Ranch A Consolidation and Management Improvement Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, my bill, the Ranch A Consolidation and Management Improvement Act, would convey approximately 10 acres of National Forest Service land to the State of Wyoming to allow for consolidation and improvement of the Ranch A site.

Ranch A is a historic property that was first developed in the 1930s and later came under Federal ownership and was used as a fish hatchery. The property had fallen into significant neglect under Federal ownership. The Ranch A Restoration Foundation was created to restore and operate Ranch A as a center for learning and interpretation of Western heritage.

However, when Ranch A was conveyed to the State of Wyoming in 1997, an oversight kept 10 acres under Federal ownership. The Babcock House, seen in this picture, is owned by the State of Wyoming. This is in Crook County, very near the South Dakota border. So we are talking about the Black Hills. It is a very pretty area, but the land under the Babcock House was not properly conveyed. The Forest Service testified that ownership of this isolated parcel has presented ``management challenges'' and unknown costs associated with administering the property. It is an isolated tract of 10 acres upon which this house, owned by the State of Wyoming, is built. H.R. 1684 would address this issue by correcting the conveyance and would also allow for the Restoration Foundation to make further improvement for the use and enjoyment of Ranch A.

This bill would provide more flexibility for the use of the property, which would allow for additional revenue sources to pay for maintenance and improvements. Right now, these properties are leased to educational organizations for educational uses, including sometimes South Dakota State and the South Dakota School of Mines. The foundation itself has invested those moneys and raises money at fund-raisers, thereby putting together approximately $1 million for facility restoration and renovation.

This next photo shows the deck before it was repaired and acquired by the State of Wyoming and then managed by the Ranch A Restoration Foundation. You see the damage that occurred under Federal ownership. This is its most recent state, which indicates the significant repairs.

Here, again, are before and after. It shows the state of repair having been completed by the Ranch A Foundation, using restoration funds that are obtained through the leasing operations.

We are also going to look at some of the other buildings. There are numerous buildings on this property that are used primarily by South Dakota School of Mines and South Dakota State University for educational purposes.

This is a very expensive repair to make, Mr. Speaker. When these lower logs rot over time because of snow and cold and dry air, followed by rain, and are not properly maintained, those lower logs rot, thereby causing the building to settle and creating terrible structural problems. To repair it, you have to lift the upper logs that are not damaged and jack the whole building up, pull the old logs out of the bottom, and reinsert new logs--properly treated--in order to maintain the historic finish back to its state when it was built in the 1930s.

It is hugely expensive and very time consuming. The Ranch A Foundation has undertaken that under State ownership. This was the status of the repairs when the Forest Service had it and it was used as a fish hatchery. It is because it is an isolated property the Federal Government doesn't have the money to manage. It wasn't being used anymore as a fish hatchery.

The State of Wyoming, since acquiring the property from the Federal Government, really has improved its historic condition and its long-term viability. The degraded wood has been all redone. It prevents interior damage from leakage.

Every project for maintaining and renovating the lodge has to be approved under historic designation standards. As we have pointed out, this was built in the 1930s by the Annenbergs. It is beautiful. Going through the historic design standards is a rigorous process and greatly increases the cost, but it also ensures the historic integrity of the restoration.

In order for the foundation to continue to preserve their educational facilities, they need long-term revenue generation. The foundation's academic board members and the State of Wyoming's oversight office of this property have supported the removal-of-use restrictions. With no annual appropriations in the State budget for Ranch A, their education mission is actually harmed by limiting user fees.

Ranch A is a cultural and education asset. My legislation will keep the ranch financially sustainable and improve its ability to serve educational users. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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