Public Law 102–453

Appraisal of federal lands.—

Not later than nine months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal exchange lands shall be appraised and the results of the appraisal transmitted to the Secretary and the City.

Offer of city lands and appraisal.—

Consummation of exchange of initial parcels —

Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transfer to the City parcels of the Federal exchange lands with a total value approximately equal to the value of the City lands the Secretary determines accept-able under paragraph (2). The Secretary may also accept money to equalize the value of the lands involved in the exchange, subject to subsection (f)(2).

Waiver by the city.—

In the event the value of the City lands conveyed under subsection (b) is greater than the value of all of the Federal exchange lands, any cash equalization which might otherwise be owed to the City by the United States shall be waived.

Identification of equalization lands and money by the city.—

Completion of exchange.—

Not later than the end of the five-year period specified in paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary shall convey to the City the remaining Federal exchange lands in exchange for the conveyance by the City to the Secretary of lands and money acceptable to the Secretary for transfer to the United States pursuant to paragraph (2).

Finding.—

The Congress finds that use restrictions on the Cedar River Watershed imposed by Public Law 97–350 (96 Stat. 1661) coupled with the uncertainties surrounding the status of the lands as habitat for the northern spotted owl currently make appraisal of such lands difficult or unfeasible absent specific guidance from Congress.

Appraisal assumptions.—

Costs.—

All costs of the appraisals shall be borne by the City.

Requirement limitation.—

After an appraisal of lands for the purposes of this Act is accepted by both the Secretary and the City, such lands may not be appraised again for the purposes of this Act during the seven year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.

The disposal of the lands or harvest of late-successional or old-growth timber, except for any timber sale or salvage sale approved before October 1, 1992, shall be prohibited.

The disposal of land or harvest of timber and the construction of roads, structures, or other developed facilities on any such lands within the area identified as Critical Habitat Unit WA–33 (as identified by the United States Fish and Wild-life Service, January 1992), shall be prohibited except for routine maintenance of existing roads, trails, and drainage structures, and except as necessary to meet minimum requirements for the administration of the area to protect water quality or public health and safety, to maintain existing roads and trails, to help protect biological diversity or threatened or endangered species, or to regenerate old-growth forest ecosystems in second growth areas.

Lands with sensitive environmental values.—

The Secretary may not reject lands suggested for conveyance by the City under this section solely on the basis that such lands contain sensitive environmental values (including but not limited to old-growth forest or threatened or endangered species habitat).

Limitation on amount of monetary payment.—

In carrying out the exchange of lands under this section, the amount of money paid to the United States under this section may not exceed 25 percent of the total value of the Federal exchange lands.

Sisk act.—

Any money received by the United States pursuant to this section shall be considered money received and deposited pursuant to the Act of December 4, 1967, as amended (Public Law 90–171, 16 U.S.C. 484a, commonly known as the “Sisk Act”).

Special rule.—

Determinations made by the Secretary in carrying out this section shall not be considered as decision -making.

prohibit public access to the watershed, except to—

maintain or improve existing characteristics of the watershed, including prohibiting the harvest of late-succesional or old-growth timber, except for any timber sale or salvage sale approved before October 1, 1992.

City.—

The term “City” means the city of Seattle, Washington.

City lands.—

The term “City lands” means approximately 17,587 acres of lands eligible to be conveyed by the City under this section, as generally described in “Cedar River Land Exchange: City of Seattle Water Department Offered Lands”, dated September 1, 1992.

Equalization lands.—

The term “equalization lands” means any lands conveyed to the United States under subsection (c)(2) for the purpose of equalizing the difference in value between the City lands accepted by the Secretary under subsection (b) and the Federal exchange lands.

Federal exchange lands.—

The term “Federal exchange lands” means the approximately 16,963 acres of lands owned by the United States located in the Cedar River Watershed in King County, Washington, as generally depicted on a map entitled “Cedar River Exchange-Forest Service Selected Lands” September 1, 1992.

Secretary.—

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.