This bill transfers administrative jurisdiction over specific parcels of federal land in Tuolumne County, California, between the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service to consolidate management near Ackerson Meadow.
Alejandro "Alex" Padilla
Senator
CA
This bill facilitates an administrative land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service in Tuolumne County, California, near Ackerson Meadow. It transfers approximately 160 acres of Stanislaus National Forest land to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park. In return, about 170 acres of National Park land will be managed as part of the Stanislaus National Forest. The transfer maintains existing liability for hazardous waste cleanup and preserves any pre-existing legal rights on the exchanged parcels.
Yosemite and Stanislaus National Forest Swap 330 Acres: A Land Management Tidy-Up Near Ackerson Meadow
This bill section is all about cleaning up the administrative map in Tuolumne County, California, specifically around the Ackerson Meadow area. It authorizes a straight-up land swap between two major federal players: the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the National Park Service (NPS). The goal? To make land management more efficient by consolidating control over contiguous parcels.
The Great Federal Land Swap
Think of this as two neighbors trading oddly shaped pieces of their backyard to make mowing easier. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture (who runs the Forest Service) and the Secretary of the Interior (who runs the Park Service) to exchange administrative control over two parcels of land. The National Park Service will gain control over about 160 acres of land currently managed by the Forest Service, which will then officially become part of Yosemite National Park. In exchange, the Forest Service will gain control over roughly 170 acres currently managed by the Park Service, which will be folded into the Stanislaus National Forest.
This isn't some vague handshake agreement; the transfer is based on a specific map titled the “Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange” dated February 24, 2022. This clarity means that the new boundaries and management rules—whether it’s the stricter rules of a National Park or the multi-use rules of a National Forest—are immediately clear for anyone working, recreating, or holding a permit in the area.
Who Pays for the Mess?
One of the most practical parts of this bill addresses who is responsible if there’s some historical environmental contamination. Before the land officially changes hands, both agencies have to identify any known hazardous substances on the land they are giving up and inform the agency taking it over. Crucially, the bill makes sure that the liability for cleaning up any hazardous waste doesn't transfer with the land. The agency that originally owned the contaminated parcel remains responsible for the cleanup costs, even after the transfer. This provision is key because it prevents the incoming agency from suddenly inheriting a massive, unexpected cleanup bill, ensuring that environmental responsibility stays with the original steward.
Business as Usual for Existing Rights
If you happen to be a rancher with a grazing permit, a utility company with an easement, or a homeowner with a right-of-way that crosses one of these parcels, don't worry about this administrative shuffle. The bill explicitly states that the land swap does not cancel out any existing, valid legal rights, leases, permits, or easements on the transferred land. These agreements remain valid under the same terms. The only change is that the new managing agency—either the Forest Service or the Park Service—will now be the one responsible for administering that existing right under their respective laws. This means that for anyone holding existing agreements, the transition should be seamless, with no disruption to their operations or access.