WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HR 8454

To provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Tom McClintock

Transfers about 330 acres in Ackerson Meadow: 160 acres to Yosemite National Park (Interior) and 170 acres to Stanislaus National Forest (Agriculture), with protections for rights

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
5
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8454

Summary of HR 8454 (119th Congress, Session 2)

Title: To provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes

Sponsor: Rep. Tom McClintock (co-sponsor)
Introduced: April 22, 2026
Committee: Natural Resources

1) Purpose and intent

  • The bill proposes transferring administrative jurisdiction over specific federally owned lands in California from federal agencies to designated federal land management bodies, with the goal of consolidating management under the National Park System and the National Forest System, respectively.
  • Specifically, it transfers land associated with the Ackerson Meadow Interchange in Tuolumne County, California, in two portions:
    • Approximately 160 acres formerly under National Forest System management would be transferred to the Secretary of the Interior to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park.
    • Approximately 170 acres formerly under National Park System management would be transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture to be managed as part of Stanislaus National Forest.

2) Key provisions and changes

  • Section 1(a) – Transfer of administrative jurisdiction
    • Subsection (a)(1): About 160 acres of National Forest System land (described by metes-and-bounds and identified on a map titled “Ackerson Meadow Land Interchange,” dated Feb. 24, 2022) are transferred to the Secretary of the Interior to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park according to National Park System laws.
    • Subsection (a)(2): About 170 acres of National Park System land (described similarly and also depicted on the same map) are transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture to be managed as part of Stanislaus National Forest according to National Forest System laws.
  • Section 1(b) – Corrections
    • Subsection (1) Allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to mutually agree to minor corrections/adjustments to facilitate land management, including corrections to applicable surveys.
    • Subsection (2) Requires publication of any such correction/adjustment in the Federal Register to be effective.
  • Section 1(c) – Hazardous substances and cleanup obligations
    • Subsection (1): Each department (Agriculture for the land moving to the Park Service; Interior for the land moving to the Forest Service) must identify known hazardous-substance sites on the respective lands and notify the receiving agency.
    • Subsection (2): Cleanup liability remains with the current agency for the respective lands as of the date of enactment, i.e., pre-existing cleanup responsibilities persist with the original managing agency:
    • Secretary of Agriculture remains responsible for hazardous substances on the land transferred to Yosemite National Park (i.e., the National Forest land portion).
    • Secretary of the Interior remains responsible for hazardous substances on the land transferred to Stanislaus National Forest (i.e., the National Park land portion).
  • Section 1(d) – Effect on existing rights and authorities
    • The bill states that nothing in the act affects valid existing rights or the terms/conditions of any withdrawal, right-of-way, easement, lease, license, or permit on the land, except that from enactment forward, the head of the new administering agency will administer these interests in accordance with applicable law.

3) Who or what would be affected

  • Federal land currently managed as:
    • National Forest System land (about 160 acres) → would be managed as part of Yosemite National Park (National Park System).
    • National Park System land (about 170 acres) → would be managed as part of Stanislaus National Forest (National Forest System).
  • Federal agencies involved:
    • U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forest Service) would gain jurisdiction over the portion to be integrated into Stanislaus National Forest.
    • U.S. Department of the Interior (National Park Service) would gain jurisdiction over the portion to be integrated into Yosemite National Park.
  • Potential impacts on:
    • Any existing rights, easements, withdrawals, leases, licenses, or permits on the affected parcels (the bill preserves these, with management under the new custodian going forward).
    • Cleanup and environmental liability for hazardous-substance sites, with ongoing responsibilities assigned to the original agency for each parcel.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The act would take effect on the date of enactment (signing into law).
  • Process for adjustments: Minor corrections or adjustments to the transferred land can be made by mutual agreement of the two secretaries and would require Federal Register publication to be effective.
  • Notifications: Agencies must identify known hazardous-substance sites and provide notice to the receiving agency before or as land is transferred.

5) Observations

  • The bill is narrowly focused on a specific land interchange associated with Ackerson Meadow in Tuolumne County and does not propose broader land transfers beyond the two described parcels.
  • It emphasizes preserving existing rights and ensuring proper handling of hazardous substances and ongoing land interests under the new administering agencies.
  • The legislation appears to streamline cross-park/forest management by aligning land parcels with adjacent or nearby land-management authorities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.