Legislation that would allow a land swap between Bountiful City and the National Forest Service (NFS) is currently on its way to the House of Representatives floor, the next step after recently clearing the House Committee on Natural Resources.
The bill, which would allow Bountiful to give up property in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in exchange for property that includes the Bountiful Lions Club gun range and the Davis Aqueduct and protection for the Shoreline Trail, would formalize an exhange that both sides already see as the best solution.
"Both the city and the Forest Service personnel in Utah are united behind this," said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who sponsored the measure. "It's a logical, common-sense thing to do. It seems like the perfect trade."
According to Bishop, the approval by the committee showed the agreement of the federal government.
"It showed that the bill really passed the test," he said. "Unless something really strange happens, it's almost guaranteed to pass on the House floor."
The legislation would allow the National Forest Service to to give up to 220 acres of property to Bountiful, including 40 acres on the city's farthest northeast boundary. In ex-change, it would receive about 1,680 acres of land the city owns within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Appraisals will be done on both stretches of land to make sure the value of both is approximately equal.
Bishop added that Bountiful is really interested only in about 160 of the 220 federal acres, leaving the National Forest Service free to sell off the extra land to raise more money for forest restoration.
"Hopefully, they'll then focus that money on Utah forests," said Bishop.
Bountiful has been attempting to facilitate such an exchange for the past several years, in part to be able to make improvements to the gun range property. When regular changes in Forest Service management continued to restart negotiations, however, city officials went to Bishop in the hope that he could assist with the process.
"With all the changes in laws, it seemed like something that could be done more clearly with legislation," said Bishop.
When the federal goverment becomes involved, however, speed becomes an issue. According to Bishop, it took a year for the bill to make it to this point, and though it should pass easily it will take vigilance to make sure the legislation gets its scheduled time on the floor.
"With both sides already in agreement, it's taken longer than it should have to get to this point in the game," said Bishop.
"Empowering local government to make decisions is a whole lot better than empowering Washington, D.C."
jwardell@davisclipper.com
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