To provide for the sale of approximately 30 acres of Federal land in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Salt Lake County, Utah, to permit the establishment of a minimally invasive transportation alternative for skiers, called "SkiLink", to connect two ski resorts in the Wasatch Mountains, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wasatch Range Recreation Access 
Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Canyons Ski Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort and 
        other ski areas are interested in providing direct public 
        access between the Wasatch Range front and back in the State of 
        Utah by linking these ski resorts by means of a transportation 
        connection, such as skier transport, lift, or tramway.
            (2) The seven ski resorts in the Wasatch Range in Utah are 
        situated within a 5-mile radius, and the resorts are separated 
        by mountain ridges and other natural features of the Uinta-
        Wasatch-Cache National Forest, but currently there is no 
        convenient transportation link between the resorts.
            (3) Wasatch Mountains Resorts have proposed a public-access 
        transportation connection through construction of a minimally 
        invasive transportation alternative gondola for skiers, called 
        ``SkiLink'', which would cross approximately 30 acres of lands 
        managed by the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest from private 
        land at The Canyons Ski Resort in Summit County, Utah, to 
        private land at Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood 
        Canyon, Utah.
            (4) The land and resource management plan for Uinta-
        Wasatch-Cache National Forest prohibits new alpine ski lifts on 
        National Forest System land.
            (5) Despite efforts by Utah Department of Transportation, 
        the Wasatch Front Regional Council, and the Utah Transit 
        Authority to increase transit and carpool access in Big 
        Cottonwood Canyon, daily traffic on peak winter weekends ranges 
        between 8,000 and 9,000 vehicles per day. Addressing congested 
        traffic conditions in the Wasatch Canyons is important for the 
        safety, health, and economy of the Wasatch Range front and 
        back.
            (6) Studies show that the establishment of the SkiLink 
        would reduce ski-season vehicle traffic between The Canyons Ski 
        Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort by as much as 18,000 cars 
        per year or 1 million fewer miles driven per year, and the 
        amount of the reduction is expected to increase over time.
            (7) SkiLink would produce immediate traffic benefits, 
        including a reduction in PM 2.5 and other emissions in Parley's 
        and Big Cottonwood Canyons.
            (8) A preliminary environmental review of the proposed 
        SkiLink corridor assessed the potential impact to special-
        status species, water quality and watershed resources, and 
        visual resources and found that no federally listed species or 
        critical habitat would be affected and that any water, plant, 
        and wildlife issues could be addressed through mitigation.
            (9) Minimally invasive, environmentally sound construction 
        techniques would be used to construct SkiLink, including the 
        use of helicopters for concrete placement and tower 
        installations.
            (10) The winter sport industry in Utah is a significant 
        contributor to the economy of Utah, with the ski/snowboarding 
        industry bringing $1.26 billion to Utah during the 2009/2010 
        ski season and resulting in 20,000 jobs.
            (11) Economic analysis of SkiLink shows it would infuse 
        another $50,000,000 a year into Utah's economy and create 500 
        new jobs in the tourism and hospitality industries by creating 
        the largest interconnected ski network in the United States and 
        providing access to more than 6,000 acres of existing ski 
        terrain.

SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND, UINTA-WASATCH-CACHE 
              NATIONAL FOREST, SALT LAKE COUNTY, UTAH.

    (a) Conveyance Required; Purpose.--Subject to subsection (e), the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall convey, by sale, to Canyons-SkiLink, 
LLC, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a 
parcel of National Forest System land in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache 
National Forest in Salt Lake County, Utah, consisting of approximately 
30 acres, as identified on the map entitled ``Wasatch Range Recreation 
Access Enhancement Act'' and dated February 27, 2012, for the purpose 
of permitting Canyons-SkiLink, LLC, to construct a ski-lift, gondola, 
or tramway to serve as a public-access transportation interconnection 
of the Wasatch Front and the Wasatch Back Mountains.
    (b) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance of the 
National Forest System land under subsection (a), Canyons-SkiLink, LLC, 
shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to at least the fair market 
value of the land as of the date of the enactment of this Act. Any 
funds received by the Secretary under this Act shall be deposited in 
the general fund of the Treasury to reduce the Federal deficit.
    (c) Determination of Fair Market Value.--The fair market value of 
the National Forest System land to be conveyed under subsection (a) 
shall be based on an appraisal acceptable to the Secretary. The 
appraisal shall be completed no later than 6 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (d) Environmental Compliance.--The Secretary shall complete all 
actions that may be required under the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and all other applicable laws in making 
the conveyance under this section.
                                                 

Summary: Wasatch Range Recreation Access Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to convey, by sale, a specified parcel of National Forest System land within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Salt Lake County, Utah, to Canyons-SkiLink, LLC, to allow it to construct a ski-lift, gondola, or tramway to serve as a public-access transportation interconnection of the Wasatch Front and the Wasatch Back Mountains. Requires Canyons-SkiLink to pay to the Secretary an amount that is equal to at least the fair market value of such land. Requires the deposit of any funds received by the Secretary under this Act in the general Treasury fund to reduce the federal deficit. Requires the fair market value of the National Forest System land to be conveyed under this Act to be determined based on an appraisal that is acceptable to the Secretary. Instructs the Secretary to complete all actions that may be required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and all other applicable laws in making the conveyance under this Act.