To remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District's ability to use certain property acquired by that District from the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on and offer my strong support for HR 953, legislation I introduced earlier this year to remove restrictions on 25 acres of land patented to the Mammoth County Water District.

Prior to 1987, the District occupied this land through a special use permit with the Forest Service. Of these 25 acres, 12 acres were used for the storage of materials, and prior to 1987, for oxidation ponds, which had become obsolete by that year.

After that time, Congress passed Public Law 97-465 that allowed these lands to be transferred directly to the District. While the law allowed for acquisition of these lands, it also directed that they could only be used for those purposes prior to the time of the conveyance.

Today, however, these 12 acres are no longer needed for the storage of materials and the community would like to utilize this land in a more economically viable manner.

This area is a popular ski destination for many tourists during the winter months and, every year, the town experiences more and more visitors. The town sits in the middle of the Forest Service land and contains limited private land for expanded commercial activities. As such, passage of this legislation would allow the town to accommodate for the growing economic needs of the region.

This legislation has the support of both the local community and the Forest Service and passed through the Committee on Resources without any objection.

I would like to express my deep appreciation to Chairman Pombo for bringing this legislation to the floor and ask my colleagues to support its passage here today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 853) to remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District's ability to use certain property acquired by that District from the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

H.R. 853, introduced by our colleague from California (Mr. McKeon), removes land use restrictions on property acquired from the Forest Service by the Mammoth Community Water District in Mono County, California.

In 1987, the U.S. Forest Service conveyed 25 acres to the water district under land use conditions at the time. Of these lands, 12 acres are now needed for different uses, including much-needed water utility operations. Implementation of this noncontroversial bill will ultimately benefit the local water consumer and will adhere to all Federal, State, and local environmental laws.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 853 simply removes outdated restrictions on lands owned by Mammoth County Water District in California. We have no objections to this noncontroversial bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.