,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ebg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #ad1 #bjai,mr4 ,stauber 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,emmer1 ,mr4 ,peterson1 ,mr4 ,gosar1 ,mr4 ,westerman1 and ,mr4 ,hagedorn7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to provide for a land exchange involving ,federal land in the ,superior ,national ,forest in ,minnesota acquired by the ,secretary of ,agriculture through the ,weeks ,law1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,superior ,national ,forest ,land ,exchange ,act of #bjai4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,purpose and need for ,north,met ,land ,exchange4 ,sec4 #c4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #d4 ,north,met ,land ,exchange4 ,sec4 #e4 ,valuation of ,north,met ,land ,exchange4 ,sec4 #f4 ,maps and legal descriptions4 ,sec4 #g4 ,post-exchange land management4 ,sec4 #h4 ,miscellaneous provisions4 #b4 ,purpose and need for ,north,met ,land ,exchange 7a7 ,purpose ,it is the purpose of this ,act to further the public interest by consummating the ,north,met ,land ,exchange as specifically set forth in this ,act4 7b7 ,need ,according to the ,final ,record of ,decision1 the ,north,met ,land ,exchange is advisable and needed because the ,north,met ,land ,exchange will-- 7#a7 result in a #dj-;acre net gain in ,national ,forest ,system lands2 7#b7 improve the spatial arrangement of ,national ,forest ,system lands by reducing the amount of ownership boundaries to be managed by #cc miles2 7#c7 improve management effectiveness by exchanging isolated ,federal lands with no public overland access for non-,federal lands that will have public overland access and be accessible and open to public use and enjoyment2 7#d7 result in ,federal cost savings by eliminating certain easements and their associated administration costs2 7#e7 meet several of the priorities identified in the land and resource management plan for ,superior ,national ,forest to protect and manage administratively or congressionally designated1 unique1 proposed1 or recommended areas1 including acquisition of #cjg acres of land to the administratively proposed candidate ,research ,natural ,areas1 which are managed by preserving and maintaining areas for ecological research1 observation1 genetic conservation1 monitoring1 and educational activities2 7#f7 promote more effective land management that would meet specific ,national ,forest needs for management1 including acquisition of over #f1ejj acres of land for new public access1 watershed protection1 ecologically rare habitats1 wetlands1 water frontage1 and improved ownership patterns2 7#g7 convey ,federal land generally not needed for other ,forest resource management objectives1 because such land is adjacent to intensively developed private land including ferrous mining areas1 where abundant mining infrastructure and transportation are already in place1 including-- 7,a7 a large1 intensively developed open pit mine lying directly to the north of the ,federal land2 7,b7 a private mine railroad1 powerlines1 and roads lying directly to the south of the ,federal land2 and 7,c7 already existing ore processing1 milling1 and tailings facilities located approximately #e miles to the west of the ,federal land2 and 7#h7 provide a practical resolution to complex issues pertaining to the development of private mineral rights underlying the ,federal land surface1 and thereby avoid potential litigation which could adversely impact the status and management of the ,federal land and other ,national ,forest ,system land acquired under the authority of section #f of the ,act of ,march #a1 #aiaa 7commonly known as the ,weeks ,law2 #af ,u4,s4,c4 #eae74 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,collection ,agreements ,the term ,collection ,agreements means the following agreements between the ,secretary and ,poly,met pertaining to the ,north,met ,land ,exchange3 7,a7 ,the agreement dated ,august #be1 #bjae4 7,b7 ,the agreement dated ,january #ae1 #bjaf4 7#b7 ,federal land parcel ,the term ,federal land parcel means all right1 title1 and interest of the ,united ,states in and to approximately #f1fej acres of ,national ,forest ,system land1 as identified in the ,final ,record of ,decision1 within the ,superior ,national ,forest in ,st4 ,louis ,county1 ,minnesota1 as generally depicted on the map entitled ,federal ,land ,parcel-,north,met ,land ,exchange1 and dated ,june #bjag4 7#c7 ,non-,federal land ,the term non-,federal land means all right1 title1 and interest of ,poly,met in and to approximately #f1fij acres of land in four separate tracts 7comprising #aj separate land parcels in total7 within the ,superior ,national ,forest to be conveyed to the ,united ,states by ,poly,met in the land exchange as generally depicted on an overview map entitled ,non-,federal ,land ,parcels-,north,met ,land ,exchange and dated ,june #bjag1 and further depicted on separate tract maps as follows3 7,a7 ,tract #a ,approximately #d1fej acres of land in ,st4 ,louis ,county1 ,minnesota1 generally depicted on the map entitled ,non-,federal ,land ,parcels-,north,met ,land ,exchange-,hay ,lake ,tract1 and dated ,june #bh1 #bjah4 7,b7 ,tract #b ,approximately #cbj acres of land in #d separate parcels in ,lake ,county1 ,minnesota1 generally depicted on the map entitled ,non-,federal ,land ,parcels-,north,met ,land ,exchange-,lake ,county ,lands1 and dated ,june #bh1 #bjah4 7,c7 ,tract #c ,approximately #a1efj acres of land in #d separate parcels in ,lake ,county1 ,minnesota1 generally depicted on the map entitled ,non-,federal ,land ,parcels-,north,met ,land ,exchange-,wolf ,lands1 and dated ,june #bjag4 7,d7 ,tract #d ,approximately #afj acres of land in ,st4 ,louis ,county1 ,minnesota1 generally depicted on the map entitled ,non-,federal ,land ,parcel-,north,met ,land ,exchange-,hunting ,club ,lands1 dated ,june #bjag4 7#d7 ,north,met ,land ,exchange ,the term ,north,met ,land ,exchange means the land exchange specifically authorized and directed by section #d of this ,act4 7#e7 ,poly,met ,the term ,poly,met means ,poly,met ,mining ,corporation1 ,inc41 a ,minnesota ,corporation with executive offices in ,st4 ,paul1 ,minnesota1 and headquarters in ,hoyt ,lakes1 ,minnesota4 7#f7 ,record of ,decision ,the term ,record of ,decision means the ,final ,record of ,decision of the ,forest ,service issued on ,january #i1 #bjag1 approving the ,north,met ,land exchange between the ,united ,states and ,poly,met ,mining1 ,inc41 a ,minnesota ,corporation1 involving ,national ,forest ,system land in the ,superior ,national ,forest in ,minnesota4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#h7 ,state ,the term ,state means the ,state of ,minnesota4 #d4 ,north,met ,land ,exchange 7a7 ,exchange authorized and directed 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to section #e7;c77#a7 and other conditions imposed by this ,act1 if ,poly,met offers to convey to the ,united ,states all right1 title1 and interest of ,poly,met in and to the non-,federal land1 the ,secretary shall accept the offer and convey to ,poly,met all right1 title1 and interest of the ,united ,states in and to the ,federal land parcel4 7#b7 ,land exchange expedited ,subject to the conditions imposed by this ,act1 the ,north,met ,land ,exchange directed by this ,act shall be consummated not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7b7 ,form of conveyance 7#a7 ,non-,federal land ,title to the non-,federal land conveyed by ,poly,met to the ,united ,states shall be by general warranty deed subject to existing rights of record1 and otherwise conform to the title approval regulations of the ,attorney ,general of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,federal land parcel ,the ,federal land parcel shall be quitclaimed by the ,secretary to ,poly,met by an exchange deed4 7c7 ,exchange costs 7#a7 ,reimbursement required ,poly,met shall pay or reimburse the ,secretary1 either directly or through the ,collection ,agreements1 for all land survey1 appraisal1 land title1 deed preparation1 and other costs incurred by the ,secretary in processing and consummating the ,north,met ,land ,exchange4 ,the ,collection ,agreements1 as in effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 may be modified through the mutual consent of the parties4 7#b7 ,deposit of funds ,all funds paid or reimbursed to the ,secretary under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 shall be deposited and credited to the accounts in accordance with the ,collection ,agreements2 7,b7 shall be used for the purposes specified for the accounts2 and 7,c7 shall remain available to the ,secretary until expended without further appropriation4 7d7 ,conditions on land exchange 7#a7 ,reservation of certain mineral rights ,notwithstanding subsection 7a71 the ,united ,states shall reserve the mineral rights on approximately #aha acres of the ,federal land parcel as generally identified on the map entitled ,federal ,land ,parcel-,north,met ,land ,exchange1 and dated ,june #bjag4 7#b7 ,third-party authorizations ,as set forth in the ,final ,record of ,decision1 ,poly,met shall honor existing road and transmission line authorizations on the ,federal land parcel4 ,upon relinquishment of the authorizations by the holders or upon revocation of the authorizations by the ,forest ,service1 ,poly,met shall offer replacement authorizations to the holders on at least equivalent terms4 #e4 ,valuation of ,north,met ,land ,exchange 7a7 ,appraisals ,the ,congress makes the following new findings3 7#a7 ,appraisals of the ,federal and non-,federal lands to be exchanged in the ,north,met ,land ,exchange were formally prepared in accordance with the ,uniform ,appraisal ,standards for ,federal ,land ,acquisitions1 and were approved by the ,secretary in conjunction with preparation of the ,november #bjae ,draft ,record of ,decision on the ,north,met ,land ,exchange4 7#b7 ,the appraisals referred to in paragraph 7#a7 determined that the value of the non-,federal lands exceeded the value of the ,federal land parcel by approximately #dbe1jjj4 7#c7 ,based on the appraisals referred to in paragraph 7#a71 the ,united ,states would ordinarily be required to make a #dbe1jjj cash equalization payment to ,poly,met to equalize exchange values under the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq471 unless such an equalization payment is waived by ,poly,met4 7b7 ,values for consummation of land exchange ,the appraised values of the ,federal and non-,federal land determined and approved by the ,secretary in ,november #bjae1 and referenced in subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 shall be the values utilized to consummate the ,north,met ,land ,exchange2 and 7#b7 shall not be subject to reappraisal4 7c7 ,waiver of equalization payment 7#a7 ,condition on land exchange ,notwithstanding section #bjf7;b7 of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agaf7;b771 and as part of its offer to exchange the non-,federal lands as provided in section #d7;a77#a7 of this ,act1 ,poly,met shall waive any payment to it of any monies owed by the ,united ,states to equalize land values4 7#b7 ,treatment of waiver ,a waiver of the equalization payment under paragraph 7#a7 shall be considered as a voluntary donation to the ,united ,states by ,poly,met for all purposes of law4 #f4 ,maps and legal descriptions 7a7 ,minor adjustments ,by mutual agreement1 the ,secretary and ,poly,met may correct minor or typographical errors in any map1 acreage estimate1 or description of the ,federal land parcel or non-,federal land to be exchanged in the ,north,met ,land ,exchange4 7b7 ,conflict ,if there is a conflict between a map1 an acreage estimate1 or a description of land under this ,act1 the map shall control unless the ,secretary and ,poly,met mutually agree otherwise4 7c7 ,exchange maps ,the maps referred to in section #c depicting the ,federal and non-,federal lands to be exchanged in the ,north,met ,land ,exchange1 and dated ,june #bh #bjah1 depict the identical lands identified in the ,final ,record of ,decision1 which are on file in the ,office of the ,supervisor1 ,superior ,national ,forest4 #g4 ,post-exchange land management 7a7 ,non-,federal land ,upon conveyance of the non-,federal land to the ,united ,states in the ,north,met ,land ,exchange1 the non-,federal land shall become part of the ,superior ,national ,forest and be managed in accordance with-- 7#a7 the ,act of ,march #a1 #aiaa 7commonly known as the ,weeks ,law2 #af ,u4,s4,c4 #ejj et seq472 and 7#b7 the laws and regulations applicable to the ,superior ,national ,forest and the ,national ,forest ,system4 7b7 ,planning ,upon acquisition by the ,united ,states in the ,north,met ,land ,exchange1 the non-,federal lands shall be managed in a manner consistent with the land and resource management plan applicable to adjacent federally owned lands in the ,superior ,national ,forest4 ,an amendment or supplement to the land and resource management plan shall not be required solely because of the acquisition of the non-,federal lands4 7c7 ,federal land ,upon conveyance of the ,federal land parcel to ,poly,met in the ,north,met ,land ,exchange1 the ,federal land parcel shall become private land and available for any lawful use in accordance with applicable ,federal1 ,state1 and local laws and regulations pertaining to mining and other uses of land in private ownership4 #h4 ,miscellaneous provisions 7a7 ,withdrawal of acquired ,non-,federal land ,the non-,federal lands acquired by the ,united ,states in the ,north,met ,land ,exchange shall be withdrawn1 without further action by the ,secretary1 from appropriation and disposal under public land laws and under laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing4 7b7 ,withdrawal revocation ,any public land order that withdraws the ,federal land parcel from appropriation or disposal under a public land law shall be revoked without further action by the ,secretary to the extent necessary to permit conveyance of the ,federal land parcel to ,poly,met4 7c7 ,withdrawal of ,federal land pending conveyance ,the ,federal land parcel to be conveyed to ,poly,met in the ,north,met ,land ,exchange1 if not already withdrawn or segregated from appropriation or disposal under the mineral leasing and geothermal or other public land laws upon enactment of this ,act1 is hereby so withdrawn1 subject to valid existing rights1 until the date of conveyance of the ,federal land parcel to ,poly,met4 7d7 ,act controls ,in the event any provision of the ,record of ,decision conflicts with a provision of this ,act1 the provision of this ,act shall control4