COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
10:00 a.m.

• Press Release - Committee Takes Bipartisan Vote to Save 7,000 Coal Mining Jobs (2/29/2012)

FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP ON:

• H.R. 491 (Heinrich), To modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 1038 (Gosar), To authorize the conveyance of two small parcels of land within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest containing private improvements that were developed based upon the reliance of the landowners in an erroneous survey conducted in May 1960.
• H.R. 1335 (Platts), To revise the boundaries of the Gettysburg National Military Park to include the Gettysburg Train Station, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 2050 (Simpson), To authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes. "Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act"
• H.R. 2157 (McKeon), To facilitate a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the Inyo National Forest, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 2240 (Tsongas), To authorize the exchange of land or interest in land between Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes. "Lowell National Historical Park Land Exchange Act of 2011"
• H.R. 2489 (Holt), To authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program. "American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2011"
• H.R. 2512 (Heck), To provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in Clark County, Nevada, for the environmental remediation and reclamation of the Three Kids Mine Project Site, and for other purposes. "Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act"
• H.R. 2745 (Heck), To amend the Mesquite Lands Act of 1986 to facilitate implementation of a multispecies habitat conservation plan for the Virgin River in Clark County, Nevada.
• H.R. 2947 (Cravaack), To provide for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota.
• H.R. 3263 (Cole), To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the storage and conveyance of nonproject water at the Norman project in Oklahoma, and for other purposes. "Lake Thunderbird Efficient Use Act of 2011"
• H.R. 3409 (Johnson of OH), To limit the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations before December 31, 2013, under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. "Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act"
• H.R. 3411 (Benishek), To modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior.
• H.R. 3440 (Flake), To provide for certain oversight and approval on any decisions to close National Monument land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management to recreational shooting, and for other purposes. "Recreational Shooting Protection Act"
• H.R. 3452 (Bishop of UT), To provide for the sale of approximately 30 acres of Federal land in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Salt Lake County, Utah, to permit the establishment of a minimally invasive transportation alternative for skiers, called "SkiLink", to connect two ski resorts in the Wasatch Mountains, and for other purposes. "Wasatch Range Recreation Access Enhancement Act"
• H.R. 4089 (Miller of FL), To protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting. "Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012"
• S. 271 (Wyden), A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a property conveyance with the city of Wallowa, Oregon, and for other purposes. "Wallowa Forest Service Compound Conveyance Act"
• S. 292 (Murkowski), A bill to resolve the claims of the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska to land adjacent to Salmon Lake in the State of Alaska and to provide for the conveyance to the Bering Straits Native Corporation of certain other public land in partial satisfaction of the land entitlement of the Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. "Salmon Lake Land Selection Resolution Act"
• S. 404 (Levin), A bill to modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior.
• S. 684 (Lee), A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Alta, Utah.
• S. 897 (Bingaman), A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to clarify that uncertified States and Indian tribes have the authority to use certain payments for certain noncoal reclamation projects and acid mine remediation programs.

COMMITTEE ACTION:

The Committee on Natural Resources met in an open markup session on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, and considered the following bills:

H.R. 3452 (Bishop of UT), To provide for the sale of approximately 30 acres of Federal land in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Salt Lake County, Utah, to permit the establishment of a minimally invasive transportation alternative for skiers, called "SkiLink", to connect two ski resorts in the Wasatch Mountains, and for other purposes. “Wasatch Range Recreation Access Enhancement Act”

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3452 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop.056 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
• An amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Grijalva was NOT AGREED TO by a roll call vote of 16 yeas and 19 nays.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by a roll call vote of 20 yeas and 18 nays.

H.R. 4089 (Miller of FL), To protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting. “Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012”

• An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
• An amendment offered by Mr. Grijalva.052 was NOT AGREED TO by a roll call vote of 17 yeas and 24 nays.
• An amendment offered by Mr. Grijalva.053 was NOT AGREED TO by a roll call vote of 16 yeas and 26 nays.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by a roll call vote of 27 yeas and 16 nays.

H.R. 3409 (Johnson of OH), To limit the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations before December 31, 2013, under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. “Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act”

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3409 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Holt.001 was NOT AGREED TO by a roll call vote of 18 yeas and 26 nays.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by a roll call vote of 26 yeas and 18 nays.

S. 684 (Lee), A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Alta, Utah.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of S. 684 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Grijalva.AM1 was NOT AGREED TO by voice vote.
• An amendment offered by Mr. Grijalva.AM2 was NOT AGREED TO by a roll call vote of 19 yeas and 25 nays.
• An amendment offered by Mr. Grijalva.AM3 was offered and withdrawn.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

H.R. 1038 (Gosar), To authorize the conveyance of two small parcels of land within the boundaries of the Coconino National Forest containing private improvements that were developed based upon the reliance of the landowners in an erroneous survey conducted in May 1960.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1038 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
• An amendment offered by Mr. Grijalva.AM1 was NOT AGREED TO by voice vote.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by voice vote.

S. 404 (Levin), A bill to modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of S. 404 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

H.R. 2240 (Tsongas), To authorize the exchange of land or interest in land between Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes. “Lowell National Historical Park Land Exchange Act of 2011”

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2240 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by voice vote.

S. 271 (Wyden), A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a property conveyance with the city of Wallowa, Oregon, and for other purposes. “Wallowa Forest Service Compound Conveyance Act”

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of S. 271 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

H.R. 491 (Heinrich), To modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest, and for other purposes.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 491 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

H.R. 1335 (Platts), To revise the boundaries of the Gettysburg National Military Park to include the Gettysburg Train Station, and for other purposes.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1335 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop #1 was AGREED TO by voice vote.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by voice vote.

H.R. 2050 (Simpson), To authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes. “Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act”

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2050 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

H.R. 2157 (McKeon), To facilitate a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the Inyo National Forest, and for other purposes.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2157 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

H.R. 2745 (Heck), To amend the Mesquite Lands Act of 1986 to facilitate implementation of a multispecies habitat conservation plan for the Virgin River in Clark County, Nevada.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2745 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Bishop.965 was AGREED TO by voice vote.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by voice vote.

H.R. 2947 (Cravaack), To provide for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2947 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

H.R. 2512 (Heck), To provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in Clark County, Nevada, for the environmental remediation and reclamation of the Three Kids Mine Project Site, and for other purposes. “Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act”

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources and the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2512 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Amodei.009 was AGREED TO by voice vote.
• An amendment offered by Mr. Holt.106 was NOT AGREED TO by voice vote.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives, as amended, by a roll call vote of 27 yeas and 17 nays.

S. 897 (Bingaman), A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to clarify that uncertified States and Indian tribes have the authority to use certain payments for certain noncoal reclamation projects and acid mine remediation programs.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration of S. 897 by unanimous consent.

• An amendment offered by Mr. Markey.003 was NOT AGREED TO by a roll call vote of 14 yeas and 30 nays.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

H.R. 3263 (Cole), To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the storage and conveyance of nonproject water at the Norman project in Oklahoma, and for other purposes. “Lake Thunderbird Efficient Use Act of 2011”

The Subcommittee on Water and Power was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3263 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

S. 292 (Murkowski), A bill to resolve the claims of the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska to land adjacent to Salmon Lake in the State of Alaska and to provide for the conveyance to the Bering Straits Native Corporation of certain other public land in partial satisfaction of the land entitlement of the Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. “Salmon Lake Land Selection Resolution Act”

The Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs was discharged from further consideration of S. 292 by unanimous consent.

Adopted and favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

The committee did not take action on H.R. 2489, H.R. 3411 and H.R. 3440.