[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9252-9254]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   Y MOUNTAIN ACCESS ENHANCEMENT ACT

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 253) to provide for the conveyance of a small parcel of 
National Forest System land in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest 
in Utah to Brigham Young University, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 253

       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 ``Y Mountain Access 
     Enhancement Act''.

     SEC. 2. LAND CONVEYANCE, UINTA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST, 
                   UTAH.

       (a) Conveyance Required.--On the request of Brigham Young 
     University submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture not 
     later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall convey, not later than one year 
     after receiving the request, to Brigham Young University all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States

[[Page 9253]]

     in and to the approximately 80-acres of National Forest 
     System land in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in the 
     State of Utah generally depicted as ``Proposed Conveyance 
     Parcel'' on the map titled ```Y' Mountain Access Enhancement 
     Act'' and dated June 6, 2013. The conveyance shall be subject 
     to valid existing rights and shall be made by quitclaim deed.
       (b) Consideration.--
       (1) Consideration required.--As consideration for the land 
     conveyed under subsection (a), Brigham Young University shall 
     pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value 
     of the land, as determined by an appraisal approved by the 
     Secretary and conducted in conformity with the Uniform 
     Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and section 
     206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
     U.S.C. 1716).
       (2) Deposit.--The consideration received by the Secretary 
     under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in the general fund of 
     the Treasury to reduce the Federal deficit.
       (c) Guaranteed Public Access to Y Mountain Trail.--After 
     the conveyance under subsection (a), Brigham Young University 
     represents that it will--
       (1) continue to allow the same reasonable public access to 
     the trailhead and portion of the Y Mountain Trail already 
     owned by Brigham Young University as of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act that Brigham Young University has 
     historically allowed; and
       (2) allow that same reasonable public access to the portion 
     of the Y Mountain Trail and the ``Y'' symbol located on the 
     land described in subsection (a).
       (d) Survey and Administrative Costs.--The exact acreage and 
     legal description of the land to be conveyed under subsection 
     (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the 
     Secretary. Brigham Young University shall pay the reasonable 
     costs of survey, appraisal, and any administrative analyses 
     required by law.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands 
(Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. 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 Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. With that, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am very proud of this particular bill, and I am happy to yield as 
much time as he may consume to the author of this bill, the gentleman 
from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz), with the understanding that he will explain 
to you that Y Mountain is not the same thing as Yucca Mountain.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. The gentleman from Utah is very correct, this is very 
different and not nearly as controversial, I assure you.
  H.R. 253, the Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act, directs the 
Department of Agriculture to sell 80 acres of U.S. Forest Service land 
to Brigham Young University often referred to as BYU. This parcel of 
land includes the block Y on Y Mountain, a major landmark in the Provo 
area.
  H.R. 253 requires BYU to pay fair market value for the land and 
requires BYU to cover administrative and appraisal costs associated 
with the sale. Proceeds of the land sale would be used to reduce the 
deficit.
  H.R. 253 guarantees public access to the block Y and the Y Mountain 
trail after the sale. BYU has managed this parcel of land for 50 years 
and has always allowed public access.
  BYU actually owned the entire trail at one point many years ago. H.R. 
253 would restore ownership to Brigham Young University, but BYU would 
have to pay fair market value for the land.
  Currently, one part of the trail is owned by BYU and the other is 
owned by the U.S. Forest Service. Split ownership of the trail 
complicates trail maintenance and long-term planning, which ultimately 
puts public access at risk.
  Restoring this land to BYU would provide long-term certainty by 
removing any questions as to who owns the land and who is responsible 
for maintaining the trail.
  Hiking up the Y is a popular pastime in the Provo area, and H.R. 253 
ensures that the trail will be maintained for future hikers.

                              {time}  1720

  This bill was introduced in the 112th Congress as H.R. 4484 and 
passed the House on voice vote. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on 
this particular piece of legislation, and I appreciate the bipartisan 
support and work on this piece.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 253 provides for conveyance of approximately 80 
acres of Forest Service lands to Brigham Young University. We do not 
object to this legislation.
  At this time, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
253, the Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act. This legislation would 
direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell approximately 80 
acres to the U.S. Forest Service land known for years by the residents 
of the city of Provo, Utah, as ``Y Mountain'' to Brigham Young 
University.
  Located directly east of the BYU campus, the Y Mountain includes a 
trail that leads 1.2 miles from the mountain's base up to a large white 
concrete ``Y'' on the mountain's hillside, which was built over 100 
years ago. The ``Y,'' which is 380 feet high by 130 feet wide, is even 
larger than the ``Hollywood'' sign in Hollywood, California, and serves 
as an insignia for Brigham Young University.
  As an alumnus of BYU, I, too, have come to know the ``Y'' as a symbol 
of campus pride for the students, the alumni, and members of the 
greater Provo community. Some of my colleagues are probably wondering 
why did an island boy like me want to go to a place like Utah? I wanted 
to experience what snow was like; and guess what, you can have all the 
snow you want because I'm going back to the islands.
  But I will say, Mr. Speaker, the ``Y'' is illuminated five times a 
year, including freshman orientation, homecoming, graduations in April 
and August, as well as ``Y Days,'' which celebrate BYU's week of 
service activities. As a nationally recognized symbol of BYU, the Y 
Mountain is also a featured shot in almost every BYU game broadcast on 
national television.
  BYU currently manages the U.S. Forest Service portion of the trail. 
H.R. 253, however, proposes that the Federal Government sell Y Mountain 
at fair market value to Brigham Young University. The bill also 
guarantees that public access to the ``Y'' and the Y Mountain Trail be 
maintained following the sale.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my strong belief that permitting BYU to purchase 
this property would result in better maintenance of the trail and 
mountain. Given the immense source of pride in Y Mountain, BYU 
ownership of the property would only result in improved maintenance, 
cleanliness, safety, and access for the public. The transfer of 
ownership would also allow Brigham Young University to preserve a 
significant monument for future generations of students and members of 
the community.
  I want to especially thank my colleague, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Chaffetz), for his sponsorship of the bill, who also happens to be an 
alumnus of BYU, for introducing this legislation, and I do urge my 
colleagues to vote in support of this bill.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Despite being a graduate of the University of 
Utah and finding myself surrounded by BYU people here--it makes me 
terribly uncomfortable--this is still a good bill. It is a win-win 
situation and will provide the experience of those at BYU and the area 
a much safer and pleasant experience on Y Mountain, and so I urge my 
colleagues to vote for this bill.

[[Page 9254]]

  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 253, 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. SABLAN. 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, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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