I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 255 
To provide for an exchange of lands with San Bernardino County, California, 
to enhance management of lands within the San Bernardino National 
Forest, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2019 
Mr. COOK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To provide for an exchange of lands with San Bernardino 
County, California, to enhance management of lands 
within the San Bernardino National Forest, and for 
other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Big Bear Land Ex-
change Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) COUNTY.—The term ‘‘County’’ means the 
County of San Bernardino, California. 
(2) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 
means the approximately 73 acres of Federal land 
administered by the Forest Service generally de-
picted as ‘‘Federal Land Proposed for Exchange’’ on 
the Map. 
(3) NON-FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘non-Fed-
eral land’’ means the approximately 71 acres owned 
by the County generally depicted as ‘‘Non-Federal 
Land Proposed for Exchange’’ on the Map. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(5) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map ti-
tled ‘‘Big Bear Land Exchange’’ and dated August 
6, 2018. 
SEC. 3. EXCHANGE OF LAND; EQUALIZATION OF VALUE. 
(a) EXCHANGE AUTHORIZED.—Subject to valid exist-
ing rights and the terms of this Act, no later than one 
year after the date that the portion of the Pacific Crest 
National Scenic Trail is relocated in accordance with sub-
section (h), if the County offers to convey the non-Federal 
land to the United States, the Secretary shall— 
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(1) convey to the County all right, title, and in-
terest of the United States in and to the Federal 
land; and 
(2) accept from the County a conveyance of all 
right, title, and interest of the County in and to the 
non-Federal land. 
(b) EQUAL VALUE AND CASH EQUALIZATION.— 
(1) EQUAL VALUE EXCHANGE.—The land ex-
change under this section shall be for equal value, 
or the values shall be equalized by a cash payment 
as provided for under this subsection or an adjust-
ment in acreage. At the option of the County, any 
excess value of the non-Federal lands may be consid-
ered a gift to the United States. 
(2) 
CASH
EQUALIZATION
PAYMENT.—The 
County may equalize the values of the lands to be 
exchanged under this section by cash payment with-
out regard to any statutory limit on the amount of 
such a cash equalization payment. 
(3) DEPOSIT AND USE OF FUNDS RECEIVED 
FROM COUNTY.—Any cash equalization payment re-
ceived by the Secretary under this subsection shall 
be deposited in the fund established under Public 
Law 90–171 (16 U.S.C. 484a; commonly known as 
the Sisk Act). The funds so deposited shall remain 
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available to the Secretary, until expended, for the 
acquisition of lands, waters, and interests in land for 
the San Bernardino National Forest. 
(c) APPRAISAL.—The Secretary shall complete an ap-
praisal of the land to be exchanged under subsection (a) 
in accordance with— 
(1) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Fed-
eral Land Acquisitions; and 
(2) the Uniform Standards of Professional Ap-
praisal Practice. 
(d) TITLE APPROVAL.—Title to the land to be ex-
changed under this Act shall be in a format acceptable 
to the Secretary and the County. 
(e) SURVEY OF NON-FEDERAL LANDS.—Before com-
pleting the exchange under this Act, the Secretary shall 
inspect the non-Federal lands to ensure that the land 
meets Federal standards, including hazardous materials 
and land line surveys. 
(f) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—As a condition of con-
veyance, any costs related to the exchange under this sec-
tion shall be paid by the County. 
(g) MANAGEMENT OF ACQUIRED LANDS.—The Sec-
retary shall manage the non-Federal land acquired under 
this section in accordance with the Act of March 1, 1911 
(16 U.S.C. 480 et seq.; commonly known as the Weeks 
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Act), and other laws and regulations pertaining to Na-
tional Forest System lands. 
(h) PACIFIC CREST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL RELO-
CATION.—No later than three years after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary, in accordance with ap-
plicable laws, shall relocate the portion of the Pacific Crest 
National Scenic Trail located on the Federal land to— 
(1) adjacent National Forest System land; 
(2) land owned by the County, subject to Coun-
ty approval; 
(3) land within the Federal land, subject to 
County approval; or 
(4) a combination of paragraphs (1), (2), and 
(3). 
(i) MAP AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.—As soon as 
practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall finalize a map and legal descriptions 
of all land to be conveyed under this Act. The Secretary 
may correct any minor errors in the map or in the legal 
descriptions. The map and legal descriptions shall be on 
file and available for public inspection in appropriate of-
fices of the Forest Service. 
Æ 
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