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.
“WARNER CANYON SKI HILL LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1997” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H5503-H5504 on July 22, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WARNER CANYON SKI HILL LAND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1997
Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1944) to provide for a land exchange involving the Warner Canyon Ski Area and other land in the State of Oregon.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1944
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 ``Warner Canyon Ski Hill Land Exchange Act of 1977''.
SEC. 2. LAND EXCHANGE INVOLVING WARNER CANYON SKI AREA AND
OTHER LAND IN OREGON.
(a) Authorization of Exchange.--If title acceptable to the Secretary for non-Federal land described in subsection (b) is conveyed to the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture shall convey to Lake County, Oregon, subject to valid existing rights of record, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of Federal land consisting of approximately 295 acres within the Warner Canyon Ski Area of the Freemont National Forest, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Warner Canyon Ski Hill Land Exchange'', dated June 1997.
(b) Non-Federal Land.--The non-Federal land referred to in subsection (a) consists of--
(1) approximately 320 acres within the Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, as generally depicted on the map referred to in subsection (a); and
(2) such other parcels of land owned by Lake County, Oregon, within the Refuge as are necessary to ensure that the values of the Federal land and non-Federal land to be exchanged under this section are approximately equal in value, as determined by appraisals.
(c) Acceptable Title.--Title to the non-Federal land conveyed to the United States under subsection (a) shall be such title as is acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior, in conformance with title approval standards applicable to Federal land acquisitions.
(d) Valid Existing Rights.--The conveyance shall be subject to such valid existing rights of record as may be acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior.
(e) Applicability of Other Laws.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall process the land exchange authorized by this section in the manner provided in subpart 2200 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
(f) Map.--The map referred to in subsection (a) shall be on file and available for inspection in 1 or more local offices of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture.
(g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyances under this section as either Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth] and the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega], each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes gentlewoman from Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth].
Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 1944, introduced by the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith], provides for a land exchange involving the Warner Canyon Ski Area and other land in the State of Oregon. I commend Chairman Bob Smith for bringing this bill before us today.
H.R. 1944 deeds approximately 290 acres of Forest Service land comprising the Warner Canyon Ski Hill to Lake County, Oregon. In exchange, Lake County will deed approximately 320 acres of land that is currently owned by Lake County within the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The specific acreage offered by Lake County will be dependent upon an appraisal of all the lands to determine what amounts to an equal value trade in this exchange.
The Warner Canyon Ski Hill has been operated by the nonprofit group, the Fremont Highlanders Ski Club, since 1938. It is one of America's last nonprofit ski hills, the kind I learned to ski on, and I love them. The Warner Canyon Ski Hill anticipates many benefits by the trade including the reduction in the cost of liability insurance as well as better management of the ski area. The Forest Service will benefit by reducing the cost of managing this recreational property.
H.R. 1944 is noncontroversial and supported by all interested parties. This legislation is good for national taxpayers as well as the local taxpayers in Oregon. I would urge support for this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the legislation introduced by the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith]. H.R. 1944 directs the Forest Service to convey about 295 acres of Federal land within the Warner Canyon Ski Area of Fremont National Forest to Lake County, Oregon. In exchange, the county would convey to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about 320 acres of inholdings within the Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge. Significantly, the bill provides that this exchange would be of equal value, subject to appraisals, and under terms acceptable to both the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior.
The administration has support and testified in support of this legislation. The Forest Service property contains a small ski area that costs the Federal Government about $10,000 per year to administer but generates only $400 in ski fees to the U.S. Treasury. The proposed exchange appears to be a good deal, Mr. Speaker, both for the Lake County, which wants the ski area to continue to operate for the benefit of community residents, and for the Federal Government, which would receive additional lands for the wildlife refuge.
Mr. Speaker, I do compliment the gentleman from Oregon on his legislation and urge Members to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith].
(Mr. SMITH of Oregon asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time and my dear friend, the gentleman from American Samoa, for his support. This is, as has been identified, a very small land exchange which can assist in a time of need, a very small county in the southern part of the State of Oregon in the southeast suffering from what we have suffered from in the West in many areas, the problem with the lack of timber receipts because we cannot harvest timber any longer for various reasons, including the spotted owl and other Federal management objections.
Just to give an example, this little county received about $6.5 million in 1993 from forest receipts. Now it is receiving about $1.2 million from forest receipts. And with 75 percent of the county owned by the Federal Government, we can see the pinch that results in how in the world these people can provide for their infrastructure. One opportunity is with a little more tourism. One of those opportunities is with this land exchange, which could in fact expand the ski area.
I thank both of my friends for helping in this effort for a very good group of people and a very small county in America.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you for allowing this bipartisan, noncontroversial bill to come to the floor today. H.R. 1944 is supported by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith, the Forest Service, and the good people of Lake County, OR. Hopefully, with your assistance, we can move this bill in an expeditious manner so that Lake County will enjoy its benefits when the ski season begins again in the fall.
H.R. 1944 deeds approximately 290 acres of Fremont National Forest land from the U.S. Forest Service, comprising the Warner Canyon Ski Hill, to Lake County. In exchange, the county will deed roughly 320 acres of land within the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge to the Federal Government. The specific acreage offered by the county will be determined upon appraisal of all lands in order to facilitate an equal trade.
Lake County has been devastated over the last 4 years by this administration's policy of drastically reducing the amount of available timber in the Northwest. In 1993, there was $6.5 million brought into the Lake County treasury from timber receipts. By last year that figure had dropped to $1.2 million. This has had an extremely negative effect on local schools, law enforcement and county services. In addition, mills have been closed and hundreds of good, hard-working people have been forced to relocate and find new jobs causing further erosion of the tax base. This bill will provide a shot in the arm to the local economy by increasing seasonal employment and boosting tourism.
The Warner Canyon Ski Hill has been operated by the nonprofit Fremont Highlanders Ski Club since 1938. It is one of America's last nonprofit ski hills and has 780 vertical feet of skiing and one lift--a T-bar. The ski area is about 5 miles from the town of Lakeview, which has a population of roughly 2,500.
The benefits of transferring this small parcel of Federal land to the county are numerous. First, the Fremont National Forest will save about
$2,600 per year. The cost of administering the ski area permit for Warner Canyon is about $3,000 per year, while the revenues generated by the ski area average about $400 annually. The U.S. Treasury is forced to absorb that additional cost. Second, the Fremont Highlanders Ski Club is currently responsible for providing liability insurance for Warner Canyon Ski Hill. Unfortunately, because it is Forest Service land, the Federal Government is forced to be coinsured on the property. This raises the cost of annual liability insurance to about $8,000. If the land were deeded to Lake County, which already has a liability insurance policy, this cost would be negated.
In short, H.R. 1944 is a ``win-win'' proposal that will benefit the U.S. Treasury, Lake County, and the recreationists who have been enjoying Warner Canyon Ski Hill for decades. I urge my colleagues in the House to support the bill.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Idaho [Mrs. Chenoweth] that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1944.
The question was taken.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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