[House Report 107-387] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 107th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 107-387 ====================================================================== CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA _______ April 9, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 2937] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 2937) to provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a shooting range, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendment is as follows: Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that-- (1) the Las Vegas area has experienced such rapid growth in the last few years that traditional locations for target shooting are now too close to populated areas for safety; (2) there is a need to designate a centralized location in the Las Vegas Valley where target shooters can practice safely; and (3) a central facility is also needed for persons training in the use of firearms, such as local law enforcement and security personnel. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to provide a suitable location for the establishment of a centralized shooting facility in the Las Vegas Valley; and (2) to provide the public with-- (A) opportunities for education and recreation; and (B) a location for competitive events and marksmanship training. (c) Conveyance.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to Clark County, Nevada, subject to valid existing rights, for no consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcels of land described in subsection (d). (d) Land Descriptions.--The parcels of land to be conveyed under subsection (c) are the parcels of land that are described as follows: (1) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 25, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. (2) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 26, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. (3) Approximately 320 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in S\1/2\, sec. 27, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. (4) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in sec. 34, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. (5) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in sec. 35, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. (6) Approximately 640 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada, in sec. 36, T. 18 S., R. 60 E., Mount Diablo Base and Meridian. (e) Use of Land.-- (1) In general.--The parcels of land conveyed under subsection (c)-- (A) shall be used by Clark County for the purposes described in subsection (b) only; and (B) shall not be disposed of by the county. (2) Reversion.--If Clark County ceases to use any parcel for the purposes described in subsection (b)-- (A) title to the parcel shall revert to the United States, at the option of the United States; and (B) Clark County, Nevada, shall be responsible for any reclamation necessary to revert the parcel to the United States. (f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the Interior may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States. (g) Release of Land.--The Congress-- (1) finds that the parcels of land conveyed under subsection (c), comprising a portion of the Quail Springs Wilderness Study Area, NV-050-411, managed by the Bureau of Land Management and reported to the Congress in 1991, have been adequately studied for wilderness designation under section 603 of the Federal Land Management Policy Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782); and (2) declares that those parcels are no longer subject to the requirements contained in subsection (c) of that section pertaining to the management of wilderness study areas in a manner that does not impair the suitability of such areas for preservation as wilderness. (h) Administrative Costs.--The Secretary shall require that Clark County, Nevada, pay all survey costs and other administrative costs necessary for the preparation and completion of any patents of and transfer of title to property under this section. PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of H.R. 2937, is to provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a public shooting range. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION Unprecedented residential growth over the past twenty years in and around the city of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, has forced a number of shooting ranges to close. Those few shooting ranges that remain are close to being in violation of local ordinances that prohibit the discharge of firearms in or near residential areas. To address this matter, H.R. 2937 authorizes the Secretary of Interior to convey approximately 2,880 acres of public land currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to Clark County, Nevada, for the creation of a regional shooting range. The actual useable land for the shooting range will be approximately 1,400 acres. The balance would go towards a buffer zone for the west and south sides of the proposed shooting range. This new public facility would provide a safe location for competitive events and marksmanship training, as well as opportunities for education and recreation, in such activities as archery, trap and skeet, rifle and pistol, and air pellet shooting. The new range will also be utilized by city and county police departments. The bill would require language reverting ownership of the land back to the Department of the Interior should Clark County, Nevada, cease to use the land as prescribed. COMMITTEE ACTION H.R. 2937 was introduced on September 21, 2001, by Congressman Jim Gibbons (R-NV), and was referred to the Committee on Resources. On September 27, 2001, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands. On February 14, 2002, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On March 7, 2002, the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill. Congressman Gibbons offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to clarify that Clark County, Nevada, will be responsible for any reclamation necessary on any land reverted back to the BLM, and that the County will be responsible for the administrative costs associated with the transfer from BLM to the County. It was adopted by voice vote. The bill, as amended, was then forwarded to the Full Committee. On March 20, 2002, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. No amendments were offered and the bill, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3, of the Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority to enact this bill. COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply. 4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, March 27, 2002. Hon. James V. Hansen, Chairman, Committee on Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2937, a bill to provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a shooting range. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Megan Carroll (for federal costs), and Majorie Miller (for the state and local impact). Sincerely, Dan L. Crippen, Director. Enclosure. H.R. 2937--A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County, Nevada, for use as a shooting range CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2937 would have no significant impact on the federal budget. The bill would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. H.R. 2937 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Clark County, Nevada, without consideration, 2,880 acres of federal lands located within that county for use as a public shooting range. The Bureau of Land Management currently manages those lands as a wilderness study area. According to the agency, the lands to be conveyed currently generate no receipts, and the agency does not expect the lands to generate any receipts over the next 10 years. H.R. 2937 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. Enactment of this legislation would benefit Clark County by providing for the conveyance of federal land to the county at very little cost. To receive the land, the county would pay only the administrative costs of the transfer. These costs would be voluntary. The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Megan Carroll (for federal costs), and Majorie Miller (for the state and local impact). This impact was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4 This bill contains no unfunded mandates. PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law.