[House Report 105-114]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
105th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 105-114
_______________________________________________________________________
TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA, LAND CONVEYANCE
_______
June 3, 1997.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1439]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 1439) to facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe
National Forest in the State of California to Placer County,
California, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as
amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA.
(a) Sale Authorized.--Subject to all valid existing rights, the
Secretary of Agriculture may sell to Placer County, California (in this
section referred to as the ``County''), all right, title, and interest
of the United States in and to a parcel of real property, consisting of
approximately 35 acres located in Tahoe National Forest in the State of
California to permit the County to create a community park in Squaw
Valley.
(b) Description of Property.--The parcel to be conveyed under
subsection (a) is generally depicted on a map entitled ``Placer County
Conveyance'', dated April 1997, which shall be available for public
inspection in appropriate offices of the Secretary. The map and
attached approximate legal description are subject to adjustment by
survey. The cost of any such survey shall be borne by the County.
(c) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance under
subsection (a), the County shall pay to the United States an amount
equal to the fair market value of the conveyed parcel, as determined in
conformance with the document entitled ``Uniform Appraisal Standards
for Federal Land Acquisitions (1992)''. The proceeds from the sale
shall be deposited in the fund established by Public Law 90-171 (16
U.S.C. 484a; commonly known as the Sisk Act) and shall be available for
expenditure in accordance with such Act.
(d) Existing Uses.--As a condition on the conveyance under subsection
(a), the County shall agree to provide for continuation of any existing
non-Federal improvements or uses on the conveyed parcel for the
remainder of the terms of the existing authorizations.
(e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require such
additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance under
subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the
interests of the United States.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 1439 is to facilitate the sale of
certain land in Tahoe National Forest in the State of
California to Placer County, California.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The bill would authorize the Forest Service to sell
approximately thirty-five acres in Squaw Valley, California, to
Placer County, California, to build a park for the community.
The site is located at the southwest and northwest corners of
Squaw Valley Road and Highway 89. This area stands out as the
only feasible location to accommodate the various interests.
Both the local Forest Service and Placer County believe
that this legislation is needed to help streamline the
acquisition process and thus save thousands of dollars for the
county and the Forest Service.
There is substantial support for the park in the community
and the Placer County Parks Commission has allocated over
$250,000 for acquisition and development of the park.
Currently, there are no public parks in Squaw Valley. The
nearest park facilities are located in Tahoe City which is
approximately ten miles away.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 1439 was introduced on April 24, 1997, by Congressman
John Doolittle (R-CA). The bill was referred to the Committee
on Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
Forests and Forest Health. On May 6, 1997, the Subcommittee
held a hearing on H.R. 1439. The Administration testified that
it does not recommend the passage of H.R. 1439 because it feels
the legislation is unnecessary. However, if the legislation is
moved forward, they requested technical amendments clarifying
the description of the parcel and to assure the return of
proceeds. On May 8, 1997, the Subcommittee met to mark up H.R.
1439. An amendment to make technical corrections suggested by
the Forest Service was offered by Congressman John Doolittle,
and adopted voice vote. The bill was then ordered favorably
reported to the Full Committee. On May 21, 1997, the Full
Resources Committee met to consider H.R. 1439. No further
amendments were offered. The bill was then ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section one authorizes the sale of approximately 35 acres
of Forest Service land in Placer County, California to create a
community park in Squaw Valley. The bill also describes the
parcel to be sold, directs that the County shall pay fair
market value for the land, provides for continuation of any
existing non-Federal improvements and requires such additional
terms and conditions that may be needed to protect the
interests of the United States.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives,
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the
Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority
to enact H.R. 1439.
COST OF THE LEGISLATION
Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out
H.R. 1439. However, clause 7(d) of that rule provides that this
requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XI
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R.
1439 does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and
Oversight on the subject of H.R. 1439.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H.R.
1439 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, May 30, 1997.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1439, a bill to
facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe National Forest in
the State of California to Placer County, California.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Victoria V.
Heid (for federal costs), and Marjorie A. Miller (for the state
and local impact).
Sincerely,
June E. O'Neill, Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 1439--A bill to facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe
National Forest in the State of California to Placer County,
California
CBO estimates that enacting this bill would have no
significant impact on the federal budget. Enacting H.R. 1439
would not affect direct spending or receipts relative to
current law; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 1430 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
H.R. 1439 would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to
sell about 35 acres of federal land in Tahoe National Forest to
Placer County, California. The bill would require Placer County
to pay any survey costs incurred in the transaction.
According to the Forest Service, the Secretary already has
authority to sell this land under current law (7 U.S.C. 1012a
and 16 U.S.C. 484a). Therefore, CBO estimates that this
legislation would not result in any additional receipts to the
federal government. H.R. 1439 provides that proceeds from the
sale be deposited in an existing special fund in the Treasury,
which is available to the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to
appropriation, for land acquisition in the same state.
The transaction authorized by this bill would be voluntary
on the part of Placer County. Should the county decide to
purchase the land, it would pay fair market value for the land,
probably about $350,000, and any survey costs. The survey costs
would not be significant. The county has also budgeted about
$250,000 for construction of a park on this property.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Victoria V.
Heid (for federal costs), and Marjorie A. Miller (for the state
and local impact). This estimate was approved by Robert A.
Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
H.R. 1439 contains no unfunded mandates.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, H.R. 1439 would make no changes in existing
law.