HomeMy WebLinkAboutLa Pine BLM Land Exchange5 1 draft
Introductory statement
M. President today I am introducing the La Pine Land Conveyance Act of 2009.
My bill involves the community of La Pine, Oregon, in the south half of Deschutes
County. Like anywhere in America, the leaders in south Deschutes County are working
every day to build the best place they can. They want a good education for their kids; a
vibrant economy; great weekends; and a great lifestyle.
Not much happens around La Pine without the Federal Government involved. In
Deschutes County the Federal Government owns about 75% of the land; in southern
Deschutes County the Federal Government owns about 90%. To be sure, these lands
are the region's treasures; they are the source of a vibrant tourism economy; an attraction
for individuals and businesses to move to the region; and the daily outlet for the people
lucky enough to live there.
By the same token, this proportion of Federal ownership limits the ability of local
governments and civic leaders to solve problems and serve the public. My job is to help
make sure that the Federal Government is an active partner in advancing communities
and improving a region's quality of life.
La Pine Wastewater
My bill directs the transfer of about 750 acres managed by the Bureau of Land
Management to Deschutes County for the purpose of expanding the town's wastewater
treatment operation. These lands are within the La Pine city limits.
The Special Sewer District first applied for the use of this property more than five years
ago; incredibly, the BLM lost that application.
Two and a half years ago my office participated in discussions between the La Pine
community leaders and the BLM concerning the La Pine community's need for land to
serve the public. Due to staffing limitations BLM asked the City to choose one top
priority for a land transfer under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. The La Pine
City Council responded immediately that its top priority was the acquisition of land
enabling expansion of their sewer district. In March of 2007 the La Pine Special Sewer
District again filed a request for 490 acres.
This month we were told that BLM has essentially not begun processing La Pine's
request. We're told that La Pine would have been extremely competitive for state and
federal economic stimulus funds, but because the conclusion of this land transfer is
nowhere in sight, that opportunity was missed.
This project is too important to let languish. Perhaps the most important issue affecting
water quality in Deschutes County involves the threat to groundwater and the Deschutes
River from household septic systems in southern Deschutes County, the region around La
Pine. This project directly reduces nitrate loading into south county groundwater in two
ways. First, by enabling expansion of the District service boundary to residential areas
where we know that septic systems are generating elevated groundwater nitrate levels;
and second, by relocating the area for spreading treated effluent, away from a relatively
high groundwater area, to this new location which is judged not to threaten groundwater.
La Pine Park and Recreation District
The bill directs the transfer of BLM lands to Deschutes County for use by the La Pine
Park and Recreation District, enabling the District to develop rodeo and equestrian
facilities, public parks, and other recreation facilities.
La Pine has a set of unique challenges well known to the people of Deschutes County.
The town recently incorporated, and with incorporation has come a feeling in the
community that good things can happen if we work together to make our town as good as
it can possibly be.
My bill proposes the transfer of 320 acres of BLM land contiguous to the La Pine city
limit, on its western boundary. This location will enable construction of public
equestrian and rodeo facilities that have become increasingly important in La Pine. The
property is within reasonable walking distance of downtown, creating an ideal parade
route for the annual 4t of July Frontier Days parade. In addition, the land will provide a
location for development of ball fields, parks, and recreation facilities, which would be
developed as the town grows and budgets allow.
The La Pine Rodeo and Frontier Days events were notified by the owner of the current
location that this would be the last year for events, that the property is being developed
for other uses. Again, the Federal Government controls the vast majority of land in the
La Pine area, and this bill represents the right kind of partnership between the federal and
local government.
O:AFLO\FL0094I4.x nl S.L.C.
111TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S.
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to
Deschutes County, Oregon.
IN TIIE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. WIDEN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain
Federal land to Deschutes County, Oregon.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as the "La Pine Land Convey -
5 ante Act".
6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
7 In this Act:
8 (1) COUNTY.—The term "County" means the
9 County of Deschutes, Oregon.
O:\FLO\FL009414.xml
S.L.C.
2
1 (2) MAP.—The term "map" means the map en -
2 titled "La Pine Proposed Land Transfer Proposal"
3 and dated May 21, 2009.
4 (3) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means
5 the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di -
6 rector of the Bureau of Land Management.
7 SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO THE COUNTY OF
8 DESCHUTES, OREGON.
9 (a) IN GENERAL. AS soon as practicable after the
10 date of enactment of this Act, subject to valid existing
11 rights, and notwithstanding the land use planning require -
12 means of sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy
13 and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1713),
14 the Secretary shall convey to the County, without consid-
15 eration, all right, title, and interest of the United States
16 in and to the land described in subsection (b).
17 (b) DESCRIPTION OF LAND.—The land referred to in
18 subsection (a) consists of -
19 (1) approximately 320 acres of land managed
20 by the Bureau of Land Management, Prineville Dis-
21 trict, Oregon, depicted on the map as "parcel A";
22 and
23 (2) approximately 750 acres of land managed
24 by the Bureau of Land Management, Prineville Dis-
25 trict, Oregon, depicted on the map as "parcel B".
0:AFLO\FL009414.xml S.L.C.
3
1 (e) MAP ON FILE.—The map shall be on file and
2 available for public inspection in the appropriate offices
3 of the Bureau of Land Management.
4 (d) USE OF CONVEYED LAND. -
5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The land conveyed under
6 subsection (a) shall be used as a rodeo ground, pub -
7 lie sewer system, or other public purpose consistent
8 with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as
9 the "Recreation and Public Purposes Act") (43
10 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).
11 (2) LIDIITATIONS.—The land conveyed under
12 subsection (a)-
13 (A) shall not be used for residential or
14 commercial purposes; and
15 (B) shall be used consistent with the Act
16 of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the
17 "Recreation and Public Purposes Act") (43
18 U.S.C. 869 et seq.).
19 (3) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS. -
20 The Secretary may require such additional terms
21 and conditions for the conveyance as the Secretary
22 determines to be appropriate to protect the interests
23 of the United States.
24 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary shall
25 require the County to pay all survey costs and other ad-
O:AFLO\FL009414.xml S.L.C.
4
1 miziistrative costs necessary for the preparation and com-
2 pletion of any patents for, and transfers of title to, the
3 land under subsection (a).
4 (f) REVERSION. -
5 (1) IN GENERAL.—If the land conveyed under
6 subsection (a) ceases to be used for the public pur-
7 pose for which the land was conveyed, the land shall,
8 at the discretion of the Secretary, revert to the
9 United States.
10 (2) RESPONSIBILITY OF DISTRICT.—If the Sec -
11 retary determines under paragraph (1) that the land
12 should revert to the United States and that the land
13 is contaminated with hazardous waste, the County
14 shall be responsible for remediation of the contami-
15 nation.
LA PINE LAND TRANSFER PROPOSAL
May 22, 2009
This map prepared at the request of Senator Ron Wyden
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1:40,000
(when plotted at 8.5"x 11")
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Miles
0.25 0 0.25 0.5
Kilometers
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34
BU
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Parcel 15 \
A 77_1
6
21
22/
Parce
B
FINLEY 14 BUTTE
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ROAD
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IC*
For Internal Use Only
No warranty is made by the Bureau of Land
Management as to the accuracy, reliability, or
completeness of these data for individual or aggregate
use with other data. Original data were compiled from
various sources. This information may not meet
National Map Accuracy Standards. This product was
developed through digital means and may be updated
without notification. M09-01-05
19
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LEGEND
Federal Lands Proposed
for Transfer
Transportation
Federal Highway
Road
Administered Land
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Forest Service
Private or Other
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