Bill Overview
Title: Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Forest Service to convey certain lands within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to Navajo County and Apache County, Arizona. As a condition of each conveyance the counties must pay all associated costs, including the costs of surveys and environmental analyses.
Sponsors: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1]
Target Audience
Population: People living in Navajo County and Apache County, Arizona
Estimated Size: 173000
- The bill pertains to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, located in Arizona.
- Navajo County and Apache County are specified as the recipients of land conveyance.
- The counties are required to cover costs of surveys and environmental analyses, potentially impacting county budgets and residents.
- The population of both counties may be directly affected by how the conveyed lands are utilized.
Reasoning
- The bill impacts residents within Navajo County and Apache County, likely focusing on property developments, environmental concerns, and county budgets.
- The Forest Service land conveyance may affect land availability for public use, conservation, or development projects.
- Economically, county budgets could experience strain due to associated costs for environmental analyses and surveys.
- The policy's effect may increase tourism or development opportunities, impacting local economies and wellbeing.
- Wellbeing scores consider economic, personal livelihood, and community factors around the project developments in conveyed lands.
Simulated Interviews
Real estate agent (Show Low, Navajo County)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy provides opportunities for new developments, potentially boosting local real estate market.
- Concerns about the cost to county budgets, affecting public services or taxes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Environmental scientist (St. Johns, Apache County)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More land conveyed means potential threats to conservation efforts unless managed well.
- Need for strict environmental evaluations is crucial for sustaining ecosystem integrity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired school teacher (Pinetop-Lakeside, Navajo County)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about more construction and less natural beauty in our area.
- Hopefully, the counties will use this land for parks or community spaces rather than just selling to developers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
County budget analyst (Holbrook, Navajo County)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Managing the financing for the land conveyance preparations will be challenging.
- An opportunity to leverage new land for economic growth, but careful budget allocation is needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College student (Springerville, Apache County)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Projects on conveyed lands should prioritize sustainable practices.
- Education about environmental impacts related to policy implementation is essential.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Local business owner (Tuba City, Navajo County)
Age: 49 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Potential increased tourism could benefit my business with smart development of conveyed lands.
- Worried about costs rising for local shops as counties balance budgets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Teacher (Heber-Overgaard, Navajo County)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- New land use could integrate educational programs on sustainability.
- Concerned about balancing development and preserving natural learning spaces.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Rancher (Eagar, Apache County)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy could affect grazing rights or land management next to my property.
- I hope conveyed lands are managed to benefit local landowners and the agricultural community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Public health worker (Winslow, Navajo County)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Land use decisions have potential health impacts—air quality, water resources.
- Advocacy for public health assessments with new county land management is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Construction manager (Sanders, Apache County)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The conveyed lands could mean more construction projects and job opportunities.
- It’s crucial that we support sustainable and community-benefiting infrastructures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Year 2: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Year 3: $500000 (Low: $250000, High: $750000)
Year 5: $500000 (Low: $250000, High: $750000)
Year 10: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 100: $50000 (Low: $25000, High: $75000)
Key Considerations
- The primary fiscal impact is on the counties rather than the federal government.
- Federal administrative costs are minimal due to the counties covering major financial obligations.
- Long-term economic effects depend heavily on county land utilization post-conveyance.