[House Report 107-387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 107-387
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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.