I
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3978
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2005
Mr. Beauprez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Energy to purchase certain essential mineral rights and resolve natural resource damage liability claims.
Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
Definitions
In this Act:
Essential mineral right
The term essential mineral right means a right to mine sand and gravel at Rocky Flats, as depicted on the map.
Fair market value
The term fair market value means the value of an essential mineral right, as determined by an appraisal performed by an independent, certified mineral appraiser under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
Map
The term map means the map entitled Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
, dated July 25, 2005, and available for inspection in appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Energy.
Natural resource damage liability claim
The term natural resource damage liability claim means a natural resource damage liability claim under subsections (a)(4)(C) and (f) of section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9607) arising from hazardous substances releases at or from Rocky Flats that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, are identified in the administrative record for Rocky Flats required by the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan prepared under section 105 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 9605).
Rocky Flats
The term Rocky Flats means the Department of Energy facility in the State of Colorado known as the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
.
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
Trustees
The term Trustees means the Federal and State officials designated as trustees under section 107(f)(2) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9607(f)(2)).
Purchase of essential mineral rights
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, such amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (c) shall be available to the Secretary to purchase essential mineral rights at Rocky Flats.
Conditions
The Secretary shall not purchase an essential mineral right under paragraph (1) unless—
the owner of the essential mineral right is a willing seller; and
the Secretary purchases the essential mineral right for an amount that does not exceed fair market value.
Limitation
Only those funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (c) shall be available for the Secretary to purchase essential mineral rights under paragraph (1).
Release from liability
Notwithstanding any other law, any natural resource damage liability claim shall be considered to be satisfied by—
the purchase by the Secretary of essential mineral rights under paragraph (1) for consideration in an amount equal to $10,000,000;
the payment by the Secretary to the Trustees of $10,000,000; or
the purchase by the Secretary of any portion of the mineral rights under paragraph (1) for—
consideration in an amount less than $10,000,000; and
a payment by the Secretary to the Trustees of an amount equal to the difference between—
$10,000,000; and
the amount paid under clause (i).
Use of funds
In general
Any amounts received under paragraph (4) shall be used by the Trustees for the purposes described in section 107(f)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9607(f)(1)), including—
the purchase of additional mineral rights at Rocky Flats; and
the development of habitat restoration projects at Rocky Flats.
Condition
Any expenditure of funds under this paragraph shall be made jointly by the Trustees.
Additional funds
The Trustees may use the funds received under paragraph (4) in conjunction with other private and public funds.
Exemption from national environmental policy Act
Any purchases of mineral rights under this subsection shall be exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
Transfer of management responsibilities
The Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001 (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; Public Law 107–107) is amended—
in section 3175—
by striking subsections (b) and (f); and
by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively; and
in section 3176(a)(1), by striking section 3175(d)
and inserting section 3175(c)
.
Boundaries
Section 3177 of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001 (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; Public Law 107–107) is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
Composition
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the refuge shall consist of land within the boundaries of Rocky Flats, as depicted on the map—
entitled Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
;
dated July 25, 2005; and
available for inspection in the appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Energy.
Exclusions
The refuge does not include—
any land retained by the Department of Energy for response actions under section 3175(c);
any land depicted on the map described in paragraph (1) that is subject to 1 or more essential mineral rights described in section 3114(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 over which the Secretary shall retain jurisdiction of the surface estate until the essential mineral rights—
are purchased under subsection (b) of that Act; or
are mined and reclaimed by the mineral rights holders in accordance with requirements established by the State of Colorado; and
the land depicted on the map described in paragraph (1) on which essential mineral rights are being actively mined as of the date of enactment of this subparagraph until—
the essential mineral rights are purchased; or
the surface estate is reclaimed by the mineral rights holder in accordance with requirements established by the State of Colorado.
Acquisition of additional land
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), upon the purchase of the mineral rights or reclamation of the land depicted on the map described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
transfer the land to the Secretary of the Interior for inclusion in the refuge; and
the Secretary of the Interior shall—
accept the transfer of the land; and
manage the land as part of the refuge.
.
Funding
Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site for fiscal year 2006, $10,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the purposes described in subsection (b).
