Trinity County Does a Land Swap With the Federal Government

Congressman Jared Huffman’s press release:

For the second time since taking office, freshman Congressman Jared Huffman (D—San Rafael) has successfully steered a bill through the U.S. House of Representatives. Though the Republican-held House has generally been hostile to environmental priorities, both of Huffman’s House-passed bills received bipartisan support and balanced conservation policy with economic development. The Huffman bill approved today, the Trinity County Land Exchange Act (H.R. 3326), now goes to the United States Senate.

Trinity County, located in Northern California, is one of the poorest counties in California. Much of the county is rugged and remote, and more than 75% of the total land base is held by theFederal Government, leaving very little land suitable for economic development. H.R. 3326 grants Trinity County a much-needed 100-acre parcel from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest accessible by the highway, adjacent to the Weaverville Airport and uniquely suited for economic development. In exchange, the county’s Public Utilities District will convey a 47-acre parcel west of Weaverville that will improve public access to the Trinity River—a Wild and Scenic River.

Huffman spoke on the House floor in support of his bill, footage of which can be found HERE:

“The Trinity County Land Exchange Act of 2014 is an extremely important bill for Trinity County’s economy and land management,” Huffman said. “This land swap is a great example of bipartisan legislation that furthers our shared priorities of economic development and environmental protection in our nation’s rural communities.” 

“With so much county land owned by the federal government and the extreme topography so common in the area, Trinity County has very little land available for development,” said Paul Hauser, General Manager of the Trinity Public Utilities District. “Congressman Huffman’s bill would be a tremendous help to our economy and help provide much-needed land where we can site new businesses or new homes for local employees. I’m grateful that the House passed this bill, and hope the Senate takes it up soon.”

The bill guarantees a fair return for federal taxpayers sas the United States Forest Service will receive a cash equalization payment for the improvement, maintenance, reconstruction, or construction of a facility or improvement for the National Forest System.