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[House Report 107-387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

107th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     107-387

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             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 S\1/2\, sec. 25, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and 
        Meridian.
          (2) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, 
        in S\1/2\, sec. 26, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and 
        Meridian.
          (3) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, 
        in S\1/2\, 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 
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:

                                     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.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

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

                                  
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