[House Report 106-749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



106th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     106-749

======================================================================



 
               CASTLE ROCK RANCH ACQUISITION ACT OF 2000

                                _______
                                

 July 17, 2000.--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 S. 1705]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(S. 1705) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into 
land exchanges to acquire from the private owner and to convey 
to the State of Idaho approximately 1,240 acres of land near 
the City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of S. 1705 is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to enter into land exchanges to acquire from the 
private owner and convey to the State of Idaho approximately 
1,240 acres of land near the City of Rocks National Reserve, 
Idaho, and for other purposes.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    S. 1705 directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire 
land, known as the Castle Rock Ranch, outside the boundary of 
the City of Rocks National Reserve. The Secretary would then 
convey the acquired land (Castle Rocks Ranch) to the State of 
Idaho in exchange for State land located within the Hagerman 
Fossil Beds National Monument. Upon completion of this land 
exchange, the State of Idaho may then exchange, with the 
consent of the private landowners, portions of the Castle Rock 
Ranch for private land within the boundaries of the City of 
Rocks National Reserve. As a condition of the exchange the 
State of Idaho shall administer the private land acquired in 
accordance with Title II of the Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act 
(16 U.S.C. 460yy et seq.).
    The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument was created in 
1988, and consists of approximately 4,280 acres. Hagerman 
contains the largest known concentration of Hagerman horse 
fossils in North America. These fossils have international 
significance because they are the largest deposits of fossils 
from the Pliocene time period, nearly 3.5 million years ago. 
The proposed land to be exchanged inside the Monument is the 
actual location of the Horse Fossil Quarry, which is the home 
of the Hagerman Horse Fossil. The exchange authorized by this 
bill would consolidate all of the inholdings in the Monument.
    The City of Rocks National Reserve, also created in 1988, 
is made up of roughly 14,300 acres. Named for the rock 
pinnacles (60-70 stories high) which resemble a skyline, this 
national monument is now a favorite for rock climbers, and 
outdoor enthusiasts. Because it is a National Reserve, the land 
is jointly managed by the State of Idaho and the National Park 
Service. Nearly 7,300 acres are publicly owned, while the other 
7,000 acres belong to private landowners.
    The Castle Rock Ranch is comprised of approximately 1,240 
acres. This unique piece of private land, now owned by the 
Conservation Fund, has been used for grazing and ranching, and 
also contains many of the same rock formations as the City of 
Rocks National Reserve, the largest being in the shape of a 
castle.
    The House companion measure to S. 1705 is H.R. 3693, 
authored by Congressman Michael Simpson (R-ID).
    For additional information on S. 1705, please see Senate 
Report 106-262.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    S. 1705 was introduced on October 7, 1999, by Senator Larry 
Craig (R-ID). In the House of Representatives, the bill was 
referred to the Committee on Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public 
Lands. On June 28, 2000 the Resources Committee met to consider 
S. 1705. The Subcommittee was discharged from further 
consideration by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered 
and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of 
Representatives by voice vote.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII 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 this bill.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) 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 this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) 
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 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. Government Reform Oversight Findings. Under clause 
3(c)(4) of rule XIII 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 on this bill.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 
3(c)(3) of rule XIII 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 this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office.

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, July 6, 2000.
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 S. 1705, the Castle 
Rock Ranch Acquisition Act of 2000.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Deborah 
Reis (for federal costs) and Victoria Heid Hall (for the state 
and local impact).
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

S. 1705--Castle Rock Ranch Acquisition Act of 2000

    S. 1705 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to 
acquire by donation or purchase the Castle Rock Ranch in Idaho. 
Once acquired, the ranch would be conveyed to the state of 
Idaho in exchange for about 490 acres of land located within 
the boundary of the Hagerman National Monument.
    Based on information provided by the NPS, CBO estimates 
that it would cost less than $1 million to acquire Castle Rock 
Ranch. We further estimate that additional costs to execute the 
exchange of lands with Idaho and to manage the newly acquired 
acreage would not be significant. S. 1705 would not affect 
direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures would not apply.
    S. 1705 contains no private-sector or intergovernmental 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no significant costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments. Acquiring the Castle Rock Ranch from the federal 
government and participating in subsequent exchanges with 
private owners of land within the City of Rocks National 
Reserve would be voluntary on the part of the state of Idaho.
    On April 11, 2000, CBO prepared a cost estimate for S. 
1705, the Castle Rock Ranch Acquisition Act of 1999, as ordered 
reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources on April 5, 2000. The two versions of the legislation 
are identical, as are the cost estimates.
    The CBO contacts are Deborah Reis (for federal costs) and 
Victoria Heid Hall (for the state and local impact). This 
estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

               PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    This bill is not intended to preempt State, local, or 
tribal law.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                
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