[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9483-H9484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COTTONWOOD LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 2018

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 6146) to authorize, direct, expedite, and facilitate a land 
exchange in Yavapai County, Arizona, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6146

       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 ``Cottonwood Land Exchange Act 
     of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) County.--The term ``County'' means Yavapai County, 
     Arizona.
       (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     approximately 80 acres of land within the Coconino National 
     Forest, in Yavapai County, Arizona, generally depicted as 
     ``Coconino National Forest Parcels `Federal Land''' on the 
     map.
       (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled 
     ``Cottonwood Land Exchange'', with the revision date July 5, 
     2018\Version 1.
       (4) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means 
     the approximately 369 acres of land in Yavapai County, 
     Arizona, generally depicted as ``Yavapai County Parcels `Non-
     Federal Land''' on the map.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture, unless otherwise specified.

     SEC. 3. LAND EXCHANGE.

       (a) In General.--If the County offers to convey to the 
     Secretary all right, title, and interest of the County in and 
     to the non-Federal land, the Secretary shall accept the offer 
     and simultaneously convey to the County all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States to the Federal land.
       (b) Land Title.--Title to the non-Federal land conveyed to 
     the Secretary under this Act shall be acceptable to the 
     Secretary and shall conform to the title approval standards 
     of the Attorney General of the United States applicable to 
     land acquisitions by the Federal Government.
       (c) Exchange Costs.--The County shall pay for all land 
     survey, appraisal, and other costs to the Secretary as may be 
     necessary to process and consummate the exchange under this 
     Act, including reimbursement to the Secretary, if the 
     Secretary so requests, for staff time spent in such 
     processing and consummation.

     SEC. 4. EQUAL VALUE EXCHANGE AND APPRAISALS.

       (a) Appraisals.--The values of the lands to be exchanged 
     under this Act shall be determined by the Secretary through 
     appraisals performed in accordance with--
       (1) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land 
     Acquisitions;
       (2) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal 
     Practice;
       (3) appraisal instructions issued by the Secretary; and
       (4) shall be performed by an appraiser mutually agreed to 
     by the Secretary and the County.

[[Page H9484]]

       (b) Equal Value Exchange.--The values of the Federal and 
     non-Federal land parcels exchanged shall be equal, or if they 
     are not equal, shall be equalized as follows:
       (1) Surplus of federal land value.--If the final appraised 
     value of the Federal land exceeds the final appraised value 
     of the non-Federal land, the County shall make a cash 
     equalization payment to the United States as necessary to 
     achieve equal value, including, if necessary, an amount in 
     excess of that authorized pursuant to section 206(b) of the 
     Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
     1716(b)).
       (2) Use of funds.--Any cash equalization moneys received by 
     the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be--
       (A) deposited in the fund established under Public Law 90-
     171 (commonly known as the ``Sisk Act''; 16 U.S.C. 484a); and
       (B) made available to the Secretary for the acquisition of 
     land or interests in land in Region 3 of the Forest Service.
       (3) Surplus of non-federal land value.--If the final 
     appraised value of the non-Federal land exceeds the final 
     appraised value of the Federal land, the United States shall 
     not make a cash equalization payment to the County, and 
     surplus value of the non-Federal land shall be considered a 
     donation by the County to the United States for all purposes 
     of law.

     SEC. 5. WITHDRAWAL PROVISIONS.

       Lands acquired by the Secretary under this Act are, upon 
     such acquisition, automatically and permanently withdrawn 
     from all forms of appropriation and disposal under the public 
     land laws (including the mining and mineral leasing laws) and 
     the Geothermal Steam Act of 1930 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

     SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT OF LAND.

       Land acquired by the Secretary under this Act shall become 
     part of the Coconino National Forest and be managed in 
     accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable 
     to the National Forest System.

     SEC. 7. MAPS, ESTIMATES, AND DESCRIPTIONS.

       (a) Minor Errors.--The Secretary and the County may, by 
     mutual agreement--
       (1) make minor boundary adjustments to the Federal and non-
     Federal lands involved in the exchange; and
       (2) correct any minor errors in any map, acreage estimate, 
     or description of any land to be exchanged.
       (b) Conflict.--If there is a conflict between a map, an 
     acreage estimate, or a description of land under this Act, 
     the map shall control unless the Secretary and the County 
     mutually agree otherwise.
       (c) Availability.--The Secretary shall file and make 
     available for public inspection in the headquarters of the 
     Coconino National Forest a copy of all maps referred to in 
     this Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOSAR. 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 Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Like many of my colleagues from Western States, I represent rural 
counties that are growing quickly but are hitting roadblocks due to the 
large amount of Federal land in them. Yavapai County in my district is 
no different.
  My bill, the Cottonwood Land Exchange Act, is a commonsense land 
exchange between the Forest Service and Yavapai County that would allow 
the county to expand a park by adding new trails and bridges for the 
residents of Cottonwood to enjoy.
  In exchange for 80 acres in the Coconino National Forest, the county 
has offered to the Forest Service nearly 370 acres of land adjacent to 
the forest. This land is habitat for the endangered Arizona cliffrose, 
and the exchange will allow for better protection and conservation of 
the rose and other sensitive species.
  H.R. 6146 is truly a win-win for both the residents of Yavapai County 
and the Federal Government at no cost to the taxpayers.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes a land exchange between the U.S. 
Forest Service and Yavapai County, Arizona. The Federal land that will 
be conveyed to the county is surrounded by county-owned and private 
land, including Windmill Park, a popular recreation destination for 
local residents.
  Yavapai County intends to manage the land as part of the park in an 
effort to increase access and improve management efficiency. In 
exchange, the Forest Service will receive a parcel of land adjacent to 
Coconino National Forest that provides habitat for the cliffrose--an 
endangered plant species. The bill ensures an equal value exchange 
based on standard appraisal requirements--a critical safeguard that 
guarantees a fair return for taxpayer-owned assets.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSAR. 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 Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 6146, as amended.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  November 13, 2018, on page H9484, the following appeared: The 
SPEAKER pro tempore. Thequestion is on the motion offered bythe 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr.GOSAR) that the House suspend therules 
and pass the bill, S. 6146, asamended.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: The SPEAKER pro 
tempore. Thequestion is on the motion offered bythe gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr.GOSAR) that the House suspend therules and pass the 
bill, H.R. 6146, asamended.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  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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