Bruce F. Vento: “S. 341 would provide for a land exchange between the United States and two counties in western Colorado. The bill is…”

“S. 341 would provide for a land exchange between the United States and two counties in western Colorado. The bill is similar to one passed by the House in the last Congress on which action was not completed prior to the sine die adjournment. Under the exchange, the two counties would receive about 132 acres of land near the community of El Jebel, outside National Forest boundaries, that were once used by the forest service as a tree nursery. In return, the counties would transfer to the United States about 1,300 acres of National Forest inholdings, including some lands within existing wilderness areas. The tree-farm lands are located in a part of the valley of the Roaring Fork River, between Aspen and Carbondale, where rapid development is taking place and from which many residents commute into Aspen to work. The counties want to use these lands for public recreation and similar public purposes. Under the bill, the counties could not transfer the lands, and the lands would revert to the ownership of the National Government if used for any purpose that would significantly reduce their open-space character. The forest service has reviewed the values of the lands involved, to assure that the National Government will receive fair value in the exchange, and has determined that the values are closely comparable.”