Sierra National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2006
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 109-375.
Official Summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 29, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Sierra National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey specified federal land in Mt. Diablo Meridian, California, in exchange for certain non-federal land in Mt. Diablo Meridian and a payment of $50,000, if the owner of such land offers to make such exchange during the year following enactment of this Act. Requires that the recipient of the federal land convey all 160 acres of such land to the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America within 120 days after the date on which the recipient receives title to that land. Directs the Secretary to: (1) manage the non-federal land received in accordance with the Weeks Act and any other laws, including regulations, applicable to the National Forest System; and (2) deposit the cash payment received into the fund established by the Sisk Act, to be expended for the acquisition of lands and interests in lands for the National Forest System in California. Requires that the owner of the non-federal land pay to the Secretary all direct costs associated with processing the land exchange. Requires any such amounts received by the Secretary to be deposited in a cost collection account to be expended for the costs associated with the land exchange. Provides for the refund of any amounts remaining in such account after completion of the land exchange that are not needed to cover the expenses of such exchange. Considers the boundaries of the Sierra National Forest to be its boundaries as of January 1, 1965. States that, in accordance with a specified agreement entered into by the Forest Service, the Council, and the owner of the hydroelectric Project No. 67 and executed on April 17, 2006: (1) the Secretary shall grant an easement to the owner of Project No. 67; and (2) the Council shall grant a right of first refusal to that owner. Requires the Council to provide to the owner of the project, under such terms and conditions as are agreed to by the Council and such owner, a right of first refusal to obtain the federal land, or a portion of such land, that the Council proposes to sell, transfer, or otherwise convey. Instructs the Secretary, in exercising any discretion necessary to carry out this Act, to ensure that the public interest is well served. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to decrease the amount provided for carrying out the Biomass Commercial Use Grant Program and the Improved Biomass Use Grant Program for FY2007-FY2016.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Sierra National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2006 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to exchange specified federal land in California for certain non-federal land and a payment of $50,000. The act requires the recipient of the federal land to transfer it to the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America and mandates management of the acquired non-federal land under applicable National Forest System laws. It also includes provisions for cost recovery related to the land exchange and modifies funding levels for certain biomass grant programs.
This bill facilitates a land exchange involving federal and non-federal lands in California, with specific conditions on land conveyance and management, impacting public lands and resource management.
- Directs a land exchange between federal land in Sierra National Forest and non-federal land in California, including a $50,000 payment.
- Requires the federal land recipient to convey the land to the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America within 120 days.
- Mandates management of the acquired non-federal land according to National Forest System laws and deposits payments into funds for land acquisition.
Potential beneficiaries include the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the U.S. Forest Service through land management and acquisition funds, and the owner of the non-federal land involved in the exchange.
Possible concerns include the administrative costs and complexity of processing the land exchange, the impact on public land boundaries, and the reduction in funding for biomass grant programs. The bill does not provide full text details, which limits assessment of all implementation aspects.
The bill was introduced in the House during the 109th Congress, falls under Public Lands and Natural Resources policy, and has been enacted into law as of December 1, 2006.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 11 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
The land exchange and management requirements may affect local land use, conservation efforts, and public access. The reduction in biomass grant funding could influence related environmental or commercial projects.
The full bill text is not provided, limiting detailed analysis. Citizens may want to review how the land exchange impacts local communities and ecosystems, as well as the implications of reduced biomass program funding. The requirement for the recipient to transfer land to a private organization within a set timeframe is a notable implementation detail.
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