S. 3045

To provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California

STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS, FORESTS, AND MINING, CONCERNING S. 3045, A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OVER CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Chair Cortez Masto, Ranking Member Lee, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of the Interior’s views on S. 3045, a bill to provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes.

The Department supports S. 3045.

S. 3045 would provide for land transfers between Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest in California.  The bill would transfer administrative jurisdiction of approximately 160 acres of National Forest System land to the Secretary of the Interior to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park.  It would also transfer administrative jurisdiction over approximately 170 acres of National Park System land to the Secretary of Agriculture to be managed as part of the Stanislaus National Forest.  S. 3045 directs the respective Secretaries to identify and provide notice to the other agency of any known sites containing hazardous substances on the parcels, with each remaining responsible for any cleanup of hazardous substances.  Finally, the bill includes provisions stating the land exchange will not affect valid existing rights or interests in the land. 

The parcels proposed for transfer by S. 3045 are within the Ackerson Meadow complex, an important mid-elevation meadow wildlife corridor and one of the Sierra Nevada region’s most extensive and contiguous meadow systems.  These scenic meadows are important habitat for the State-endangered great grey owl and little willow flycatcher, as well as a suite of additional at-risk wildlife species.  The land transfers would eliminate a checkerboard pattern of land ownership and simplify management for the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.  They would reduce fragmentation of wildlife habitat and improve riparian and wetland function through core areas of the Ackerson Meadow complex.  They would also allow for more efficient management of adjoining cattle grazing allotments. 

Chair Cortez Masto, Ranking Member Lee, this concludes our statement.

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