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HR10432119th Congress

Greeley Land Exchange Act

Sponsored By: Representative Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would authorize a targeted land exchange between the City of Greeley, Colorado, and the U.S. Forest Service transferring about 78 acres of National Forest land to the city in exchange for about 40 acres of city land. It would reserve perpetual easements to protect public nonmotorized access and federal administrative access, require independent appraisals and Phase I environmental checks, and make the city responsible for exchange costs.

Show full summary
  • City of Greeley: Gains title to about 78 acres of former National Forest land. The city must exclude water rights from conveyance and pay all exchange costs such as appraisals, surveys, and environmental assessments.
  • U.S. Forest Service: Acquires about 40 acres that may be added to the Roosevelt National Forest or, if located there, to the Cache la Poudre Wilderness or Wild and Scenic River boundaries. The agency keeps perpetual nonexclusive easements for motorized and nonmotorized administrative and emergency access.
  • Public and land managers: Public nonmotorized access along Seaman Reservoir Trail and Wintersteen Trail is preserved by a perpetual easement. Federal agents also retain nonexclusive access for inspection, maintenance, and emergency response.
  • Transaction rules: Independent mutually agreed appraisers set value. Value differences are equalized by additional land up to 40 acres, cash payments, or a waiver that treats excess city value as a donation.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Forest management for acquired land

If enacted, lands the United States receives would become part of the Roosevelt National Forest and be managed under National Forest laws. Any acquired parcel inside the Cache la Poudre Wilderness boundary would become part of that Wilderness and be managed under the Wilderness Act. Any acquired parcel inside the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River boundary would be managed under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Management would depend on whether the acquired parcels fall inside those specific boundaries.

Public trail access and federal easements

If enacted, the exchange would reserve a perpetual, nonexclusive public nonmotorized easement over the Seaman Reservoir Trail and the Wintersteen Trail consistent with access in effect on the date of enactment. The exchange would also reserve a perpetual, nonexclusive easement allowing the United States and its agents motorized and nonmotorized access for administrative, emergency, maintenance, inspection, and resource-management purposes. These easements would survive the conveyance of the Federal land to the City.

Greeley land swap terms and costs

If enacted, the bill would let the City of Greeley offer about 40 acres of City land for an equal-value swap for about 78 acres of Federal land. The City must exclude its water rights from any conveyance. Value gaps must be fixed by up to 40 additional acres of City land, a cash equalization payment, or both, and if City land appraises higher any U.S. cash payment would be waived and treated as a City donation. The Secretary must complete the exchange within 3 years after the City’s offer unless both sides agree to more time. The City would also have to pay all swap costs and provide Phase I environmental assessments and satisfactory title work before the United States accepts the land.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]

CO • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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