Advancing Conservation and Education Act

Bill: 115-hr-4257
Sponsor: Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2]
Introduced: 2017-11-06 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Forests, forestry, trees
Idaho
Intergovernmental relations
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Military facilities and property
Mining
Montana
Monuments and memorials
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oregon
Parks, recreation areas, trails
South Dakota
State and local government operations
Utah
Washington State
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-06
text: 

Advancing Conservation and Education Act

 
 This bill allows the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming (western states) to relinquish state land grant parcels wholly or primarily within eligible areas and select, in exchange, public land within the state. 
 
The bill defines &quot;eligible areas&quot; as lands within the outer boundaries of units or components of the National Park, National Wilderness Preservation, National Wildlife Refuge, or National Landscape Conservation Systems, areas identified by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Department of the Interior as having wilderness characteristics, certain designated lands within the National Forest System or administered by the BLM, and sentinel landscapes designated by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, or Interior. 
 
 Interior shall create a process for the relinquishment of such parcels. 
 
 A western state may select, and Interior may convey, lands that are mineral in character. 
 
 The overall value of the state land grant parcels and the public land to be conveyed shall be equal. 
 
The bill sets forth requirements regarding hazardous materials on land conveyed, water rights, grazing permits, and road rights-of ways and other valid existing rights. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-26
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5607-5610)
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5607-5610)
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4257.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5607-5611)
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Mr. Bishop (UT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2018-04-11
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-04-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2018-04-11
text: Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged.
action_date: 2017-11-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2017-11-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-11-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-06
text: Introduced in House