summary
Introduced
05/01/2015
05/01/2015
In Committee
11/19/2015
11/19/2015
Crossed Over
09/17/2015
09/17/2015
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Crags, Colorado Land Exchange Act of 2015 (Sec. 4) This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), if the Broadmoor Hotel, Inc., (BHI) offers to convey to the USDA 320 acres of specified nonfederal land in the Pike National Forest in Teller County, Colorado, and a permanent trail easement for the Barr Trail in El Paso County, Colorado, to accept the offer and convey to BHI 83 acres of specified federal land within the Forest, together with a non-exclusive perpetual access easement for BHI to and from such land on Forest Service Road 371. The nonexclusive perpetual access easement granted to BHI shall allow: (1) BHI to fully maintain, at its own expense, and use Forest Service Road 371 from its junction with Forest Service Road 368 in accordance with historic BHI use and maintenance patterns; and (2) full and continued public and administrative access and use of FSR 371 in accordance with the existing Forest Service travel management plan, or as it may be revised by USDA. (Sec. 5) The USDA shall determine the values of the lands to be exchanged through appraisals following specified requirements. The values shall be equal, or if they are not equal, equalized as prescribed by this Act. The appraised value of the federal land parcel shall not reflect any increase or diminution in value due to the existing special use permit to BHI on the parcel and its improvements. The Barr Trail easement donation shall not be appraised for purposes of this Act. (Sec. 6) The lands acquired by the USDA under this Act shall, without further USDA action, be permanently withdrawn from all forms of appropriation and disposal under the public land laws (including the mining and mineral leasing laws) and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1930, except to the extent necessary to permit the disposal of the federal land parcel to BHI. The land acquired by the USDA under this Act shall become part of the Pike-San Isabel National Forest. It is the intent of Congress that the land exchange directed by this Act be completed within one year of this Act's enactment.
AI Summary
This bill, the Crags, Colorado Land Exchange Act of 2015, directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to facilitate a land exchange between the federal government and Broadmoor Hotel, Inc. (BHI), a Colorado corporation. Specifically, if BHI offers to transfer approximately 320 acres of non-federal land in the Pike National Forest in Teller County, Colorado, along with a permanent trail easement for the Barr Trail in El Paso County, Colorado, the USDA must accept this offer. In return, the USDA will convey approximately 83 acres of federal land within the Pike National Forest to BHI. The exchange also includes a perpetual access easement for BHI to use and maintain Forest Service Road 371, ensuring continued public and administrative access to the road. The values of the lands involved will be determined by appraisals, and any difference in value will be equalized, with BHI potentially making a cash payment if the federal land is valued higher, or the surplus value of the non-federal land being considered a donation if it's valued higher. Importantly, the appraised value of the federal land will not include any increase or decrease in value due to BHI's existing special use permit and improvements on that parcel, and the Barr Trail easement will not be appraised. The federal lands acquired by the USDA will be permanently withdrawn from mining and other forms of appropriation, becoming part of the Pike-San Isabel National Forest, and Congress intends for this exchange to be completed within one year of the bill's enactment.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 341. (on 12/16/2015)
Official Document
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