II

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 1526

To authorize an exchange of land between the Secretary of Agriculture and

the Secretary of the Interior and the Big Sky Lumber Company.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

NOVEMBER 13, 1997

Mr. BURNS introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To authorize an exchange of land between the Secretary

of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior and

the Big Sky Lumber Company.

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.

4 This Act may be referred to as the ‘‘Gallatin Range

5 Consolidation Act of 1997’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds that—

8 (1) the land north of Yellowstone National Park

9 possesses outstanding natural characteristics and

10 wildlife habitats that would make the land a highly
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1 valuable addition to the National Forest System;

2 and

3 (2) it is in the interest of the United States for

4 the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into an option

5 agreement with Big Sky Company for the acquisi6 tion of land by the Secretary to meet the intent of

7 the directive made in the Gallatin Range Consolida8 tion and Protection Act of 1993 (107 Stat. 987).

9 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

10 In this Act:

11 (1) BIG SKY.—The term ‘‘Big Sky’’ means the

12 Big Sky Lumber Company, a corporation, and its

13 successors and assigns.

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

15 the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the

16 Chief of the Forest Service.

17 SEC. 4. BIG SKY LUMBER LAND EXCHANGE.

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—If Big Sky offers to the United

19 States acceptable fee title, including mineral interests, to

20 the land to be described—

21 (1) the Secretary shall accept a warranty deed

22 to the land; and

23 (2)(A) the Secretary shall convey to Big Sky,

24 subject to valid existing rights and to such other

25 terms, conditions, reservations, and exceptions as
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1 may be agreed on by the Secretary and Big Sky, the

2 land to be described; and

3 (B) the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to

4 Big Sky, by patent, subject to valid existing rights

5 and to such other terms, conditions, reservations,

6 and exceptions as may be agreed on by the Secretary

7 of the Interior and Big Sky, fee title to the land to

8 be described.

9 (b) LAND DESCRIPTIONS.—

10 (1) LAND TO BE CONVEYED BY BIG SKY.—The

11 land described in this paragraph is the land compris12 ing approximately 54,720 acres of land by Big Sky.

13 (2) LAND TO BE CONVEYED BY THE SECRETAR14 IES.—

15 (A) THE SECRETARY.—The land to be de16 scribed.

17 (B) THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.—

18 The land described shall comprise approxi19 mately 24,627 acres.

20 (c) EASEMENTS.—As a part of the land exchange

21 under subsection (a)—

22 (1) the Secretary, under the authority of sec23 tion 2 of Public Law 88–257 (commonly known as

24 the ‘‘National Forest Roads and Trails Act’’) (16

25 U.S.C. 533) and the Federal Land Policy and Man-
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1 agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), con2 vey to Big Sky such easements in or other rights3 of-way over federally owned land as may be agreed

4 to by the Secretary and Big Sky; and

5 (2) Big Sky shall convey to the United States

6 such easements in or rights-of-way over land con7 veyed to Big Sky under subsection (a) as may be

8 agreed to by the Secretary and Big Sky.

9 SEC. 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

10 (a) LANDS.—Lands noted for exchange shall be de11 termined prior to committee hearing, in agreement with

12 the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Inte13 rior and Big Sky.

14 (b) INCLUSION IN NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM.—All

15 land conveyed to the United States under this Act shall

16 be added to and administered as part of the Gallatin Na17 tional Forest in accordance with the law pertaining to the

18 National Forest System.

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