[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[House]
[Pages 29524-29525]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1651) to provide for the exchange of land within the Sierra 
National Forest, California, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       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 ``Sierra National Forest Land 
     Exchange Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the 
     parcels of land and improvements thereon comprising 
     approximately 160 acres and located in township 9 south, 
     range 25 east, section 30, E\1/2\SW\1/4\ and W\1/2\ SE\1/4\, 
     Mt. Diablo Meridian, California.
       (2) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means 
     a parcel of land comprising approximately 80 acres and 
     located in township 8 south, range 26 east, section 29, N\1/
     2\NW\1/4\, Mt. Diablo Meridian, California.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture.

     SEC. 3. LAND EXCHANGE, SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA.

       (a) Exchange Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--If, during the one-year period beginning 
     on the date of enactment of this Act, the owner of the non-
     Federal land offers the United States the exchange of the 
     non-Federal land and a cash equalization payment of $50,000, 
     the Secretary shall convey, by quit claim deed, all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     Federal land. The conveyance of the Federal land shall be 
     subject to valid existing rights and under such terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.
       (2) Acceptable title.--Title to the non-Federal land shall 
     conform with the title approval standards of the Attorney 
     General applicable to Federal land acquisitions and shall be 
     acceptable to the Secretary.
       (3) Correction and modification of legal descriptions.--The 
     Secretary, in consultation with the owner of the non-Federal 
     land, may make corrections to the legal descriptions of the 
     Federal land and non-Federal land. The Secretary and the 
     owner of the non-Federal land may make minor modifications to 
     such descriptions insofar as such modifications do not affect 
     the overall value of the exchange by more than five percent.
       (b) Valuation of Land to Be Conveyed.--For purposes of this 
     section, during the period referred to in subsection (a)(1), 
     the value of the non-Federal land shall be deemed to be 
     $200,000 and the value of the Federal land shall be deemed to 
     be $250,000.
       (c)  Administration of Land Acquired by United States.--
     Once acquired, the Secretary shall manage the non-Federal 
     land in accordance with the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly 
     known as the Weeks Act; 16 U.S.C. 480 et seq.), and in 
     accordance with the other laws and regulations pertaining to 
     National Forest System lands.
       (d) Conditions on Conveyance of Federal Land.--The 
     conveyance by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall be 
     subject to the following conditions:
       (1) That the recipient of the Federal land convey all 160 
     acres of the Federal land to the Sequoia Council of the Boy 
     Scouts of America not later than four months after the date 
     on which the recipient receives the Federal land from the 
     Secretary under subsection (a).
       (2) That, as described in section 5, the owner of the 
     easement granted in section 4 have the right of first offer 
     regarding any reconveyance of the Federal land by the Sequoia 
     Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
       (e) Disposition and Use of Cash Equalization Funds.--The 
     Secretary shall deposit the cash equalization payment 
     received under subsection (a) in the fund established by 
     Public Law 90-171 (commonly known as the Sisk Act; 16 U.S.C. 
     484a). The cash equalization payment shall be available to 
     the Secretary until expended, without further appropriation, 
     for the acquisition of lands and interests in lands for the 
     National Forest System in the State of California.
       (f) Cost Collection Funds.--The owner of the non-Federal 
     land shall be responsible for all direct costs associated 
     with processing

[[Page 29525]]

     the land exchange under this section and shall pay the 
     Secretary the necessary funds, which shall be deposited in a 
     cost collection account. Funds so deposited shall be 
     available to the Secretary until expended, without further 
     appropriation, for the cost associated with the land 
     exchange. Any funds remaining after completion of the land 
     exchange, which are not needed to cover expenses, shall be 
     refunded to the owner of the non-Federal land.

     SEC. 4. GRANT OF EASEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH HYDROELECTRIC 
                   PROJECT NO. 67.

       (a) Purpose.--A hydroelectric project, licensed pursuant to 
     the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) as Project No. 
     67, is located on a majority of the Federal land authorized 
     for exchange under section 3. To protect the ability of the 
     owner of Project No. 67 to continue to operate and maintain 
     that hydroelectric project under the current and all future 
     licenses or authorizations issued pursuant to the Federal 
     Power Act or any other applicable law, this section is 
     necessary.
       (b) Easement Required.--Before conveying the Federal land 
     under section 3, the Secretary shall grant an easement, 
     without consideration, to the owner of Project No. 67 for the 
     right to enter, occupy, and use for hydroelectric power 
     purposes the Federal land currently within the licensed 
     boundary for Project No. 67. The Project No. 67 owner shall 
     hold harmless the Secretary for any claims against the owner 
     due to the grant of easement.
       (c) Required Terms and Conditions.--The easement granted 
     under this section shall provide the following: ``The United 
     States of America, hereinafter called `Grantor,' pursuant to 
     a congressional authorization, hereby grants, transfers, and 
     conveys unto the [insert name of Project No. 67 owner], its 
     successors and assigns, hereinafter called `Grantee,' all 
     those certain exclusive easements and rights in, on, under, 
     over, along, and across certain real property described in 
     Exhibit A, attached hereto [attach description of real 
     property subject to the easement] and incorporated herein 
     (the `Property'), for any purpose or activity that Grantee 
     deems convenient or necessary to the creation, generation, 
     transmission, or distribution of hydropower on and off the 
     Property, including, but not limited to, the right to 
     inundate the Property with water, reservoir management, and 
     compliance with legal obligations in accordance with the 
     applicable Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license and 
     those non-exclusive easements and rights to use, occupy, and 
     enter the Property, and to allow others to use, occupy, and 
     enter the Property, for other purposes related to hydropower 
     and reservoir management and use, such as recreation by 
     Grantee or the public, and regulation of any activities on 
     the Property that may impact such purposes, at any time and 
     from time to time. Grantor further grants, transfers, and 
     conveys unto the Grantee the right of assignment, in whole or 
     in part, to others, without limitation. Grantee shall have 
     the right to take such actions on the Property as may be 
     necessary to comply with all applicable laws, rules, 
     regulations, ordinances, orders and other governmental, 
     regulatory, and administrative authorities and requirements, 
     or that may be necessary for the economical entry, occupancy, 
     and use of the Property for hydropower purposes. Grantor, its 
     successors and assigns, shall not deposit or permit or allow 
     to be deposited, earth, rubbish, debris or any other 
     substance or material on the Property, or so near thereto as 
     to constitute, in the opinion of Grantee, an interference or 
     obstruction to the hydropower and reservoir purposes. No 
     other easements, leases, or licenses shall be granted on, 
     under or over the Property by Grantor to any person, firm or 
     corporation without the previous written consent of Grantee, 
     which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The terms, 
     covenants and conditions of this Grant of Easement shall bind 
     and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of 
     Grantor and the successors and assigns of Grantee.''.

     SEC. 5. RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER FOR SUBSEQUENT CONVEYANCE OF 
                   FEDERAL LAND.

       (a) Right of First Offer.--As a condition on the conveyance 
     of the Federal land under section 3 and its reconveyance to 
     the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as required 
     by section 3(d)(1), the Secretary shall require that the 
     Council agree to provide the owner of the easement granted 
     under section 4 the right of first offer to obtain the 
     Federal land, or any portion thereof, that the Council ever 
     proposes to sell, transfer, or otherwise convey.
       (b) Notice and Offer.--If the Council proposes to sell, 
     transfer, or otherwise convey the Federal land or a portion 
     thereof, the Council shall give the easement owner written 
     notice specifying the terms and conditions on which the 
     conveyance is proposed and offering to convey to the easement 
     owner, on the same terms and conditions, the Federal land or 
     the portion thereof proposed for conveyance.
       (c) Acceptance or Rejection of Offer.--Within 90 days after 
     the easement owner receives the notice required by subsection 
     (b) and all available documents necessary to perform 
     reasonable due diligence on the proposed conveyance, the 
     easement owner shall either accept or reject the offer. If 
     the easement owner accepts the offer, the closing of the sale 
     shall be governed by the terms of the offer in the notice.
       (d) Effect of Rejection.--If the hydropower easement owner 
     rejects an offer under subsection (b) or fails to respond to 
     the offer before the expiration of the 90-day period provided 
     in subsection (c), the Council may convey the property 
     covered by the notice to any other person on the same terms 
     and conditions specified in the notice. If those terms and 
     conditions are subsequently altered in any way, then the 
     notice and offer shall again be made to the easement owner 
     under subsection (b). The rejection by the easement owner of 
     one or more of such offers shall not affect its right of 
     first offer as to any other proposed conveyance by the 
     Council.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Souder) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material in the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 1651, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Radanovich), provides for the exchange of lands within the Sierra 
National Forest, California, and for other purposes. The bill would 
exchange 160 acres of Forest Service property, of which only 15 acres 
is above water, for 80 acres of private land surrounded by National 
Forest. The landowner has agreed to pay the difference of $50,000 to 
the Forest Service to finalize the land transfer. After the completion 
of the exchange, the landowner will then convey the property to the 
Sequoia Council Boy Scouts, who have run a camp on the land through a 
special use permit for the last 30 years.
  This bill will benefit both the Forest Service and the Sequoia 
Council Boy Scouts. I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Radanovich), who authored this proposed bill.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1651 would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to 
consummate a land exchange on the Sierra National Forest in California. 
In exchange for the United States Forest Service receiving 
approximately 80 acres and a payment of $50,000 from a private party, 
the Secretary of Agriculture would convey to the private party 160 
acres, including two lakefront parcels. The private party plans to 
reconvey the 160 acres to the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of 
America for use as a summer camp.
  Mr. Speaker, we do not object to this legislation. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1651, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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