[Senate Report 109-232]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 394
109th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     109-232

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



 
                       IDAHO LAND ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                _______
                                

                 April 20, 2006.--Ordered to be printed

   Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of April 7, 2006

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Domenici, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 1131]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 1131) to authorize the exchange of 
certain Federal land within the State of Idaho, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
with an amendment and recommends 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. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Idaho Land Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) Agreement.--The term ``Agreement'' means the agreement 
        executed in April 2005 entitled ``Agreement to Initiate, Boise 
        Foothills--Northern Idaho Land Exchange'', as modified by the 
        agreement executed in March 2006 entitled ``Amendment No. 1'', 
        and entered into by--
                  (A) the Bureau of Land Management;
                  (B) the Forest Service;
                  (C) the State; and
                  (D) the City.
          (2) Bureau of land management land.--The term ``Bureau of 
        Land Management land'' means the approximately 605 acres of 
        land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (including 
        all appurtenances to the land) that is proposed to be acquired 
        by the State, as identified in exhibit A2 of the Agreement and 
        as generally depicted on the maps.
          (3) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Idaho State Board of 
        Land Commissioners.
          (4) City.--The term ``City'' means the city of Boise, Idaho.
          (5) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the Bureau 
        of Land Management land and the National Forest System land.
          (6) Maps.--The term ``maps'' means maps 1 through 7 entitled 
        ``Parcel Identification Map: Idaho Lands Enhancement Act Land 
        Exchange'' and dated February 28, 2006.
          (7) National forest system land.--The term ``National Forest 
        System land'' means the approximately 7,220 acres of land 
        (including all appurtenances to the land) that is--
                  (A) administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in 
                the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and the Clearwater 
                National Forest;
                  (B) proposed to be acquired by the State;
                  (C) identified in exhibit A2 of the Agreement; and
                  (D) generally depicted on the maps.
          (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        the Interior.
          (9) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Idaho, 
        Department of Lands.
          (10) State land.--The term ``State land'' means the 
        approximately 11,815 acres of land (including all appurtenances 
        to the land) administered by the State that is proposed to be 
        acquired by the United States, as identified in exhibit A1 of 
        the Agreement and as generally depicted on the maps.

SEC. 3. LAND EXCHANGE.

  (a) In General.--In accordance with the Agreement and this Act, if 
the State offers to convey the State land to the United States, the 
Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall--
          (1) accept the offer; and
          (2) on receipt of title to the State land, simultaneously 
        convey to the State the Federal land.
  (b) Valid Existing Rights.--The conveyance of the Federal land and 
State land shall be subject to all valid existing rights.
  (c) Equal Value Exchange.--
          (1) In general.--The value of the Federal land and State land 
        to be exchanged under this Act--
                  (A) shall be equal; or
                  (B) shall be made equal in accordance with subsection 
                (d).
          (2) Appraisals.--The value of the Federal land and State land 
        shall be determined in accordance with appraisals--
                  (A) conducted in accordance with--
                          (i) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for 
                        Federal Land Acquisitions; and
                          (ii) the Uniform Standards of Professional 
                        Appraisal Practice;
                  (B) reviewed by an interdepartmental review team 
                comprised of representatives of Federal and State 
                agencies; and
                  (C) approved by the Secretary or the Secretary of 
                Agriculture, as appropriate.
  (d) Cash Equalization.--
          (1) In general.--If the value of the Federal land and State 
        land is not equal, the value may be equalized by the payment of 
        cash to the United States or to the State, as appropriate, in 
        accordance with section 206(b) of the Federal Land Policy and 
        Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(b)).
          (2)  Disposition and use of proceeds.--
                  (A) Disposition of proceeds.--Any cash equalization 
                payments received by the United States under paragraph 
                (1) shall be deposited in the fund established under 
                Public Law 90-171 (commonly known as the ``Sisk Act'') 
                (16 U.S.C. 484a).
                  (B) Use of proceeds.--Amounts deposited under 
                subparagraph (A) shall be available to the Secretary of 
                Agriculture, without further appropriation and until 
                expended, for the acquisition of land and interests in 
                land for addition to the National Forest System in the 
                State.
  (e) Timing.--It is the intent of Congress that the land exchange 
authorized and directed by this Act shall be completed not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
  (f) Rights-of-Way.--
          (1) Rights-of-way to national forest system land.--The 
        Secretary of Agriculture, under the authority of the Federal 
        Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
        seq.), shall convey to the State any easements or other rights-
        of-way to National Forest System land that are--
                  (A) appropriate to provide access to the National 
                Forest System land acquired by the State; and
                  (B) agreed to by the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
                State.
          (2) Rights-of-way to state land.--The State shall convey to 
        the United States any easements or other rights-of-way to land 
        owned by the State that are--
                  (A) appropriate to provide access to the State land 
                acquired by the United States; and
                  (B) agreed to by--
                          (i) the Secretary or the Secretary of 
                        Agriculture; and
                          (ii) the State.
  (g) Costs.--The City, either directly or through a collection 
agreement with the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall 
pay the administrative costs associated with the conveyance of the 
Federal land and State land, including the costs of any field 
inspections, environmental analyses, appraisals, title examinations, 
and deed and patent preparations.

SEC. 4. MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL LAND.

  (a) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.--
          (1) In general.--There is transferred from the Secretary to 
        the Secretary of Agriculture administrative jurisdiction over 
        the land described in paragraph (2).
          (2) Description of land.--The land referred to in paragraph 
        (1) is the approximately 2,110 acres of land that is 
        administered by the Bureau of Land Management and located in 
        Shoshone County, Idaho, as generally identified in exhibit A3 
        of the Agreement.
          (3) Wilderness study areas.--Any land designated as a 
        Wilderness Study Area that is transferred to the Secretary of 
        Agriculture under paragraph (1) shall be managed in a manner 
        that preserves the suitability of land for designation as 
        wilderness until Congress determines otherwise.
  (b) Additions to the National Forest System.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall administer any land transferred to, or conveyed to 
the United States for administration by, the Secretary of Agriculture 
in accordance with--
          (1) the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the ``Weeks 
        Act'') (16 U.S.C. 480 et seq.); and
          (2) the laws (including regulations) applicable to the 
        National Forest System.
  (c) Land To Be Managed by the Secretary.--The Secretary shall 
administer any State land conveyed to the United States under this Act 
for administration by the Secretary in accordance with--
          (1) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
        U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
          (2) other applicable laws.
  (d) Land and Water Conservation Fund.--For purposes of section 7 of 
the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-9), 
the boundaries of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and the 
Clearwater National Forest shall be considered to be the boundaries of 
the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and the Clearwater National 
Forest, respectively, as of January 1, 1965.

SEC. 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

  (a) Legal Descriptions.--The Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, 
and the Board may modify the descriptions of land specified in the 
Agreement to--
          (1) correct errors; or
          (2) make minor adjustments to the parcels based on a survey 
        or other means.
  (b) Revocation of Orders.--Subject to valid existing rights, any 
public land orders withdrawing any of the Federal land from 
appropriation or disposal under the public land laws are revoked to the 
extent necessary to permit disposal of the Federal land.
  (c) Withdrawals.--
          (1)  Federal land.--Subject to valid existing rights, pending 
        completion of the land exchange, the Federal land is withdrawn 
        from--
                  (A) all forms of location, entry, and patent under 
                the mining and public land laws; and
                  (B) disposition under the mineral leasing laws and 
                the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et 
                seq.).
          (2) State land.--Subject to valid existing rights, the land 
        transferred to the United States under this Act is withdrawn 
        from--
                  (A) all forms of location, entry, and patent under 
                the mining and public land laws; and
                  (B) disposition under the mineral leasing laws and 
                the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et 
                seq.).
          (3) Effect.--Nothing in this section precludes the Secretary 
        or the Secretary of Agriculture from using common varieties of 
        mineral materials for construction and maintenance of Federal 
        roads and facilities on the State land acquired under this Act.

                         PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE

    The purpose of S. 1131 is to direct an exchange of 
approximately 7,220 acres of National Forest land and 605 acres 
of Bureau of Land Management land in Idaho for approximately 
11,815 acres of the State of Idaho's land.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEED

    Since the late 1960s, the issue of conserving the Boise 
Foothills as open space has been a significant concern of the 
city of Boise community. Support for conservation efforts has 
continued to grow within the community, culminating in May 2001 
with the citizens of Boise, in one of the highest voter 
turnouts in city history, electing to tax Boise City residents 
in order to provide funding to secure permanent public open 
space in the Boise Foothills.
    Approximately 7,700 acres of land in the Boise Foothills is 
owned by the State of Idaho, and the State is mandated under 
its constitution to manage these State Endowment lands to 
maximize revenue. While the city of Boise was able to conserve 
approximately 3,400 acres of these lands through other 
exchanges, it has faced a number of challenges in protecting 
the remainder.
    The city of Boise, the State of Idaho, the Forest Service, 
and the Bureau of Land Management collaboratively produced an 
agreement that uses both Bureau of Land Management and Forest 
Service lands to balance an exchange with Idaho State Endowment 
lands on an equal-value basis. The agreement includes Federal 
and State lands across a broad area in the State.
    The process of developing the exchange proposal has been 
open, and the exchange appears to have wide support in the 
State. The city of Boise has facilitated public meetings, 
provided opportunities for public comment, met with many of the 
affected counties, and has made drafts of the maps of the 
exchange available to the public. In addition, a multi-agency 
group has evaluated timber values, minerals, cultural 
resources, water rights, legal access, wildlife, fisheries, 
vegetation, hydrology, wetlands, threatened and endangered 
species, and specific habitat.
    Public comments on the proposed exchange concepts were 
solicited beginning September 20, 2004. Through press releases 
and mailings, the public was encouraged to attend any one of 
the Open House meetings in Kellogg, St. Maries, Moscow, and 
Boise. Written comments were also encouraged through the use of 
self-addressed stamped questionnaires and through an online 
website. Tribal governments were contacted independently of the 
public comment.
    The city of Boise has made a substantial investment of 
local property-tax dollars in the facilitation of this land 
exchange. This exchange will complete a statewide collaborative 
process that represents a legacy of local, State, and Federal 
cooperation regarding land management interests throughout the 
State.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 1131 was introduced by Senator Craig on May 26, 2005. 
The Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a hearing on 
S. 1131 on July 20, 2005 (S. Hrg. 109-157). The Energy and 
Natural Resources favorably reported S. 1131, with amendment in 
the form of a complete substitute, by unanimous voice vote on 
March 8, 2006.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in 
open business session on March 8, 2006, by a voice vote of a 
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1131 if 
amended as described herein.

                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

    The Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute that refers to an updated agreement among the State 
of Idaho, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service 
dated March 2006 and a new set of maps dated February 28, 2006. 
It also simplifies the language in section 3 on valid existing 
rights and appraisal requirements. It adds language providing 
Congress' intent that the exchange be completed within 180 days 
of the Act being signed into law, makes technical 
clarifications, and simplifies both the provisions on 
acquisition, management, and the Land and Water Conservation 
Fund. It removes language on the reconfiguration of parcels, 
which is no longer needed due to the final balance of the 
exchange, and removes sufficiency language.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

    Sections 1 and 2--provides the short title and definitions, 
including references to the lands each agency will convey, the 
maps that depict them, and the agreement under which they will 
be exchanged.
    Section 3(a)--directs the Secretaries of the Interior and 
Agriculture to exchange the lands, as defined in the Act, in 
accordance with the agreement.
    Subsection 3(b)--provides the exchange shall be subject to 
all valid existing rights. The Committee is not aware of any 
water rights on the Federal land that are claimed by the Nez 
Perce Tribe, as provided for in the Snake River Water Rights 
Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-447), but, in case there are such rights, 
subsection (b) makes clear that the conveyances of land 
directed by this Act would not affect the title to any of the 
Nez Perce Tribe's water rights.
    Subsection 3(c)--requires an equal value exchange subject 
to appraisals completed under the Uniform Appraisal Standards 
for Federal Land Acquisitions and the Uniform Standards of 
Professional Appraisal Practice. It also directs a review of 
these appraisals by an interdepartmental review team comprised 
of representatives of Federal and State Agencies, and approval 
by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
Agriculture, as appropriate.
    Subsection 3(d)--authorizes the exchange to include cash 
equalization and provides that any cash balance received by the 
United States shall be deposited in the fund established under 
the Sisk Act (16 U.S.C. 484a). It further directs that such 
deposits be utilized to acquire lands for the National Forest 
System in the State of Idaho.
    Subsection 3(e)--provides that Congress intends the 
exchange to be completed within 180 days after enactment of the 
Act. The Committee is aware that the State of Idaho, city of 
Boise, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management have 
undertaken environmental analyses and public meetings to help 
inform the public and Congress of the exchange.
    Subsection 3(f)--authorizes and directs the Secretaries of 
the Interior and Agriculture to exchange access and easements 
to the State land to be acquired by the United States.
    Subsection 3(g)--directs that the city of Boise shall pay 
for the administrative costs to carry out the exchange.
    Section 4(a)--transfers administrative jurisdiction over 
approximately 2,110 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to 
the Forest Service.
    Section 4(b) and (c)--provides that any lands transferred 
to the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall be managed in accordance with the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.), in the case of lands transferred to the Bureau of Land 
Management, and in accordance with the Act of March 1, 1911 
(commonly known as the ``Weeks Act'') (16 U.S.C. 480 et seq.), 
and the laws (including regulations) applicable to the National 
Forest System, in the case of lands transferred to the Forest 
Service. Additionally, it directs that any land designated as a 
Wilderness Study Area that is transferred to the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall be managed in a manner that preserves the 
suitability of land for designation as wilderness until 
Congress determines otherwise.
    Subsection 4(d)--directs that lands transferred to the 
Idaho Panhandle and Clearwater National Forests shall be 
considered to be within the boundaries of those Forests for the 
purpose of section 7 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-9)
    Section 5--authorizes the Secretaries of the Interior and 
Agriculture to correct errors and make minor adjustments to 
descriptions of lands to be exchanged, revokes certain public 
land orders, subject to valid existing rights, and withdraws 
the Federal lands from location, entry, and patent under mining 
and geothermal steam claims and public land laws. It also 
withdraws the lands acquired by the United States, while 
allowing the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to use 
common varieties of mineral material for construction and 
maintenance of Federal roads and facilities.

                   COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

    The following estimate of costs of this measure has been 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office.

S. 1131--Idaho Land Enhancement Act

    S. 1131 would direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and the 
Interior to convey to the state of Idaho a total of 7,825 acres 
of federal land in exchange for 11,815 acres of land owned by 
that state. Under the bill, if the values of the properties to 
be exchanged are not equal, the parties could either adjust the 
number of acres or make cash payments to equalize those values. 
Any federal spending for such payments would be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds.
    Based on information from the Forest Service and the 
Department of the Interior, CBO estimates that implementing S. 
1131 would have no significant impact on the federal budget. 
Enacting the bill not affect revenues. According to the 
agencies, the federal land to be conveyed currently generates 
no significant collections from natural resource sales or 
leases and is not expected to do so over the next 10 years; 
therefore, we estimate that conveying it would not affect 
offsetting receipts (a credit against direct spending). Based 
on information from the agencies, we expect any cash 
equalization payments exchanged under S. 1131 would be 
negligible. Finally, we also estimate that the proposed 
exchange would not significantly affect the agencies' 
administrative costs.
    S. 1131 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 
Enacting this legislation would benefit the city of Boise and 
the state of Idaho. Any costs that they might incur to complete 
this exchange would be incurred voluntarily.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Megan Carroll. 
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                      REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out S. 1131.
    The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of 
imposing Government-established standards or significant 
economic responsibilities on private individuals and 
businesses.
    No personal information would be collected in administering 
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal 
privacy.
    Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the 
enactment of S. 1131.

                        EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

    The Administration provided its views on S. 1131 during the 
Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests hearing on July 20, 
2005, as follows:

Statement of Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief, National Forest Service, U.S. 
               Forest Service, Department of Agriculture

    Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for 
giving me the opportunity to present the views of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture on S. 1131, the Idaho Land 
Enhancement Act of 2005.
    The Idaho Land Enhancement Act would authorize the Forest 
Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to enter into a 
collaborative land exchange with the State of Idaho and the 
City of Boise, Idaho. The exchange was initiated by the City of 
Boise to preserve open space in the Boise foothills. The 
exchange culminates a long-term effort by all parties to 
preserve the character of the Boise foothills, to increase long 
term financial return to the Idaho State Endowment Fund and to 
improve land management through consolidation of land ownership 
on federal and state lands. The Department supports enactment 
of S. 1131. We have a few recommendations that we would like 
the committee to consider.
    The Boise metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing 
regions in the nation. The Boise foothills region provides a 
scenic backdrop as well as multiple opportunities for outdoor 
recreation activities by area residents. The State of Idaho 
manages approximately 6,000 acres of State Endowment lands 
within the Foothills that have significant residential 
development potential. These lands have a State Constitutional 
mandate to maximize revenue to benefit State public schools. 
These lands currently yield very little revenue from livestock 
grazing or from any other source thus there are incentives to 
convey the land out of public ownership.
    To reduce the potential of scenic and recreational lands 
that are highly-valued by the City of Boise from being 
developed, S. 1131 proposes to convey lands in the foothills 
from the State of Idaho to the BLM and the Forest Service. To 
equalize the value of the exchange, federal timbered lands 
under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service would be conveyed 
to the State of Idaho. The administrative costs associated with 
the conveyance of the Federal land and State land would be paid 
by the City of Boise.
    The proposed land exchange addresses threats of unmanaged 
recreational use, habitat fragmentation, and fire and fuels 
reduction in both Northern and Southern Idaho. This proposal 
has been proceeding through the administrative process for land 
exchanges. Upon determination that the exchange was feasible 
and worthy of continued study, on April 26, 2005, the City of 
Boise, Idaho Department of Lands, Forest Service and the BLM 
signed an agreement to initiate an exchange.
    As part of the agreement, BLM, the Forest Service and Boise 
City agreed to be jointly responsible for completing 
environmental and cultural review work on Federal lands being 
transferred to the State of Idaho. Boise City is to pay for 
contract environmental and cultural review work approved by all 
parties to the agreement. BLM, the Forest Service, Idaho 
Department of Lands, and Boise City will be jointly responsible 
for completing mineral potential reports, also to be paid for 
by the City of Boise.
    Under the agreement, initial NEPA scoping was done. BLM and 
the Forest Service have completed the following resource 
assessments: cultural/historic, Threatened and Endangered 
Species, biological, botanical, noxious weeds, timber, 
wetlands, floodplains, water resources, recreation, wilderness, 
visual, socio-economic and environmental justice, mineral and 
mineral potential. Pursuant to the Congressional Finding in 
Sec. 5(e), the Forest Service would carry out no further 
administrative or environmental analysis in completing the 
exchange as delineated in the bill. We will work with the 
Committee so that there is a common understanding of the 
additional administrative or environmental review that would 
otherwise be undertaken by the agency.
    This agreement provides the framework for S. 1131. Under 
the proposed exchange, approximately 7,220 acres of National 
Forest System land within the Idaho Panhandle National Forest 
and the Clearwater National Forest would be conveyed to the 
State of Idaho. Approximately 11,085 acres of land under the 
jurisdiction of the Idaho Department of Lands would be conveyed 
to the Bureau of Land Management (7,000 acres) and to the U.S. 
Forest Service (4,085 acres). In addition 2,111 acres in the 
Grandmother Mountain area currently under the jurisdiction of 
the Bureau of Land Management in Shoshone County, Idaho would 
be transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture to be 
administered by the Forest Service on the Idaho Panhandle 
National Forests.
    Management of National Forest System lands within the Idaho 
Panhandle, Boise, Wallowa-Whitman and Clearwater National 
Forests would be improved with the consolidation of land 
ownership patterns achieved by the Act. Efficiencies will be 
realized by reducing the number of joint-use roads and 
easements, and decreasing costs associated with boundary 
management. Consolidation of National Forest ownership within 
the Elk Creek watershed will prevent habitat fragmentation and 
increase opportunities for public recreation in a popular area 
of the Clearwater National Forest. Likewise, the State of Idaho 
and the BLM will benefit from land ownership consolidation and 
increase ability to achieve important management objectives.
    The 2,111 acre Grandmother Mountain tract is in an area 
where other land under BLM jurisdiction was previously 
transferred to the Forest Service. Through the Arkansas-Idaho 
Land Exchange Act of 1992 approximately 10,000 acres of land 
administered by the BLM were conveyed to the Forest Service. 
The 2,111 acre remaining BLM tract is identified as a 
Wilderness Study Area. The legislation provides that land 
transferred to the Forest Service that was previously 
designated as a Wilderness Study Area shall be managed in a 
manner that preserves the suitability of the land for 
designation as wilderness until Congress determines otherwise.
    We would like to work with the committee to implement the 
following recommendations concerning this bill. The intent of 
Sec. 3 (d) is to require that the exchange be of equal value 
between state and federal lands, however, the cash equalization 
provision is the only method described to facilitate this 
result. Since none of the parties wish to incur a large cash 
obligation, we recommend adding a provision allowing for the 
deletion of parcels as an alternative method of equalizing 
values.
    There are several of the State of Idaho parcels that would 
be acquired by the Forest Service that are located adjacent to 
but outside of the existing National Forest boundaries. We 
recommend amending Sec. 4(e) to modify the boundaries on all 
four of the affected National Forest to accommodate these 
parcels.
    This concludes my statement, I would be happy to answer any 
questions that you may have.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no 
changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 1131 as ordered 
reported.

                                  
