3)'' 
     and inserting ``the Federal land under paragraph (2)''; and
       (B) by striking ``the mining townsite'' and inserting ``the 
     Federal land'';
       (8) in paragraph (10), by striking ``the examination'' and 
     all that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
     ``the conveyance under paragraph (2) should be completed by 
     not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the 
     Nevada Lands Bill Technical Corrections Act of 2018.'';
       (9) by striking paragraphs (2) and (8);
       (10) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) and (9) 
     and (10) as paragraphs (2) through (6) and (7) and (8) 
     respectively; and
       (11) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the Bureau of Land Management.''.

     SEC. 3. FACILITATION OF PINYON-JUNIPER-RELATED PROJECTS IN 
                   LINCOLN COUNTY, NEVADA.

       (a) Facilitation of Pinyon-Juniper-Related Projects.--
       (1) Availability of special account under lincoln county 
     land act of 2000.--Section 5(b) of the Lincoln County Land 
     Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-298; 114 Stat. 1048) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and 
     implementation'' after ``development''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (C)--

       (I) in clause (i), by striking ``; and'' at the end and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (II) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(iii) development and implementation of comprehensive, 
     cost-effective, and multijurisdictional hazardous fuels 
     reduction projects and wildfire prevention planning 
     activities, particularly for pinyon-juniper-dominated 
     landscapes, and other rangeland and woodland restoration 
     projects within the County, consistent with the Ely Resource 
     Management Plan or any subsequent revisions or amendments to 
     that plan; and''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Cooperative agreements.--The Director of the Bureau 
     of Land Management shall enter into cooperative agreements 
     with the County for law enforcement and planning-related 
     activities provided by the County and approved by the 
     Secretary, regarding--
       ``(A) wilderness in the County designated by the Lincoln 
     County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 
     (Public Law 108-424; 118 Stat. 2403);
       ``(B) cultural resources identified, protected, and managed 
     pursuant to that Act;
       ``(C) planning, management, and law enforcement associated 
     with the Silver State OHV Trail designated by that Act; and
       ``(D) planning associated with land disposal and related 
     land-use authorizations required for utility corridors and 
     rights-of-way to serve land that has been, or is to be, 
     disposed of pursuant to that Act (other than rights-of-way 
     granted pursuant to that Act) and this Act.''.
       (2) Availability of special account under lincoln county 
     conservation, recreation, and development act of 2004.--
     Section 103 of the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, 
     and Development Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-424; 118 Stat. 
     2405) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (b)(3)--
       (i) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``; and'' at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon;
       (ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) development and implementation of comprehensive, 
     cost-effective, and multijurisdictional hazardous fuels 
     reduction projects and wildfire prevention planning 
     activities, particularly for pinyon-juniper-dominated 
     landscapes, and other rangeland and woodland restoration 
     projects within the County, consistent with the Ely Resource 
     Management Plan or any subsequent revisions or amendments to 
     that plan.''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Cooperative Agreements.--The Director of the Bureau 
     of Land Management shall enter into cooperative agreements 
     with the County for law enforcement and planning-related 
     activities provided by the County and approved by the 
     Secretary regarding--
       ``(1) wilderness in the County designated by this Act;
       ``(2) cultural resources identified, protected, and managed 
     pursuant to this Act;
       ``(3) planning, management, and law enforcement associated 
     with the Silver State OHV Trail designated by this Act; and
       ``(4) planning associated with land disposal and related 
     land-use authorizations required for utility corridors and 
     rights-of-way to serve land that has been, or is to be, 
     disposed of pursuant to this Act (other than rights-of-way 
     granted pursuant to this Act) and the Lincoln County Land Act 
     of 2000 (Public Law 106-298; 114 Stat. 1046).''.
       (b) Disposition of Proceeds.--
       (1) Disposition of proceeds under lincoln county land act 
     of 2000.--Section 5(a)(2) of the Lincoln County Land Act of 
     2000 (Public Law 106-298; 114 Stat. 1047) is amended by 
     inserting ``and economic development'' after ``schools''.
       (2) Disposition of proceeds under lincoln county 
     conservation, recreation, and development act of 2004.--
     Section 103(b)(2) of the Lincoln County Conservation, 
     Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-424; 
     118 Stat. 2405) is amended by striking ``and transportation'' 
     and inserting ``transportation, and economic development''.
       (c) Modification of Utility Corridor.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior shall realign the utility corridor established by 
     section 301(a) of the Lincoln County Conservation, 
     Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-424; 
     118 Stat. 2412) to be aligned as generally depicted on the 
     map titled ``Proposed LCCRDA Utility Corridor Realignment'' 
     and dated March 14, 2017, by modifying the map titled 
     ``Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development 
     Act'' (referred to in this subsection as the ``Map'') and 
     dated October 1, 2004, by--
       (1) removing the utility corridor from sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 
     9, 10, 11, 14, and 15, T. 7 N., R. 68 E., of the Map; and
       (2) redesignating the utility corridor so as to appear on 
     the Map in--
       (A) sections 31, 32, and 33, T. 8 N., R. 68 E.;
       (B) sections 4, 5, 6, and 7, T. 7 N., R. 68 E.; and
       (C) sections 1 and 12, T. 7 N., 67 E.
       (d) Final Corrective Patent in Clark County, Nevada.--
       (1) Validation of patent.--Patent number 27-2005-0081, 
     issued by the Bureau of Land Management on February 18, 2005, 
     is affirmed and validated as having been issued pursuant to, 
     and in compliance with, the Nevada-Florida Land Exchange 
     Authorization Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-275; 102 Stat. 52), 
     the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
     et seq.), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
     1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) for the benefit of the desert 
     tortoise, other species, and the habitat of the desert 
     tortoise and other species to increase the likelihood of the 
     recovery of the desert tortoise and other species.
       (2) Ratification of reconfiguration.--The process used by 
     the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of 
     Land Management in reconfiguring the land described in 
     paragraph (1), as depicted on Exhibit 1-4 of the Final 
     Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Development 
     Project MSHCP, Lincoln County, NV (FWS-R8-ES-2008-N0136), and 
     the reconfiguration provided for in special condition 10 of 
     the Corps of Engineers Permit No. 000005042, are ratified.
       (e) Issuance of Corrective Patent in Lincoln County, 
     Nevada.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
     through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, may 
     issue a corrective patent for the 7,548 acres of land in 
     Lincoln County, Nevada, depicted on the map prepared by the 
     Bureau of Land Management titled ``Proposed Lincoln County 
     Land Reconfiguration'' and dated January 28, 2016.
       (2) Applicable law.--A corrective patent issued under 
     paragraph (1) shall be treated as issued pursuant to, and in 
     compliance with, the Nevada-Florida Land Exchange 
     Authorization Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-275; 102 Stat. 52).
       (f) Conveyance to Lincoln County, Nevada, to Support a 
     Landfill.--
       (1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and subject to valid existing rights, 
     at the request of Lincoln County, Nevada, the Secretary of 
     the Interior shall convey without consideration under the 
     Recreation and Public Purposes Act (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.) to 
     Lincoln County all right, title and interest of the United 
     States in and to approximately 400 acres of land in Lincoln 
     County, Nevada, more particularly described as follows: T. 11 
     S., R. 62, E., Section 25 E \1/2\ of W \1/2\; and W \1/2\ of 
     E \1/2\; and E \1/2\ of SE 1/4.
       (2) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve to the United 
     States the mineral estate in any land conveyed under 
     paragraph (1).
       (3) Use of conveyed land.--The land conveyed under 
     paragraph (1) shall be used by Lincoln County, Nevada, to 
     provide a suitable location for the establishment of a 
     centralized landfill and to provide a designated area and 
     authorized facilities to discourage unauthorized dumping and 
     trash disposal on environmentally-sensitive public land. 
     Lincoln County may not dispose of the land conveyed under 
     paragraph (1).
       (4) Reversion.--If Lincoln County, Nevada, ceases to use 
     any parcel of land conveyed under paragraph (1) for the 
     purposes described in paragraph (3)--
       (A) title to the parcel shall revert to the Secretary of 
     the Interior, at the option of the Secretary; and
       (B) Lincoln County shall be responsible for any reclamation 
     necessary to restore the parcel to a condition acceptable to 
     the Secretary of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. MT. MORIAH WILDERNESS, HIGH SCHELLS WILDERNESS, AND 
                   ARC DOME WILDERNESS BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS.

       (a) Amendments to the Pam White Wilderness Act of 2006.--
     Section 323 of the Pam White Wilderness Act of 2006 (16 
     U.S.C. 1132 note; 120 Stat. 3031) is amended by striking 
     subsection (e) and inserting the following:
       ``(e) Mt. Moriah Wilderness Adjustment.--The boundary of 
     the Mt. Moriah Wilderness established under section 2(13) of 
     the Nevada Wilderness Protection Act of 1989 (16 U.S.C. 1132 
     note) is adjusted to include--
       ``(1) the land identified as the `Mount Moriah Wilderness 
     Area' and `Mount Moriah Additions' on the map titled `Eastern 
     White Pine County' and dated November 29, 2006; and
       ``(2) the land identified as `NFS Lands' on the map titled 
     `Proposed Wilderness Boundary Adjustment Mt. Moriah 
     Wilderness Area' and dated January 17, 2017.

[[Page H8856]]

       ``(f) High Schells Wilderness Adjustment.--The boundary of 
     the High Schells Wilderness established under subsection 
     (a)(11) is adjusted--
       ``(1) to include the land identified as `Include as 
     Wilderness' on the map titled `McCoy Creek Adjustment' and 
     dated November 3, 2014; and
       ``(2) to exclude the land identified as `NFS Lands' on the 
     map titled `Proposed Wilderness Boundary Adjustment High 
     Schells Wilderness Area' and dated January 19, 2017.''.
       (b) Amendments to the Nevada Wilderness Protection Act of 
     1989.--The Nevada Wilderness Protection Act of 1989 (16 
     U.S.C. 1132 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 12. ARC DOME BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.

       ``The boundary of the Arc Dome Wilderness established under 
     section 2(2) is adjusted to exclude the land identified as 
     `Exclude from Wilderness' on the map titled `Arc Dome 
     Adjustment' and dated November 3, 2014.''.

     SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF WHITE PINE COUNTY CONSERVATION, 
                   RECREATION, AND DEVELOPMENT ACT.

       (a) Disposition of Proceeds.--Section 312 of the White Pine 
     County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2006 
     (Public Law 109-432; 120 Stat. 3030) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and planning'' and 
     inserting ``municipal water and sewer infrastructure, public 
     electric transmission facilities, public broadband 
     infrastructure, and planning''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (B) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(I) processing by a government entity of public land-use 
     authorizations and rights-of-way relating to the development 
     of land conveyed to the County under this Act, with an 
     emphasis on authorizations and rights-of-way relating to any 
     infrastructure needed for the expansion of the White Pine 
     County Industrial Park under section 352(c)(2).''.
       (b) Conveyance to White Pine County, Nevada.--Section 352 
     of the White Pine County Conservation, Recreation, and 
     Development Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-432; 120 Stat. 3039) 
     is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``not later than 120 
     days after the date of the enactment of the Nevada Lands Bill 
     Technical Corrections Act of 2018'' before ``the Secretary'';
       (2) in subsection (c)(3)(B)(i), by striking ``through a 
     competitive bidding process'' and inserting ``consistent with 
     section 244 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (as in effect on 
     the date of enactment of the Eastern Nevada Economic 
     Development and Land Management Improvement Act)''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Deadline.--If the Secretary has not conveyed to the 
     County the parcels of land described in subsection (b) by the 
     date that is 120 days after the date of the enactment of the 
     Nevada Lands Bill Technical Corrections Act of 2018, the 
     Secretary shall convey to the County, without consideration, 
     all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     the parcels of land.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Huffman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. 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 California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6299, introduced by Congressman 
Amodei of Nevada, provides commonsense improvements and technical 
corrections to existing laws that will spur economic development and 
ensure better land management in several Nevada counties, including 
Storey, Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine. The provisions included in this 
bill represent strong collaboration with State and local elected 
officials and have been supported by the entire Nevada congressional 
delegation.
  I want to thank Chairman Gowdy for his cooperation in getting this 
bill scheduled for consideration and simply conclude by saying this is 
a good bill. It is going to enhance sound land management and provide 
significant public benefit to the people of these Nevada communities. I 
want to thank and commend Congressman Amodei for his fine work.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I am prepared to 
close when the gentleman is finished.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Natural Resources,

                               Washington, DC, September 20, 2018.
     Hon. Trey Gowdy,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: On September 5, 2018, the Committee on 
     Natural Resources ordered favorably reported H.R. 6299, the 
     Nevada Lands Bill Technical Corrections Act of 2018. This 
     bill was additionally referred to the Committee on Oversight 
     and Government Reform.
       I ask that you allow the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform to be discharged from further consideration 
     of the bill so that it may be scheduled by the Majority 
     Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as 
     precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a 
     conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your 
     request to have the Committee on Oversight and Government 
     Reform represented on the conference committee. Finally, I 
     would be pleased to include this letter and your response in 
     the bill report and in the Congressional Record.
       Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to 
     further opportunities to work with you this Congress.
           Sincerely,

                                                   Rob Bishop,

                                                         Chairman,
     Committee on Natural Resources.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                               Washington, DC, September 20, 2018.
     Hon. Rob Bishop,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     6299, the Nevada Lands Bill Technical Corrections Act of 
     2018. As you know, certain provisions of the bill fall within 
     the jurisdiction of Committee on Oversight and Government 
     Reform.
       As a result of your having consulted with me concerning the 
     provisions of H.R. 6299 that fall within our Rule X 
     jurisdiction, I agree to forgo consideration of the bill, so 
     the bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. I 
     agree that forgoing formal consideration of the bill will not 
     prejudice the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
     with respect to any future jurisdictional claim, and I 
     appreciate your agreement to support appointment of members 
     of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as 
     conferees in any House-Senate conference on this or related 
     legislation. In addition, I request the Committee be 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so we may address any remaining issues within 
     our jurisdiction.
       Finally, I request you include your letter and this 
     response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Natural 
     Resources, as well as in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of the bill on the floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Trey Gowdy.

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague. This is a good bill. We are 
pleased that it facilitates the implementation of the Multiple Species 
Habitat Conservation plan for the Lower Virgin River. It authorizes 
funds for fuels reduction and restoration projects in pinyon-juniper-
dominated landscapes, makes technical corrections to the boundaries of 
several wilderness areas and validates a patent associated with a 
previously authorized land exchange.
  A previous version of this bill is cosponsored by the entire Nevada 
delegation, and I recognize that its passage is important to the people 
of eastern Nevada. I do want to thank the majority and the sponsor for 
working with the BLM to address many of their concerns throughout the 
bill's history. Resolving those concerns and working with the BLM 
turned this bill into a proposal we can support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of the bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6299, 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.

                          ____________________