I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3057
To authorize an exchange of lands among the Secretary of Agriculture,
Secretary of the Interior, and the Big Sky Lumber Company.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 13, 1997
Mr. HILL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Resources
A BILL
To authorize an exchange of lands among the Secretary
of Agriculture, Secretary of the Interior, and the Big
Sky Lumber Company.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gallatin Range Con-
solidation Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) the land north of Yellowstone National Park
possess outstanding natural characteristics and wild-
life habitats that would make the land a highly valu-
able addition to the National Forest System; and
(2) it is in the interest of the United States for
the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into an option
agreement with Big Sky Company for the acquisi-
tion of land by the Secretary to meet the intent of
the directive made in the Gallatin Range Consolida-
tion and Protection Act of 1993 (107 Stat. 987).
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) BIG SKY.—The term ‘‘Big Sky’’ means the
Big Sky Lumber Company, a corporation, and its
successors and assigns.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the
Chief of the Forest Service.
SEC. 4. BIG SKY LUMBER LAND EXCHANGE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—If Big Sky offers to the United
States acceptable fee title, including mineral interests, to
the land described in subsection (b)(1)—
(1) the Secretary shall accept a warranty deed
to the land;
(2) the Secretary shall convey to Big Sky, sub-
ject to valid existing rights and to such other terms,
conditions, reservations, and exceptions as may be
agreed on by the Secretary and Big Sky, the lands
described in subsection (b)(2); and
(3) the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to
Big Sky, by patent, subject to valid existing rights
and to such other terms, conditions, reservations,
and exceptions as may be agreed on by the Secretary
of the Interior and Big Sky, fee title to the lands de-
scribed in subsection (b)(3).
(b) LAND DESCRIPTIONS.—
(1) LAND TO BE CONVEYED BY BIG SKY.—The
land described in this paragraph is the land compris-
ing approximately 54,720 acres of land owned by
Big Sky.
(2) LANDS
TO
BE
CONVEYED
BY
THE
SEC-
RETARY.—The lands described in this paragraph are
national forest lands that shall be determined by the
Secretary.
(3) LANDS
TO
BE
CONVEYED
BY
THE
SEC-
RETARY OF THE INTERIOR.—The lands described in
this paragraph are public lands that shall be deter-
mined by the Secretary of the Interior comprising
approximately 24,627 acres.
(c) EASEMENTS.—As a part of the land exchange
under subsection (a)—
(1) the Secretary, under the authority of sec-
tion 2 of Public Law 88–257, commonly known as
the National Forest Roads and Trails Act (16
U.S.C. 533), and the Federal Land Policy and Man-
agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), shall
convey to Big Sky such easements in or other rights-
of-way over federally owned land as may be agreed
to by the Secretary and Big Sky; and
(3) Big Sky shall convey to the United States
such easements in or rights-of-way over land con-
veyed to Big Sky under subsection (a) as may be
agreed to by the Secretary and Big Sky.
SEC. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) LANDS.—Lands to be exchanged under this Act
shall be determined in an agreement among the Secretary,
the Secretary of the Interior, and Big Sky.
(b) INCLUSION IN NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM.—All
land conveyed to the United States under this Act shall
be added to and administered as part of the Gallatin Na-
tional Forest in accordance with the laws pertaining to
the National Forest System.
(c) HISTORICAL RECREATIONAL ACCESS AND USE.—
The Secretary shall ensure that any management plan
governing land conveyed to the United States under this
Act shall maintain and maximize historical recreational
access to and use of the land.
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