[House Report 106-749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 106-749
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CASTLE ROCK RANCH ACQUISITION ACT OF 2000
_______
July 17, 2000.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1705]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(S. 1705) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into
land exchanges to acquire from the private owner and to convey
to the State of Idaho approximately 1,240 acres of land near
the City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon
without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of S. 1705 is to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to enter into land exchanges to acquire from the
private owner and convey to the State of Idaho approximately
1,240 acres of land near the City of Rocks National Reserve,
Idaho, and for other purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
S. 1705 directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire
land, known as the Castle Rock Ranch, outside the boundary of
the City of Rocks National Reserve. The Secretary would then
convey the acquired land (Castle Rocks Ranch) to the State of
Idaho in exchange for State land located within the Hagerman
Fossil Beds National Monument. Upon completion of this land
exchange, the State of Idaho may then exchange, with the
consent of the private landowners, portions of the Castle Rock
Ranch for private land within the boundaries of the City of
Rocks National Reserve. As a condition of the exchange the
State of Idaho shall administer the private land acquired in
accordance with Title II of the Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 460yy et seq.).
The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument was created in
1988, and consists of approximately 4,280 acres. Hagerman
contains the largest known concentration of Hagerman horse
fossils in North America. These fossils have international
significance because they are the largest deposits of fossils
from the Pliocene time period, nearly 3.5 million years ago.
The proposed land to be exchanged inside the Monument is the
actual location of the Horse Fossil Quarry, which is the home
of the Hagerman Horse Fossil. The exchange authorized by this
bill would consolidate all of the inholdings in the Monument.
The City of Rocks National Reserve, also created in 1988,
is made up of roughly 14,300 acres. Named for the rock
pinnacles (60-70 stories high) which resemble a skyline, this
national monument is now a favorite for rock climbers, and
outdoor enthusiasts. Because it is a National Reserve, the land
is jointly managed by the State of Idaho and the National Park
Service. Nearly 7,300 acres are publicly owned, while the other
7,000 acres belong to private landowners.
The Castle Rock Ranch is comprised of approximately 1,240
acres. This unique piece of private land, now owned by the
Conservation Fund, has been used for grazing and ranching, and
also contains many of the same rock formations as the City of
Rocks National Reserve, the largest being in the shape of a
castle.
The House companion measure to S. 1705 is H.R. 3693,
authored by Congressman Michael Simpson (R-ID).
For additional information on S. 1705, please see Senate
Report 106-262.
COMMITTEE ACTION
S. 1705 was introduced on October 7, 1999, by Senator Larry
Craig (R-ID). In the House of Representatives, the bill was
referred to the Committee on Resources, and within the
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands. On June 28, 2000 the Resources Committee met to consider
S. 1705. The Subcommittee was discharged from further
consideration by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered
and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of
Representatives by voice vote.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations
are reflected in the body of this report.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the
Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority
to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. Government Reform Oversight Findings. Under clause
3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee has received no report of
oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on
Government Reform on this bill.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, July 6, 2000.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1705, the Castle
Rock Ranch Acquisition Act of 2000.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Deborah
Reis (for federal costs) and Victoria Heid Hall (for the state
and local impact).
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
S. 1705--Castle Rock Ranch Acquisition Act of 2000
S. 1705 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to
acquire by donation or purchase the Castle Rock Ranch in Idaho.
Once acquired, the ranch would be conveyed to the state of
Idaho in exchange for about 490 acres of land located within
the boundary of the Hagerman National Monument.
Based on information provided by the NPS, CBO estimates
that it would cost less than $1 million to acquire Castle Rock
Ranch. We further estimate that additional costs to execute the
exchange of lands with Idaho and to manage the newly acquired
acreage would not be significant. S. 1705 would not affect
direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures would not apply.
S. 1705 contains no private-sector or intergovernmental
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no significant costs on state, local, or tribal
governments. Acquiring the Castle Rock Ranch from the federal
government and participating in subsequent exchanges with
private owners of land within the City of Rocks National
Reserve would be voluntary on the part of the state of Idaho.
On April 11, 2000, CBO prepared a cost estimate for S.
1705, the Castle Rock Ranch Acquisition Act of 1999, as ordered
reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources on April 5, 2000. The two versions of the legislation
are identical, as are the cost estimates.
The CBO contacts are Deborah Reis (for federal costs) and
Victoria Heid Hall (for the state and local impact). This
estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt State, local, or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.