The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Y MOUNTAIN ACCESS ENHANCEMENT ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H3661-H3663 on June 17, 2013.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Y MOUNTAIN ACCESS ENHANCEMENT ACT
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 253) to provide for the conveyance of a small parcel of National Forest System land in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah to Brigham Young University, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 253
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. LAND CONVEYANCE, UINTA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST,
UTAH.
(a) Conveyance Required.--On the request of Brigham Young University submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey, not later than one year after receiving the request, to Brigham Young University all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the approximately 80-acres of National Forest System land in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in the State of Utah generally depicted as ``Proposed Conveyance Parcel'' on the map titled `` `Y' Mountain Access Enhancement Act'' and dated June 6, 2013. The conveyance shall be subject to valid existing rights and shall be made by quitclaim deed.
(b) Consideration.--
(1) Consideration required.--As consideration for the land conveyed under subsection (a), Brigham Young University shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the land, as determined by an appraisal approved by the Secretary and conducted in conformity with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716).
(2) Deposit.--The consideration received by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury to reduce the Federal deficit.
(c) Guaranteed Public Access to Y Mountain Trail.--After the conveyance under subsection (a), Brigham Young University represents that it will--
(1) continue to allow the same reasonable public access to the trailhead and portion of the Y Mountain Trail already owned by Brigham Young University as of the date of the enactment of this Act that Brigham Young University has historically allowed; and
(2) allow that same reasonable public access to the portion of the Y Mountain Trail and the ``Y'' symbol located on the land described in subsection (a).
(d) Survey and Administrative Costs.--The exact acreage and legal description of the land to be conveyed under subsection
(a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. Brigham Young University shall pay the reasonable costs of survey, appraisal, and any administrative analyses required by law.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands
(Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
General Leave
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. With that, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am very proud of this particular bill, and I am happy to yield as much time as he may consume to the author of this bill, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz), with the understanding that he will explain to you that Y Mountain is not the same thing as Yucca Mountain.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. The gentleman from Utah is very correct, this is very different and not nearly as controversial, I assure you.
H.R. 253, the Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act, directs the Department of Agriculture to sell 80 acres of U.S. Forest Service land to Brigham Young University often referred to as BYU. This parcel of land includes the block Y on Y Mountain, a major landmark in the Provo area.
H.R. 253 requires BYU to pay fair market value for the land and requires BYU to cover administrative and appraisal costs associated with the sale. Proceeds of the land sale would be used to reduce the deficit.
H.R. 253 guarantees public access to the block Y and the Y Mountain trail after the sale. BYU has managed this parcel of land for 50 years and has always allowed public access.
BYU actually owned the entire trail at one point many years ago. H.R. 253 would restore ownership to Brigham Young University, but BYU would have to pay fair market value for the land.
Currently, one part of the trail is owned by BYU and the other is owned by the U.S. Forest Service. Split ownership of the trail complicates trail maintenance and long-term planning, which ultimately puts public access at risk.
Restoring this land to BYU would provide long-term certainty by removing any questions as to who owns the land and who is responsible for maintaining the trail.
Hiking up the Y is a popular pastime in the Provo area, and H.R. 253 ensures that the trail will be maintained for future hikers.
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This bill was introduced in the 112th Congress as H.R. 4484 and passed the House on voice vote. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this particular piece of legislation, and I appreciate the bipartisan support and work on this piece.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 253 provides for conveyance of approximately 80 acres of Forest Service lands to Brigham Young University. We do not object to this legislation.
At this time, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 253, the Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act. This legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell approximately 80 acres to the U.S. Forest Service land known for years by the residents of the city of Provo, Utah, as ``Y Mountain'' to Brigham Young University.
Located directly east of the BYU campus, the Y Mountain includes a trail that leads 1.2 miles from the mountain's base up to a large white concrete ``Y'' on the mountain's hillside, which was built over 100 years ago. The ``Y,'' which is 380 feet high by 130 feet wide, is even larger than the ``Hollywood'' sign in Hollywood, California, and serves as an insignia for Brigham Young University.
As an alumnus of BYU, I, too, have come to know the ``Y'' as a symbol of campus pride for the students, the alumni, and members of the greater Provo community. Some of my colleagues are probably wondering why did an island boy like me want to go to a place like Utah? I wanted to experience what snow was like; and guess what, you can have all the snow you want because I'm going back to the islands.
But I will say, Mr. Speaker, the ``Y'' is illuminated five times a year, including freshman orientation, homecoming, graduations in April and August, as well as ``Y Days,'' which celebrate BYU's week of service activities. As a nationally recognized symbol of BYU, the Y Mountain is also a featured shot in almost every BYU game broadcast on national television.
BYU currently manages the U.S. Forest Service portion of the trail. H.R. 253, however, proposes that the Federal Government sell Y Mountain at fair market value to Brigham Young University. The bill also guarantees that public access to the ``Y'' and the Y Mountain Trail be maintained following the sale.
Mr. Speaker, it is my strong belief that permitting BYU to purchase this property would result in better maintenance of the trail and mountain. Given the immense source of pride in Y Mountain, BYU ownership of the property would only result in improved maintenance, cleanliness, safety, and access for the public. The transfer of ownership would also allow Brigham Young University to preserve a significant monument for future generations of students and members of the community.
I want to especially thank my colleague, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz), for his sponsorship of the bill, who also happens to be an alumnus of BYU, for introducing this legislation, and I do urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Despite being a graduate of the University of Utah and finding myself surrounded by BYU people here--it makes me terribly uncomfortable--this is still a good bill. It is a win-win situation and will provide the experience of those at BYU and the area a much safer and pleasant experience on Y Mountain, and so I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 253, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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