WALLY HERGER: “H.R. 440 is a noncontroversial bill that passed this House on the suspension calendar at the end of the 103d Congress.…”

“H.R. 440 is a noncontroversial bill that passed this House on the suspension calendar at the end of the 103d Congress. The purpose of the bill is to clear the title of 16 parcels of land, totalling approximately 30 acres, in the Stephens Ridge area of Butte County, CA. Its passage would help resolve a pressing problem in my district. In 1961 the Forest Service sanctioned a survey establishing the boundaries of the parcels in question. In 1992 a BLM resurvey demonstrated that an error had been made in the 1961 survey, thereby placing a cloud on the title of the parcels. By clearing title to these parcels, H.R. 440 provides much needed relief to the landowners, mostly senior citizens, who are affected by the BLM resurvey. These landowners purchased property in good faith reliance on the 1961 Forest Service survey. Now, some 30 years later, they have been told that they no longer hold clear title to their land. This technical correction of the problem is a fair solution for all concerned.”