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106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1680

To provide for the conveyance of Forest Service property in Kern County,

California, in exchange for county lands suitable for inclusion in Sequoia

National Forest.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 4, 1999

Mr. THOMAS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Resources

A BILL

To provide for the conveyance of Forest Service property

in Kern County, California, in exchange for county lands

suitable for inclusion in Sequoia National Forest.

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

3 SECTION 1. LAND EXCHANGE, CAMP OWEN AND RELATED

4 PARCELS, KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

5 (a) EXCHANGE REQUIRED.—If the non-Federal lands

6 described in subsection (b) are conveyed to the United

7 States in accordance with this section, the Secretary of

8 Agriculture shall convey to Kern County, California, all

9 right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
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1 three parcels of land under the jurisdiction of the Forest

2 Service in Kern County, as follows:

3 (1) Approximately 104 acres known as Camp

4 Owen.

5 (2) Approximately 4 acres known as Wofford

6 Heights Park.

7 (3) Approximately 3.4 acres known as the

8 French Gulch maintenance yard.

9 (b) DESCRIPTION OF NON-FEDERAL LANDS.—The

10 non-Federal lands referred to in subsection (a) consist of

11 Greenhorn Mountain Park, in Kern County, California,

12 which is a 160 acre, forested park owned by the County

13 within Sequoia National Forest. The park consists of

14 camp sites (including outdoor grills, picnic tables, and

15 parking spurs), cabins, dining facilities, a recreational

16 hall, paved roads and parking lot, restroom and shower

17 facilities, storage buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

18 (c) CONDITIONS ON ACCEPTANCE.—Title to the non19 Federal lands to be conveyed under this section must be

20 acceptable to the Secretary, and the conveyance shall be

21 subject to such valid existing rights of record as may be

22 acceptable to the Secretary. The non-Federal lands shall

23 conform with the title approval standards applicable to

24 Federal land acquisitions.
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1 (d) TIME FOR CONVEYANCE.—The Secretary shall

2 complete the conveyance of the Federal lands under sub3 section (a) within three months after Kern County tenders

4 Greenhorn Mountain Park to the Secretary under sub5 section (b).

6 (e) APPROXIMATELY EQUAL IN VALUE.—The values

7 of both the Federal and non-Federal lands to be ex8 changed under this section are deemed to be approxi9 mately equal in value, and no additional valuation deter10 minations or cash equalization payments shall be required.

11 (f) STATUS OF ACQUIRED LANDS.—Upon approval

12 and acceptance of title by the Secretary, the non-Federal

13 lands conveyed to the United States under this section

14 shall become part of Sequoia National Forest, and the

15 boundaries of the national forest shall be adjusted to in16 clude the acquired lands. The Secretary shall manage the

17 acquired lands for recreational purposes in accordance

18 with the laws and regulations pertaining to the National

19 Forest System. For purposes of section 7 of the Land and

20 Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–

21 9), the boundaries of the national forest, as adjusted pur22 suant to this section, shall be considered to be the bound23 aries of the national forest as of January 1, 1965.

24 (g) RELATIONSHIP TO ENVIRONMENTAL LIABIL25 ITY.—In connection with the conveyances under this sec-
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1 tion, the Secretary may require such additional terms and

2 conditions related to environmental liability as the Sec3 retary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the

4 United States.

5 (h) LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.—The exact acreage and

6 legal description of the real property to be exchanged

7 under this section shall be determined by a survey satis8 factory to the Secretary.

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