H.R. 763

Carson City Vital Community Act of 2009

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I

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 763

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 28, 2009

Mr. Heller introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To promote conservation and provide for sensible development in Carson City, Nevada, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Carson City Vital Community Act of 2009.

(b)

Table of contents

The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

TITLE I—Public conveyances

Sec. 101. Conveyances of Federal land and City land.

Sec. 102. Transfer of administrative jurisdiction from the Forest Service to the Bureau of Land Management.

TITLE II—Land Disposal

Sec. 201. Disposal of Carson City land.

Sec. 202. Disposition of proceeds.

Sec. 203. Urban interface.

Sec. 204. Availability of funds.

TITLE III—Transfer of land to be held in trust for the Washoe Tribe, Skunk Harbor Conveyance Correction, Forest Service Agreement, and artifact collection

Sec. 301. Transfer of land to be held in trust for Washoe Tribe.

Sec. 302. Correction of Skunk Harbor conveyance.

Sec. 303. Agreement with Forest Service.

Sec. 304. Artifact collection.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

City

The term City means Carson City Consolidated Municipality, Nevada.

(2)

Map

The term Map means the map entitled Carson City, Nevada Area, dated September 12, 2008, and on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of—

(A)

the Bureau of Land Management;

(B)

the Forest Service; and

(C)

the City.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means—

(A)

with respect to land in the National Forest System, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service; and

(B)

with respect to other Federal land, the Secretary of the Interior.

(4)

Secretaries

The term Secretaries means the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, acting jointly.

(5)

Tribe

The term Tribe means the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, which is a federally recognized Indian tribe.

I

Public conveyances

101.

Conveyances of Federal land and City land

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), if the City offers to convey to the United States title to the non-Federal land described in subsection (b)(1) that is acceptable to the Secretary of Agriculture—

(1)

the Secretary shall accept the offer; and

(2)

not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receive acceptable title to the non-Federal land described in subsection (b)(1), the Secretaries shall convey to the City, subject to valid existing rights and for no consideration, except as provided in subsection (c)(1), all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land (other than any easement reserved under subsection (c)(2)) or interest in land described in subsection (b)(2).

(b)

Description of land

(1)

Non-Federal land

The non-Federal land referred to in subsection (a) is the approximately 2,264 acres of land administered by the City and identified on the Map as To U.S. Forest Service.

(2)

Federal land

The Federal land referred to in subsection (a)(2) is—

(A)

the approximately 935 acres of Forest Service land identified on the Map as To Carson City for Natural Areas;

(B)

the approximately 3,604 acres of Bureau of Land Management land identified on the Map as Silver Saddle Ranch and Carson River Area;

(C)

the approximately 1,862 acres of Bureau of Land Management land identified on the Map as To Carson City for Parks and Public Purposes; and

(D)

the approximately 75 acres of City land in which the Bureau of Land Management has a reversionary interest that is identified on the Map as Reversionary Interest of the United States Released.

(c)

Conditions

(1)

Consideration

Before the conveyance of the 62-acre Bernhard parcel to the City, the City shall deposit in the special account established by section 202(b)(1) an amount equal to 25 percent of the difference between—

(A)

the amount for which the Bernhard parcel was purchased by the City on July 18, 2001; and

(B)

the amount for which the Bernhard parcel was purchased by the Secretary on March 24, 2006.

(2)

Conservation easement

As a condition of the conveyance of the land described in subsection (b)(2)(B), the Secretary, in consultation with Carson City and affected local interests, shall reserve a perpetual conservation easement to the land to protect, preserve, and enhance the conservation values of the land, consistent with subsection (d)(2).

(3)

Costs

Any costs relating to the conveyance under subsection (a), including any costs for surveys and other administrative costs, shall be paid by the recipient of the land being conveyed.

(d)

Use of land

(1)

Natural areas

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the land described in subsection (b)(2)(A) shall be managed by the City to maintain undeveloped open space and to preserve the natural characteristics of the land in perpetuity.

(B)

Exception

Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the City may—

(i)

conduct projects on the land to reduce fuels;

(ii)

construct and maintain trails, trailhead facilities, and any infrastructure on the land that is required for municipal water and flood management activities; and

(iii)

maintain or reconstruct any improvements on the land that are in existence on the date of enactment of this Act.

(2)

Silver Saddle Ranch and Carson River Area

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the land described in subsection (b)(2)(B) shall—

(i)

be managed by the City to protect and enhance the Carson River, the floodplain and surrounding upland, and important wildlife habitat; and

(ii)

be used for undeveloped open space, passive recreation, customary agricultural practices, and wildlife protection.

(B)

Exception

Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the City may—

(i)

construct and maintain trails and trailhead facilities on the land;

(ii)

conduct projects on the land to reduce fuels;

(iii)

maintain or reconstruct any improvements on the land that are in existence on the date of enactment of this Act; and

(iv)

allow the use of motorized vehicles on designated roads, trails, and areas in the south end of Prison Hill.

(3)

Parks and public purposes

The land described in subsection (b)(2)(C) shall be managed by the City for—

(A)

undeveloped open space; and

(B)

recreation or other public purposes consistent with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act) (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).

(4)

Reversionary interest

(A)

Release

The reversionary interest described in subsection (b)(2)(D) shall terminate on the date of enactment of this Act.

(B)

Conveyance by city

(i)

In general

If the City sells, leases, or otherwise conveys any portion of the land described in subsection (b)(2)(D), the sale, lease, or conveyance of land shall be—

(I)

through a competitive bidding process; and

(II)

except as provided in clause (ii), for not less than fair market value.

(ii)

Conveyance to government or nonprofit

A sale, lease, or conveyance of land described in subsection (b)(2)(D) to the Federal Government, a State government, a unit of local government, or a nonprofit organization shall be for consideration in an amount equal to the price established by the Secretary of the Interior under section 2741 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulation (or successor regulations).

(iii)

Disposition of proceeds

The gross proceeds from the sale, lease, or conveyance of land under clause (i) shall be distributed in accordance with section 202(a).

(e)

Reversion

If land conveyed under subsection (a) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the uses described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (d), the land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, revert to the United States.

(f)

Miscellaneous provisions

(1)

In general

On conveyance of the non-Federal land under subsection (a) to the Secretary of Agriculture, the non-Federal land shall—

(A)

become part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; and

(B)

be administered in accordance with the laws (including the regulations) and rules generally applicable to the National Forest System.

(2)

Management plan

The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the City and other interested parties, may develop and implement a management plan for National Forest System land that ensures the protection and stabilization of the National Forest System land to minimize the impacts of flooding on the City.

(g)

Conveyance to Bureau of Land Management

(1)

In general

If the City offers to convey to the United States title to the non-Federal land described in paragraph (2) that is acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior, the land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, be conveyed to the United States.

(2)

Description of land

The non-Federal land referred to in paragraph (1) is the approximately 136 acres of land administered by the City and identified on the Map as To Bureau of Land Management.

(3)

Costs

Any costs relating to the conveyance under paragraph (1), including any costs for surveys and other administrative costs, shall be paid by the Secretary of the Interior.

102.

Transfer of administrative jurisdiction from the Forest Service to the Bureau of Land Management

(a)

In general

Administrative jurisdiction over the approximately 50 acres of Forest Service land identified on the Map as Parcel #1 is transferred, from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior.

(b)

Costs

Any costs relating to the transfer under subsection (a), including any costs for surveys and other administrative costs, shall be paid by the Secretary of the Interior.

(c)

Use of land

(1)

Right-of-way

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall grant to the City a right-of-way for the maintenance of flood management facilities located on the land.

(2)

Disposal

The land referred to in subsection (a) shall be disposed of in accordance with section 201.

(3)

Disposition of proceeds

The gross proceeds from the disposal of land under paragraph (2) shall be distributed in accordance with section 202(a).

II

Land Disposal

201.

Disposal of Carson City land

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713), the Secretary of the Interior shall, in accordance with that Act, this title, and other applicable law, and subject to valid existing rights, conduct sales of the Federal land described in subsection (b) to qualified bidders.

(b)

Description of land

The Federal land referred to in subsection (a) is—

(1)

the approximately 108 acres of Bureau of Land Management land identified as Lands for Disposal on the Map; and

(2)

the approximately 50 acres of land identified as Parcel #1 on the Map.

(c)

Compliance with local planning and zoning laws

Before a sale of Federal land under subsection (a), the City shall submit to the Secretary a certification that qualified bidders have agreed to comply with—

(1)

City zoning ordinances; and

(2)

any master plan for the area approved by the City.

(d)

Method of sale; consideration

The sale of Federal land under subsection (a) shall be—

(1)

consistent with subsections (d) and (f) of section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1713);

(2)

unless otherwise determined by the Secretary, through a competitive bidding process; and

(3)

for not less than fair market value.

(e)

Withdrawal

(1)

In general

Subject to valid existing rights and except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal land described in subsection (b) is withdrawn from—

(A)

all forms of entry and appropriation under the public land laws;

(B)

location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(C)

operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws.

(2)

Exception

Paragraph (1)(A) shall not apply to sales made consistent with this section.

(f)

Deadline for sale

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, if there is a qualified bidder for the land described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b), the Secretary of the Interior shall offer the land for sale to the qualified bidder.

(2)

Postponement; exclusion from sale

(A)

Request by Carson city for postponement or exclusion

At the request of the City, the Secretary shall postpone or exclude from the sale under paragraph (1) all or a portion of the land described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b).

(B)

Indefinite postponement

Unless specifically requested by the City, a postponement under subparagraph (A) shall not be indefinite.

202.

Disposition of proceeds

(a)

In general

Of the proceeds from the sale of land under sections 101(d)(4)(B) and 201(a)—

(1)

5 percent shall be paid directly to the State for use in the general education program of the State; and

(2)

the remainder shall be deposited in a special account in the Treasury of the United States, to be known as the Carson City Special Account, and shall be available without further appropriation to the Secretary until expended to—

(A)

reimburse costs incurred by the Bureau of Land Management for preparing for the sale of the Federal land described in section 201(b), including the costs of—

(i)

surveys and appraisals; and

(ii)

compliance with—

(I)

the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and

(II)

sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713);

(B)

reimburse costs incurred by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service for preparing for, and carrying out, the transfers of land to be held in trust by the United States under section 301; and

(C)

acquire environmentally sensitive land or an interest in environmentally sensitive land in the City.

(b)

Silver saddle endowment account

(1)

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a special account, to be known as the Silver Saddle Endowment Account, consisting of such amounts as are deposited under section 101(c)(1).

(2)

Availability of amounts

Amounts deposited in the account established by paragraph (1) shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, for the oversight and enforcement of the conservation easement established under section 101(c)(2).

203.

Urban interface

(a)

In general

Except as otherwise provided in this Act and subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land described in subsection (b) is permanently withdrawn from—

(1)

all forms of entry and appropriation under the public land laws and mining laws;

(2)

location and patent under the mining laws; and

(3)

operation of the mineral laws, geothermal leasing laws, and mineral material laws.

(b)

Description of land

The land referred to in subsection (a) consists of approximately 19,747 acres, which is identified on the Map as Urban Interface Withdrawal.

(c)

Incorporation of acquired land and interests

Any land or interest in land within the boundaries of the land described in subsection (b) that is acquired by the United States after the date of enactment of this Act shall be withdrawn in accordance with this section.

(d)

Off-highway vehicle management

Until the date on which the Secretary, in consultation with the State, the City, and any other interested persons, completes a transportation plan for Federal land in the City, the use of motorized and mechanical vehicles on Federal land within the City shall be limited to roads and trails in existence on the date of enactment of this Act unless the use of the vehicles is needed—

(1)

for administrative purposes; or

(2)

to respond to an emergency.

204.

Availability of funds

Section 4(e) of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–263; 112 Stat. 2346; 116 Stat. 2007; 117 Stat. 1317; 118 Stat. 2414; 120 Stat. 3045) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3)(A)(iv), by striking Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties and Washoe County (subject to paragraph 4)) and inserting Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties and Washoe County (subject to paragraph 4)) and Carson City (subject to paragraph (5));

(2)

in paragraph (3)(A)(v), by striking Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties and inserting Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties and Carson City (subject to paragraph (5));

(3)

in paragraph (4), by striking 2011 and inserting 2015; and

(4)

by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Limitation for Carson city

Carson City shall be eligible to nominate for expenditure amounts to acquire land or an interest in land for parks or natural areas and for conservation initiatives—

(A)

adjacent to the Carson River; or

(B)

within the floodplain of the Carson River.

.

III

Transfer of land to be held in trust for the Washoe Tribe, Skunk Harbor Conveyance Correction, Forest Service Agreement, and artifact collection

301.

Transfer of land to be held in trust for Washoe Tribe

(a)

In general

Subject to valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the land described in subsection (b)—

(1)

shall be held in trust by the United States for the benefit and use of the Tribe; and

(2)

shall be part of the reservation of the Tribe.

(b)

Description of land

The land referred to in subsection (a) consists of approximately 293 acres, which is identified on the Map as To Washoe Tribe.

(c)

Survey

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall complete a survey of the boundary lines to establish the boundaries of the land taken into trust under subsection (a).

(d)

Use of land

(1)

Gaming

Land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall not be eligible, or considered to have been taken into trust, for class II gaming or class III gaming (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)).

(2)

Trust land for ceremonial use and conservation

With respect to the use of the land taken into trust under subsection (a) that is above the 5,200′ elevation contour, the Tribe—

(A)

shall limit the use of the land to—

(i)

traditional and customary uses; and

(ii)

stewardship conservation for the benefit of the Tribe; and

(B)

shall not permit any—

(i)

permanent residential or recreational development on the land; or

(ii)

commercial use of the land, including commercial development or gaming.

(3)

Trust land for commercial and residential use

With respect to the use of the land taken into trust under subsection (a), the Tribe shall limit the use of the land below the 5,200′ elevation to—

(A)

traditional and customary uses;

(B)

stewardship conservation for the benefit of the Tribe; and

(C)
(i)

residential or recreational development; or

(ii)

commercial use.

(4)

Thinning; landscape restoration

With respect to the land taken into trust under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation and coordination with the Tribe, may carry out any thinning and other landscape restoration activities on the land that is beneficial to the Tribe and the Forest Service.

302.

Correction of Skunk Harbor conveyance

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this section is to amend Public Law 108–67 (117 Stat. 880) to make a technical correction relating to the land conveyance authorized under that Act.

(b)

Technical correction

Section 2 of Public Law 108–67 (117 Stat. 880) is amended—

(1)

by striking Subject to and inserting the following:

(a)

In general

Subject to

;

(2)

in subsection (a) (as designated by paragraph (1)), by striking the parcel and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: and to approximately 23 acres of land identified as Parcel A on the map entitled Skunk Harbor Conveyance Correction and dated September 12, 2008, the western boundary of which is the low water line of Lake Tahoe at elevation 6,223.0 (Lake Tahoe Datum).; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(b)

Survey and legal description

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture shall complete a survey and legal description of the boundary lines to establish the boundaries of the trust land.

(2)

Technical corrections

The Secretary may correct any technical errors in the survey or legal description completed under paragraph (1).

(c)

Public access and use

Nothing in this Act prohibits any approved general public access (through existing easements or by boat) to, or use of, land remaining within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit after the conveyance of the land to the Secretary of the Interior, in trust for the Tribe, under subsection (a), including access to, and use of, the beach and shoreline areas adjacent to the portion of land conveyed under that subsection.

.

(c)

Date of trust status

The trust land described in section 2(a) of Public Law 108–67 (117 Stat. 880) shall be considered to be taken into trust as of August 1, 2003.

(d)

Transfer

The Secretary of the Interior, acting on behalf of and for the benefit of the Tribe, shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture administrative jurisdiction over the land identified as Parcel B on the map entitled Skunk Harbor Conveyance Correction and dated September 12, 2008.

303.

Agreement with Forest Service

The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Tribe, shall develop and implement a cooperative agreement that ensures regular access by members of the Tribe and other people in the community of the Tribe across National Forest System land from the City to Lake Tahoe for cultural and religious purposes.

304.

Artifact collection

(a)

Notice

At least 180 days before conducting any ground disturbing activities on the land identified as Parcel #2 on the Map, the City shall notify the Tribe of the proposed activities to provide the Tribe with adequate time to inventory and collect any artifacts in the affected area.

(b)

Authorized activities

On receipt of notice under subsection (a), the Tribe may collect and possess any artifacts relating to the Tribe in the land identified as Parcel #2 on the Map.