Los Padres National Forest Land Conveyance

Floor Speech

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Mrs. CAPPS. Thank you to my colleague for yielding and to Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member DeFazio for the work that has gone on in bringing this bill to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 3008. My legislation will authorize the Forest Service to convey a small parcel of land on the perimeter of the Los Padres National Forest in my district to a local nonprofit organization, the White Lotus Foundation.

Over 30 years ago, the White Lotus Foundation purchased property on the border of the Los Padres National Forest in the hills above Santa Barbara, California. Soon after acquiring the property, the foundation received notice of a small encroachment onto a piece of Forest Service land that is detached from the rest of the forest. This encroachment is located on the only road that allows White Lotus and the public access to and from the foundation's property.

Due to the steep topography of the area, there are no other reasonable alternatives that would retain public access to the facility. One piece of the encroachment lies on flat ground that holds equipment for fire and flood emergencies and provides access to a water pump and other necessary equipment. There are no other viable areas to move this equipment. So without this small piece of land, the facility would be forced to close its doors.

White Lotus and the Forest Service have spent several years searching for an administrative solution, but have determined that legislation is the only viable way to permanently resolve this matter. My legislation simply authorizes the Forest Service to enter into a land exchange with the White Lotus Foundation for land worth no less than the appraised market value.

If this land exchange does not occur within 2 years, the Forest Service will sell the small parcel of land to the foundation at fair market value. Prior to the exchange or sale of this land, however, the Forest Service must first certify that it is in the public interest, and it can also impose additional conditions it deems appropriate.

Also, it is important to note that if the land sale does go forward, it will not cost taxpayers a single dime. The legislation requires White Lotus to pay for the land, the survey, and all administrative and related costs. There are no exemptions from NEPA or any other environmental laws, and the land in question is not protected wilderness or any other specifically designated area.

This is a straightforward bill to provide a reasonable solution for the White Lotus Foundation and the Forest Service. In fact, nearly identical legislation, sponsored by our former Republican colleague, Elton Gallegly, passed this House unanimously last Congress. The area is now in my congressional district, and I am pleased to sponsor the bill this Congress.

Again, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for bringing the bill to the floor, and I do urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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