[House Report 116-650]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress   }                                        {    Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  2d Session     }                                        {    116-650

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



 
 TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF A SMALL PARCEL OF COCONINO NATIONAL 
                  FOREST LAND IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA

                                _______
                                

 December 15, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 7099]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 7099) to provide for the conveyance of a small 
parcel of Coconino National Forest land in the State of 
Arizona, 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 all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST LAND CONVEYANCE, ARIZONA.

  (a) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) ABOR.--The term ``ABOR'' means the Arizona Board of 
        Regents, on behalf of the University of Arizona Experiment 
        Station.
          (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land and interests in 
        land'' means--
                  (A) the approximately 13.3 acres of land within the 
                Coconino National Forest, in Yavapai County, Arizona as 
                generally depicted on the map entitled ``Act to Convey 
                Certain NFS Land and non-Federal Land in Arizona Winter 
                Quarters'' and dated June 20, 2019; and
                  (B) an easement on Forest Service Road 9201D from its 
                junction with Forest Service Road 0618 (commonly known 
                as ``Beaver Creek'').
          (3) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means 
        the approximately 7.5 acres of land generally depicted on the 
        map entitled ``Act to Convey Certain NFS Land and non-Federal 
        Land in Arizona Summer Quarters'' and dated June 20, 2019.
          (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Agriculture.
          (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Arizona.
  (b) Land Exchange.--
          (1) Conveyance of land.--Subject to the provisions of this 
        Act, if the ABOR offers to convey to the United States all 
        right, title, and interest of the ABOR in and to the non-
        Federal land, the Secretary shall, subject to valid existing 
        rights, convey to the ABOR all right, title, and interest of 
        the United States in and to the Federal land and interests in 
        land.
          (2) Compliance with existing law.--Except as otherwise 
        provided in this Act, the Secretary shall carry out the land 
        exchange under this Act in accordance with section 206 of the 
        Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
        1716).
          (3) Conditions on acceptance.--
                  (A) Title.--As a condition of the land exchange under 
                this subsection, title to the non-Federal land to be 
                acquired by the Secretary under this subsection shall 
                be acceptable to the Secretary.
                  (B) Terms and conditions.--The conveyance of the 
                Federal land and interests in land and non-Federal land 
                shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the 
                Secretary may require.
          (4) Surveys.--
                  (A) In general.--The exact acreage and legal 
                description of the Federal land and interests in land 
                and non-Federal land shall be determined by surveys 
                approved by the Secretary.
                  (B) Costs.--The Arizona Board of Regents shall be 
                responsible for the costs of any surveys carried out 
                under subparagraph (A) and any other administrative 
                costs of carrying out the land exchange.
  (c) Valuation and Appraisals.--
          (1) Valuation.--The value of the Federal land and interests 
        in land and the non-Federal land--
                  (A) shall be equal, as determined by appraisals 
                conducted in accordance with paragraph (2); or
                  (B) if the value is not equal, shall be equalized in 
                accordance with subsection (d)(2).
          (2) Appraisals.--
                  (A) In general.--As soon as practicable after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                select an appraiser to conduct an appraisal of the 
                Federal land and interests in land and the non-Federal 
                land.
                  (B) Requirements.--An appraisal under subparagraph 
                (A) shall be conducted in accordance with nationally 
                recognized appraisal standards including--
                          (i) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for 
                        Federal Land Acquisitions; and
                          (ii) the Uniform Standards of Professional 
                        Appraisal Practice.
  (d) Equal Value and Cash Equalization.--
          (1) Equal value land exchange.--The land exchange under this 
        section shall be for equal value, or the values shall be 
        equalized by a cash payment as provided for under this 
        subsection or an adjustment in acreage. At the option of the 
        ABOR, any excess value of the non-Federal lands may be 
        considered a gift to the United States.
          (2) Equalization.--If the value of the Federal land and the 
        non-Federal land to be conveyed in a land exchange under this 
        subsection is not equal, the value may be equalized by--
                  (A) making a cash equalization payment to the 
                Secretary or to the owner of the non-Federal land, as 
                appropriate, in accordance with section 206(b) of the 
                Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
                U.S.C. 1716(b)); or
                  (B) increasing or reducing the acreage of the Federal 
                land or the non-Federal land to be exchanged, as 
                appropriate.
          (3) Deposit and use of funds received from abor.--Any cash 
        equalization payment received by the Secretary under this 
        subsection shall be deposited in the fund established under 
        Public Law 90-171 (16 U.S.C. 484a; commonly known as the ``Sisk 
        Act''). The funds so deposited shall remain available to the 
        Secretary, until expended, for the acquisition of lands, 
        waters, and interests in land for the Coconino National Forest.
  (e) Timeline.--It is the intent of Congress that the land exchange 
under subsection (b) shall be completed by not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act.
  (f) Management and Status of Acquired Land.--Any non-Federal land 
acquired by the Secretary under subsection (b) shall be managed by the 
Secretary in accordance with--
          (1) the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the ``Weeks 
        Law'') (36 Stat. 961, chapter 186; 16 U.S.C. 480 et seq.); and
          (2) any other laws (including regulations) applicable to the 
        National Forest System.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 7099 is to provide for the conveyance 
of a small parcel of Coconino National Forest land in the State 
of Arizona.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    H.R. 7099 would authorize a land exchange between the 
University of Arizona's Board of Regents, on behalf of the 
Arizona Experiment Station (ABOR), and the U.S. Forest Service 
(USFS) for two parcels of land in the Coconino National Forest. 
ABOR currently operates cattle ranching facilities on the 13.3-
acre V-V Ranch Winter Headquarters under a special use 
authorization. The University seeks clear title to the land to 
develop new facilities, including dorms and classroom space, to 
support the University's recently accredited College of 
Veterinary Medicine. Hands-on experience at the Winter 
Headquarters will be a required portion of the College's 
curriculum, but this work cannot be accommodated until new 
facilities are developed. In exchange for title to the parcel, 
ABOR would provide USFS with a portion of the roughly 43-acre 
V-V Ranch Summer Headquarters appraised to be of equal value.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 7099 was introduced on June 4, 2020, by Chair Raul M. 
Grijalva (D-AZ). The bill was referred solely to the Committee 
on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. On 
June 18, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On 
September 30, 2020, the Natural Resources Committee met to 
consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous 
consent. Chair Grijalva offered an amendment designated 
Grijalva #1. The amendment was agreed to by voice vote. The 
bill, as amended, was adopted and ordered favorably reported to 
the House of Representatives by voice vote.

                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of section 103(i) of H.Res. 6 of the 116th 
Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or consider 
H.R. 7099: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on National 
Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held on June 18, 2020.

            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 Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

      COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of 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 and with respect to 
requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested 
but not received a cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee adopts 
as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate of the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such cost 
estimate be made available before House passage of the bill.
    The Committee has requested but not received from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to 
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to provide for the conveyance of a 
small parcel of Coconino National Forest land in the State of 
Arizona.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                 UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT

    An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of 
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                           EXISTING PROGRAMS

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program.

                  APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

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

        SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS

    None.

                                  [all]