99–006

107TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 107–387

CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

APRIL 9, 2002.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of

the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. HANSEN, from the Committee on Resources,

submitted the following

R E P O R T

[To accompany H.R. 2937]

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill

(H.R. 2937) to provide for the conveyance of certain public land in

Clark County, Nevada, for use as a shooting range, 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 all after the enacting clause and insert the following:

SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—

(1) the Las Vegas area has experienced such rapid growth in the last few

years that traditional locations for target shooting are now too close to populated areas for safety;

(2) there is a need to designate a centralized location in the Las Vegas Valley

where target shooters can practice safely; and

(3) a central facility is also needed for persons training in the use of firearms,

such as local law enforcement and security personnel.

(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are—

(1) to provide a suitable location for the establishment of a centralized shooting facility in the Las Vegas Valley; and

(2) to provide the public with—

(A) opportunities for education and recreation; and

(B) a location for competitive events and marksmanship training.

(c) CONVEYANCE.—As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act,

the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to Clark County, Nevada, subject to valid

existing rights, for no consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States

in and to the parcels of land described in subsection (d).

(d) LAND DESCRIPTIONS.—The parcels of land to be conveyed under subsection (c)

are the parcels of land that are described as follows:

(1) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in S1⁄2, sec. 25,

T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

(2) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in S1⁄2, sec. 26,

T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

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(3) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in S1⁄2, sec. 27,

T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

(4) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in sec. 34, T.

18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

(5) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in sec. 35, T.

18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

(6) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in sec. 36, T.

18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

(e) USE OF LAND.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The parcels of land conveyed under subsection (c)—

(A) shall be used by Clark County for the purposes described in subsection (b) only; and

(B) shall not be disposed of by the county.

(2) REVERSION.—If Clark County ceases to use any parcel for the purposes described in subsection (b)—

(A) title to the parcel shall revert to the United States, at the option of

the United States; and

(B) Clark County, Nevada, shall be responsible for any reclamation necessary to revert the parcel to the United States.

(f) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance as the

Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

(g) RELEASE OF LAND.—The Congress—

(1) finds that the parcels of land conveyed under subsection (c), comprising

a portion of the Quail Springs Wilderness Study Area, NV–050–411, managed

by the Bureau of Land Management and reported to the Congress in 1991, have

been adequately studied for wilderness designation under section 603 of the

Federal Land Management Policy Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782); and

(2) declares that those parcels are no longer subject to the requirements contained in subsection (c) of that section pertaining to the management of wilderness study areas in a manner that does not impair the suitability of such areas

for preservation as wilderness.

(h) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary shall require that Clark County, Nevada, pay all survey costs and other administrative costs necessary for the preparation and completion of any patents of and transfer of title to property under this

section.

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 2937, is to provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a public shooting range.

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Unprecedented residential growth over the past twenty years in

and around the city of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, has

forced a number of shooting ranges to close. Those few shooting

ranges that remain are close to being in violation of local ordinances that prohibit the discharge of firearms in or near residential areas. To address this matter, H.R. 2937 authorizes the Secretary of Interior to convey approximately 2,880 acres of public

land currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management

(BLM) to Clark County, Nevada, for the creation of a regional

shooting range. The actual useable land for the shooting range will

be approximately 1,400 acres. The balance would go towards a buffer zone for the west and south sides of the proposed shooting

range. This new public facility would provide a safe location for

competitive events and marksmanship training, as well as opportunities for education and recreation, in such activities as archery,

trap and skeet, rifle and pistol, and air pellet shooting. The new

range will also be utilized by city and county police departments.

The bill would require language reverting ownership of the land

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back to the Department of the Interior should Clark County, Nevada, cease to use the land as prescribed.

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 2937 was introduced on September 21, 2001, by Congressman Jim Gibbons (R–NV), and was referred to the Committee on

Resources. On September 27, 2001, the bill was referred to the

Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands.

On February 14, 2002, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the

bill. On March 7, 2002, the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill.

Congressman Gibbons offered an amendment in the nature of a

substitute to clarify that Clark County, Nevada, will be responsible

for any reclamation necessary on any land reverted back to the

BLM, and that the County will be responsible for the administrative costs associated with the transfer from BLM to the County. It

was adopted by voice vote. The bill, as amended, was then forwarded to the Full Committee. On March 20, 2002, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. No amendments were

offered and the bill, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to

the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

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. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does not

authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the

Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply.

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:

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U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, March 27, 2002.

Hon. JAMES V. HANSEN,

Chairman, Committee on Resources,

U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2937, a bill to provide for

the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County, Nevada, for

use as a shooting range.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased

to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Megan Carroll (for federal costs), and Majorie Miller (for the state and local impact).

Sincerely,

DAN L. CRIPPEN, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 2937—A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain public

land in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a shooting range

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2937 would have no significant impact on the federal budget. The bill would not affect direct

spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not

apply.

H.R. 2937 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to

Clark County, Nevada, without consideration, 2,880 acres of federal

lands located within that county for use as a public shooting range.

The Bureau of Land Management currently manages those lands

as a wilderness study area. According to the agency, the lands to

be conveyed currently generate no receipts, and the agency does

not expect the lands to generate any receipts over the next 10

years.

H.R. 2937 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. Enactment

of this legislation would benefit Clark County by providing for the

conveyance of federal land to the county at very little cost. To receive the land, the county would pay only the administrative costs

of the transfer. These costs would be voluntary.

The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Megan Carroll (for

federal costs), and Majorie Miller (for the state and local impact).

This impact 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 any State, local or tribal law.

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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

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

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