I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5513 
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 
APRIL 13, 2018 
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: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:05 Apr 18, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5513.IH
H5513
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
(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’’ 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’’ 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 
10, 2017. 
SEC. 3. EXCHANGE OF LAND; EQUALIZATION OF VALUE. 
(a) EXCHANGE AUTHORIZED.—Notwithstanding the 
land use planning requirements of sections 202, 210, and 
211 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1720–21), subject to valid existing 
rights, and conditioned upon any equalization payment 
necessary under section 206(b) of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(b)), and 
subsection (b) of this Act, as soon as practicable, but not 
later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:05 Apr 18, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5513.IH
H5513
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
Act, if the County offers to convey the non-Federal land 
to the United States, the Secretary shall— 
(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. 
(2) 
CASH
EQUALIZATION
PAYMENT.—The 
County or the Secretary, as appropriate, may equal-
ize the values of the lands to be exchanged under 
this section by cash payment without regard to any 
statutory limit on the amount of such a cash equali-
zation 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:05 Apr 18, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5513.IH
H5513
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
available to the Secretary, until expended, for the 
acquisition of lands, waters, and interests in land for 
the San Bernardino National Forest. 
(4) SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR PAYMENT BY SEC-
RETARY.—If the Secretary will make a cash equali-
zation payment to the County under this subsection, 
the Secretary may use funds available from the 
Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Act of 
June 15, 1938 (Chapter 438; 52 Stat. 699, com-
monly known as the Receipts Act of 1938), or cap-
ital improvement funds. 
(c) APPRAISALS.—The value of the land to be ex-
changed under this Act shall be determined by appraisals 
conducted— 
(1) by one or more independent and qualified 
appraisers; and 
(2) in accordance with nationally recognized ap-
praisal standards, including, as appropriate, the 
Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Ac-
quisitions and the Uniform Standards of Profes-
sional Appraisal 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. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:05 Apr 18, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5513.IH
H5513
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
(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 
Act), and other laws and regulations pertaining to Na-
tional Forest System lands. 
(h) PACIFIC CREST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL RELO-
CATION.—Before completing the land exchange under this 
section, the Secretary shall relocate the portion of the Pa-
cific Crest National Scenic Trail located on the Federal 
land to adjacent National Forest System land. The trail 
relocation shall be conducted without further environ-
mental analysis. 
(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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:05 Apr 18, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5513.IH
H5513
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:05 Apr 18, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5513.IH
H5513
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS