A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to exchange certain lands located in Hinsdale County, Colorado.
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 105-74.
Official Summary
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to convey specified selected lands in Hinsdale County, Colorado, to Lake City Ranches, Ltd. (LCR) (a Texas limited partnership) in exchange for acceptable offered lands which lie within, or in proximity to, the Handies Peak or Red Cloud Peak Wilderness Study Areas or the Alpine Loop Backcountry Bi-way in such county. Provides that such exchange shall be: (1) contingent upon LCR granting the Secretary of the Interior a permanent conservation easement to a specified portion of the lands conveyed to it; and (2) subject to the appraisal requirements and equalization payment limitations set forth in provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and to reviews and approvals relating to threatened and endangered species, cultural and historical resources, and hazardous materials under other Federal laws.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™This bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to exchange certain federal lands located in Hinsdale County, Colorado, with Lake City Ranches, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership. The exchange involves conveying selected federal lands to LCR in return for lands offered by LCR that are located within or near designated wilderness study areas or a backcountry byway in Hinsdale County. The land exchange is contingent upon LCR granting a permanent conservation easement on a specified portion of the lands it receives. The exchange must comply with appraisal and equalization payment rules under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and undergo reviews related to threatened and endangered species, cultural and historical resources, and hazardous materials under other federal laws. The bill was enacted into law as Public Law No: 105-74 on November 12, 1997.
The law facilitates a land exchange in Hinsdale County, Colorado, balancing land conveyance with conservation easements and federal environmental and appraisal safeguards.
- Requires the Secretary of the Interior to exchange specific federal lands in Hinsdale County, Colorado, with lands offered by Lake City Ranches, Ltd.
- The exchange is conditioned on LCR granting a permanent conservation easement on part of the conveyed lands.
- The exchange must comply with appraisal and payment equalization provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and federal reviews concerning environmental and cultural protections.
['Lake City Ranches, Ltd. (Texas limited partnership)', 'U.S. Department of the Interior', 'Conservation interests through permanent easements', 'Local communities in Hinsdale County, Colorado']
['Ensuring compliance with appraisal and equalization payment requirements under federal law', 'Adequate review and mitigation of impacts on threatened and endangered species, cultural and historical resources, and hazardous materials', 'Oversight of the permanent conservation easement enforcement', 'Potential administrative costs related to land exchange and environmental reviews']
The bill was introduced and passed during the 105th Congress and was signed into law in 1997. It addresses land management and conservation issues specific to Hinsdale County, Colorado, under the authority of the Secretary of the Interior. The legislation aligns with federal land policy frameworks, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Potential enhancement of local conservation efforts through permanent easements.', 'Possible changes in land use and management practices in the exchanged lands.', 'Influence on future land exchanges involving wilderness study areas and backcountry byways by setting precedent for conservation easements and environmental reviews.']
The bill includes specific conditions for land exchange that require adherence to federal appraisal standards and environmental reviews, which are important for transparency and accountability. Oversight of the permanent conservation easement and compliance with environmental protections will be key areas for monitoring implementation. The absence of the full bill text limits detailed analysis of enforcement mechanisms and administrative procedures.
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