A close friend posted this to Facebook. I pressed them for further details because alone, all this does is raise my blood pressure, it offers no opportunity for meaningful action.
With their response I was able to locate the offending act: Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which given the date, fiscal year 2015, means it likely passed in 2014.
The timeless nature of most web posts increases the difficult of even minimal searching. If what you are complaining about has a date, please recite it. If it is legislation, provide the date and a pointer.
Having located the act, if you are reading along you want Section 3003.
In subsection (b), Definitions, you will find:
(1) APACHE LEAP.—The term ‘‘Apache Leap’’ means the approximately 807 acres of land depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011–Apache Leap’’ and dated March 2011.
(2) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ means the approximately 2,422 acres of land located in Pinal County, Arizona, depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011–Federal Parcel–Oak Flat’’ and dated March 2011.
…
(5) OAK FLAT CAMPGROUND.—The term ‘‘Oak Flat Campground’’ means the approximately 50 acres of land comprising approximately 16 developed campsites depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011–Oak Flat Campground’’ and dated March 2011.
(6) OAK FLAT WITHDRAWAL AREA.—The term ‘‘Oak Flat Withdrawal Area’’ means the approximately 760 acres of land depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011–Oak Flat Withdrawal Area’’ and dated March 2011.
…
OK, I like maps and so went looking for these maps. Searched all of Congress.gov, fourteen hits for the names, but no maps.
I started to write to the law librarians at the Library of Congress and for due diligence, did a search on the term ” maps ” (note the leading and following spaces). There were twenty-eight (28) “hits” and the eight one reads:
(b) AVAILABILITY OF MAPS AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.—Maps are entitled ‘‘Trinity County Land Exchange Act of 2014 – Parcel A’’ and ‘‘Trinity County Land Exchange Act of 2014 – Parcel B’’, both dated March 24, 2014. The maps shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service and the appropriate office of the Bureau of Land Management.
Ah! So map titles in the bill don’t refer to maps attached to the bill (a sensible assumption), nor do they refer to maps already available elsewhere, of necessity. Maps referenced in legislation may not exist at the time of the reference.
I would not vote based on a to-be-produced-map but then many in Congress don’t vote as I would. 😉 (Not always a criticism, just an observation.)
So, the solution to finding the maps lies in
PUBLIC LAW 113–291, Section 3003, (i) (2) MAPS, Estimates, AND Descriptions (C) Availability:
…
(C) AVAILABILITY.—On the date of enactment of this, Act, the Secretary shall file and make available for public inspection in the Office of the Supervisor, Tonto National Forest, each map referred to in this section.
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A quick search at the Tonto National Forest website does not turn up the maps in question.
Nor does a search for “Oak Flat Withdrawal Area” at the Secretary of Agriculture site:
At this point I have the following outstanding questions:
What is the source of these maps, alleged to be dated 2011?
Bearing in mind the advice in the Moon is a Harsh Mistress, “Always cut cards.”
I’m fine with maps, so long as it is my map.
Can these maps be accessed without traveling to the “…Office of the Supervisor, Tonto National Forest….?”
What maps were available to members of congress voting on this legislation?
I have feelers out for additional information and will be posting a follow-up later this week.