II 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2468 

To establish the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness in the State of New Mexico, 

to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of National Forest 

System land in the State, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 26, 2012 

Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness in the State 

of New Mexico, to provide for the conveyance of certain 

parcels of National Forest System land in the State, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 2468 IS

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

TITLE I—ADDITION TO THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS 

PRESERVATION SYSTEM 

Sec. 101. Designation of the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness. 

Sec. 102. Wheeler Peak Wilderness boundary modification. 

Sec. 103. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE II—LAND CONVEYANCES AND SALES. 

Sec. 201. Town of Red River land conveyance. 

Sec. 202. Village of Taos Ski Valley land conveyance. 

Sec. 203. Authorization of sale of certain National Forest System land. 

1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) RED RIVER CONVEYANCE MAP.—The term 

4 ‘‘Red River Conveyance Map’’ means the map enti5 tled ‘‘Town of Red River Town Site Act Proposal’’ 

6 and dated April 19, 2012. 

7 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

8 the Secretary of Agriculture. 

9 (3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

10 of New Mexico. 

11 (4) TOWN.—The term ‘‘Town’’ means the town 

12 of Red River, New Mexico. 

13 (5) VILLAGE.—The term ‘‘Village’’ means the 

14 village of Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico. 

15 (6) WILDERNESS.—The term ‘‘Wilderness’’ 

16 means the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness designated 

17 by section 101(a). 

18 (7) WILDERNESS MAP.—The term ‘‘Wilderness 

19 Map’’ means the map entitled ‘‘Columbine-Hondo, 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 2468 IS

1 Wheeler Peak Wilderness’’ and dated April 19, 

2 2012. 

3 TITLE I—ADDITION TO THE NA4 TIONAL WILDERNESS PRES5 ERVATION SYSTEM 

6 SEC. 101. DESIGNATION OF THE COLUMBINE-HONDO WIL7 DERNESS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the Wilderness 

9 Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the approximately 45,000 

10 acres of land in the Carson National Forest in the State, 

11 as generally depicted on the Wilderness Map, is designated 

12 as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilder13 ness Preservation System, which shall be known as the 

14 ‘‘Columbine-Hondo Wilderness’’. 

15 (b) MANAGEMENT.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

16 the Wilderness shall be administered by the Secretary in 

17 accordance with this Act and the Wilderness Act (16 

18 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in that 

19 Act to the effective date of that Act shall be considered 

20 to be a reference to the date of enactment of this Act. 

21 (c) INCORPORATION OF ACQUIRED LAND AND INTER22 ESTS IN LAND.—Any land or interest in land that is with23 in the boundary of the Wilderness that is acquired by the 

24 United States shall— 

25 (1) become part of the Wilderness; and 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 2468 IS

1 (2) be managed in accordance with— 

2 (A) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 

3 seq.); 

4 (B) this section; and 

5 (C) any other applicable laws. 

6 (d) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in the Wilder7 ness, where established before the date of enactment of 

8 this Act, shall be administered in accordance with— 

9 (1) section 4(d)(4) of the Wilderness Act (16 

10 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)); and 

11 (2) the guidelines set forth in the report of the 

12 Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the 

13 House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 5487 

14 of the 96th Congress (H. Rept. 96–617). 

15 (e) COLUMBINE-HONDO WILDERNESS STUDY

16 AREA.— 

17 (1) FINDING.—Congress finds that, for pur18 poses of section 103(a)(2) of Public Law 96–550 

19 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 94 Stat. 3223), any Federal 

20 land in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study 

21 Area administered by the Forest Service that is not 

22 designated as wilderness by subsection (a) has been 

23 adequately reviewed for wilderness designation. 

24 (2) APPLICABILITY.—The Federal land de25 scribed in paragraph (1) is no longer subject to subVerDate Mar 15 2010 04:27 May 02, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2468.IS S2468

jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 2468 IS

1 sections (a)(2) and (b) of section 103 of Public Law 

2 96–550 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 94 Stat. 3223). 

3 (f) MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 

5 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

6 shall prepare maps and legal descriptions of the Wil7 derness. 

8 (2) FORCE OF LAW.—The maps and legal de9 scriptions prepared under paragraph (1) shall have 

10 the same force and effect as if included in this Act, 

11 except that the Secretary may correct errors in the 

12 maps and legal descriptions. 

13 (3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The maps and 

14 legal descriptions prepared under paragraph (1) 

15 shall be on file and available for public inspection in 

16 the appropriate offices of the Forest Service. 

17 (g) FISH AND WILDLIFE.—Nothing in this Act af18 fects the jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and 

19 wildlife located on public land in the State, except that 

20 the Secretary, after consultation with the New Mexico De21 partment of Game and Fish, may designate zones in 

22 which, and establish periods during which, hunting or fish23 ing shall not be allowed for reasons of public safety, ad24 ministration, the protection for nongame species and asso25 ciated habitats, or public use and enjoyment. 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•S 2468 IS

1 (h) WITHDRAWALS.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

2 the Federal land described in subsections (a) and (e)(1) 

3 and any land or interest in land that is acquired by the 

4 United States in the Wilderness after the date of enact5 ment of this Act is withdrawn from— 

6 (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the 

7 public land laws; 

8 (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 

9 laws; and 

10 (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 

11 materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

12 SEC. 102. WHEELER PEAK WILDERNESS BOUNDARY MODI13 FICATION. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The boundary of the Wheeler 

15 Peak Wilderness in the State is modified as generally de16 picted in the Wilderness Map. 

17 (b) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

18 any Federal land added to or excluded from the boundary 

19 of the Wheeler Peak Wilderness under subsection (a) is 

20 withdrawn from— 

21 (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the 

22 public land laws; 

23 (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 

24 laws; and 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•S 2468 IS

1 (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 

2 materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 

3 SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

4 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

5 as are necessary to carry out this title. 

6 TITLE II—LAND CONVEYANCES 

7 AND SALES. 

8 SEC. 201. TOWN OF RED RIVER LAND CONVEYANCE. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of this 

10 section, the Secretary shall convey to the Town, without 

11 consideration and by quitclaim deed, all right, title, and 

12 interest of the United States in and to the 1 or more par13 cels of Federal land described in subsection (b) for which 

14 the Town submits a request to the Secretary by the date 

15 that is not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

16 of this Act. 

17 (b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The parcels of Federal 

18 land referred to in subsection (a) are the parcels of Na19 tional Forest System land (including any improvements to 

20 the land) in Taos County, New Mexico, that are identified 

21 as ‘‘Parcel 1’’, ‘‘Parcel 2’’, ‘‘Parcel 3’’, and ‘‘Parcel 4’’ 

22 on the Red River Conveyance Map. 

23 (c) CONDITIONS.—The conveyance under subsection 

24 (a) shall be subject to— 

25 (1) valid existing rights; 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
8 

•S 2468 IS

1 (2) public rights-of-way through ‘‘Parcel 1’’, 

2 ‘‘Parcel 3’’, and ‘‘Parcel 4’’; 

3 (3) an administrative right-of-way through 

4 ‘‘Parcel 2’’ reserved to the United States; and 

5 (4) such additional terms and conditions as the 

6 Secretary may require. 

7 (d) USE OF LAND.—As a condition of the conveyance 

8 under subsection (a), the Town shall use— 

9 (1) ‘‘Parcel 1’’ for a wastewater treatment 

10 plant; 

11 (2) ‘‘Parcel 2’’ for a cemetery; 

12 (3) ‘‘Parcel ‘‘3’’ for a public park; and 

13 (4) ‘‘Parcel 4’’ for a public road. 

14 (e) REVERSION.—In the quitclaim deed to the Town 

15 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide that any 

16 parcel of Federal land conveyed to the Town under sub17 section (a) shall revert to the Secretary, at the election 

18 of the Secretary, if the parcel of Federal land is used for 

19 a purpose other than the purpose for which the parcel was 

20 conveyed, as required under subsection (d). 

21 (f) SURVEY; ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 

22 (1) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal de23 scription of the National Forest System land con24 veyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a 

25 survey approved by the Secretary. 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
9 

•S 2468 IS

1 (2) COSTS.—The Town shall pay the reasonable 

2 survey and other administrative costs associated 

3 with the conveyance. 

4 SEC. 202. VILLAGE OF TAOS SKI VALLEY LAND CONVEY5 ANCE. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of this 

7 section, the Secretary shall convey to the Village, without 

8 consideration and by quitclaim deed, all right, title, and 

9 interest of the United States in and to the parcel of Fed10 eral land described in subsection (b) for which the Village 

11 submits a request to the Secretary by the date that is not 

12 later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. 

13 (b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The parcel of Federal 

14 land referred to in subsection (a) is the parcel comprising 

15 approximately 4.6 acres of National Forest System land 

16 (including any improvements to the land) in Taos County 

17 generally depicted as ‘‘Parcel 1’’ on the map entitled ‘‘Vil18 lage of Taos Ski Valley Town Site Act Proposal’’ and 

19 dated April 19, 2012. 

20 (c) CONDITIONS.—The conveyance under subsection 

21 (a) shall be subject to— 

22 (1) valid existing rights; 

23 (2) an administrative right-of-way through the 

24 parcel of Federal land described in subsection (b) re25 served to the United States; and 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
10 

•S 2468 IS

1 (3) such additional terms and conditions as the 

2 Secretary may require. 

3 (d) USE OF LAND.—As a condition of the conveyance 

4 under subsection (a), the Village shall use the parcel of 

5 Federal land described in subsection (b) for a wastewater 

6 treatment plant. 

7 (e) REVERSION.—In the quitclaim deed to the Vil8 lage, the Secretary shall provide that the parcel of Federal 

9 land conveyed to the Village under subsection (a) shall re10 vert to the Secretary, at the election of the Secretary, if 

11 the parcel of Federal land is used for a purpose other than 

12 the purpose for which the parcel was conveyed, as de13 scribed in subsection (d). 

14 (f) SURVEY; ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 

15 (1) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal de16 scription of the National Forest System land con17 veyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a 

18 survey approved by the Secretary. 

19 (2) COSTS.—The Village shall pay the reason20 able survey and other administrative costs associated 

21 with the conveyance. 

22 SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF SALE OF CERTAIN NATIONAL 

23 FOREST SYSTEM LAND. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of this 

25 section and in exchange for consideration in an amount 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
11 

•S 2468 IS

1 that is equal to the fair market value of the applicable 

2 parcel of National Forest System land, the Secretary may 

3 convey— 

4 (1) to the holder of the permit numbered 

5 ‘‘QUE302101’’ for use of the parcel, the parcel of 

6 National Forest System land comprising approxi7 mately 0.2 acres that is generally depicted as ‘‘Par8 cel 5’’ on the Red River Conveyance Map; and 

9 (2) to the owner of the private property adja10 cent to the parcel, the parcel of National Forest Sys11 tem land comprising approximately 0.1 acres that is 

12 generally depicted as ‘‘Parcel 6’’ on the Red River 

13 Conveyance Map. 

14 (b) DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS.—Any amounts re15 ceived by the Secretary as consideration for a conveyance 

16 under subsection (a) shall be— 

17 (1) deposited in the fund established under 

18 Public Law 90–171 (commonly known as the ‘‘Sisk 

19 Act’’) (16 U.S.C. 484a); and 

20 (2) available to the Secretary, without further 

21 appropriation and until expended, for the acquisition 

22 of land or interests in land in the Carson National 

23 Forest. 

24 (c) CONDITIONS.—The conveyance under subsection 

25 (a) shall be subject to— 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
12 

•S 2468 IS

1 (1) valid existing rights; and 

2 (2) such additional terms and conditions as the 

3 Secretary may require. 

4 (d) SURVEY; ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 

5 (1) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal de6 scription of the National Forest System land con7 veyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a 

8 survey approved by the Secretary. 

9 (2) COSTS.—The reasonable survey and other 

10 administrative costs associated with the conveyance 

11 shall be paid by the holder of the permit or the 

12 owner of the private property, as applicable. 

Æ 


jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS