Big Bear Land Exchange Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5513) to provide for an exchange of lands with San Bernardino County, California, to enhance management of lands within the San Bernardino National Forest, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cook), the sponsor of this piece of legislation, to explain why we should actually deal with this particular piece.

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a perfect example of how to do something well. I commend Congressman Cook for listening to his local constituents, trying to get their input, and getting a bill that has total local support. It is the way things should be done, solving a problem for both the Forest Service, as well as San Bernardino County.

Not only will the Forest Service get a small parcel of land which solves the problem of in-holdings within their property, but San Bernardino County gets the ability of solving significant problems they have in the area of public safety. This is one of those things that is a win-win situation: a win-win situation which actually provides safety, as well as the changing of that trail, if absolutely necessary, but that has to be worked out before any of this is concluded.

The bottom line here is that we have realized there is a significant problem, we have recognized this is a significant problem, and, by working with local communities to get their input trying to come up with a locally-driven solution to that problem, this is the way government should operate. Unfortunately, it doesn't operate that way all the time, but Congressman Cook has worked very hard to make sure that this is one of those positive efforts. This bill is one of those things that is a win for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I heartily ask my colleagues to vote in favor of this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bishop for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about my bill, H.R. 5513, the Big Bear Land Exchange Act. This bill would authorize a land exchange of approximately 71 acres of land in the San Bernardino National Forest for approximately 73 acres of land currently owned by San Bernardino County.

This land would be used by the county to build a timber processing facility that would serve the mountain communities. Currently, trees and other forest waste are driven down the mountain through a narrow and winding pass to a processing facility in the valley, resulting in increased traffic congestion, significant wear and tear on mountain roads, and numerous traffic accidents. This has been exacerbated this week. We had quite a bit of snow, and, once again, it was very, very treacherous. Safety is always a problem on these mountain roads.

This land exchange would require the relocation of a small portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. I have worked closely with the Pacific Crest Trail Association to include language ensuring that the relocation would include environmental review and will occur before the exchange takes place.

This land exchange has virtually unanimous local support, including the city of Big Bear Lake, the Friends of Big Bear Valley, the Big Bear Fire Department, the Big Bear City Community Services Department, the Big Bear Municipal Water District, the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, and the local Big Bear Group chapter of the Sierra Club. We haven't heard from the local bear associations at all. That is a bad joke. It passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on a unanimous vote.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5513. This bill authorizes an equal value land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and San Bernardino County.

The exchange would allow the county to build a resource conservation and recovery facility adjacent to the current transfer station. The Forest Service would receive an undeveloped parcel currently surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest.

H.R. 5513 is supported by the nearby city of Big Bear, by the Friends of Big

Bear Valley, and by the local chapter of the Sierra Club.

I thank my colleague, Representative Cook, for working to address some of our concerns with earlier drafts of this bill. Thanks to his efforts, we have ensured this exchange will be subject to existing law, that it will preserve critical and occupied habitat for endangered species, and that the exchange will have minimal impacts on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.

H.R. 5513 demonstrates how a collaborative process can meet the interests of local stakeholders, while protecting the integrity of our environment and public lands.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.