[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3093]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               ORCHARD DETENTION BASIN FLOOD CONTROL ACT

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 816) to provide for the release of certain land from the 
Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area in the State of Nevada and to grant 
a right-of-way across the released land for the construction and 
maintenance of a flood control project, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 816

       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 ``Orchard Detention Basin 
     Flood Control Act''.

     SEC. 2. RELEASE OF CERTAIN LAND IN THE SUNRISE MOUNTAIN 
                   INSTANT STUDY AREA.

       (a) Finding.--Congress finds that the land described in 
     subsection (c) has been adequately studied for wilderness 
     designation under section 603 of the Federal Land Policy and 
     Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782).
       (b) Release.--The land described in subsection (c)--
       (1) is no longer subject to section 603(c) of the Federal 
     Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)); 
     and
       (2) shall be managed in accordance with--
       (A) land management plans adopted under section 202 of that 
     Act (43 U.S.C. 1712); and
       (B) cooperative conservation agreements in existence on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Description of Land.--The land referred to in 
     subsections (a) and (b) is the approximately 65 acres of land 
     in the Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area of Clark County, 
     Nevada, that is--
       (1) known as the ``Orchard Detention Basin''; and
       (2) designated for release on the map titled ``Orchard 
     Detention Basin'' and dated March 18, 2005.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from West Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RAHALL. The pending measure was introduced by our colleague from 
Nevada, Representative Jon Porter. It authorizes the release of a 65-
acre section of the Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area from wilderness 
study, to be used for construction and maintenance of a floodwater 
retention basin, known as the Orchard Detention Basin Project.
  The proposed Orchard Detention Basin Project is a part of the Clark 
County Regional Flood Control District's master plan to protect the 
rapidly growing Las Vegas Valley. The project is designed to shield 
1,800 acres of urban land from flooding. I have no objection to passage 
of H.R. 816.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, again I rise in support of H.R. 816 
and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Let me first make a simple point of clarification. There is no such 
place as Nevada. There is, though, a Nevada in the western United 
States, and that is the issue of which we are speaking here.
  H.R. 816 seeks to protect the citizens of Clark County, Nevada, from 
floods by releasing 65 acres from Sunrise Mountain Wilderness Study 
Area. This is a critical need for one of the fastest growing areas of 
the United States. Title to the land will remain with the Bureau of 
Land Management. I would strongly encourage BLM to act expeditiously in 
granting Clark County a right-of-way to this acreage so the flood 
control operations can start soon.
  I would also like to commend Congressman Porter and his staff for 
their work on this legislation. I urge passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RAHALL. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 816, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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