certain parcels of private land located in central and southwest Washington are intermingled with National Forest System land owned by the United States and administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as parts of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Wenatchee National Forest, and Gifford Pinchot National Forest;

the private land surface estate and some subsurface is owned by the Plum Creek Timber Company, L.P. in an intermingled checkerboard pattern, with the United States or Plum Creek owning alternate square mile sections of land or fractions of square mile sections;

the checkerboard land ownership pattern in the area has frustrated sound and efficient land management on both private and National Forest lands by complicating fish and wildlife habitat management, watershed protection, recreation use, road construction and timber harvest, boundary administration, and protection and management of threatened and endangered species and old growth forest habitat;

time is of the essence in consummating a land exchange because delays may force Plum Creek to road or log the offered land and thereby diminish the public values for which the offered land is to be acquired; and

it is in the public interest to complete the land exchange at the earliest practicable date so that the offered land can be acquired and preserved by the United States for permanent public management, use, and enjoyment.

Certain land comprising approximately 8,808 acres and located within the exterior boundaries of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘Interstate 90 Land Exchange’, dated October 1998; and

Certain land comprising approximately 53,576 acres and located within or adjacent to the exterior boundaries of the Wenatchee National Forest, Washington, as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘Interstate 90 Land Exchange’, dated October 1998 except the following parcels: Township 19 North, Range 15 East, Section 29, W.M., Township 18 North, Range 15 East, Section 3, W.M., Township 19 North, Range 14 East, Section 9, W.M., Township 21 North, Range 14 East, Section 7, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 12 East, Section 35, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 13 East, Section 3, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 13 East, Section 9, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 13 East, Section 11, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 13 East, Section 13, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 13 East, Section 15, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 13 East, Section 25, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 13 East, Section 33, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 13 East, Section 35, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 14 East, Section 7, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 14 East, Section 9, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 14 East, Section 11, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 14 East, Section 15, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 14 East, Section 17, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 14 East, Section 21, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 14 East, Section 31, W.M., Township 22 North, Range 14 East, Section 27, W.M. The appraisal approved by the Secretary of Agriculture on June 14, 1999 (the ‘Appraisal’) shall be adjusted by subtracting the values for the parcels described in the preceding sentence determined during the Appraisal process in the context of the whole estate to be conveyed.

Certain land administered, as of the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998], by the Secretary of Agriculture as part of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, and comprising approximately 5,697 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘Interstate 90 Land Exchange’, dated October 1998.

Certain land administered, as of the date of enactment of this Act, by the Secretary of Agriculture as part of the Wenatchee National Forest, Washington, and comprising approximately 5,197 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘Interstate 90 Land Exchange’, dated October 1998.

Certain land administered, as of the date of enactment of this Act, by the Secretary of Agriculture as part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington, and comprising approximately 5,601 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘Interstate 90 Land Exchange’, dated October 1998.

In order to ensure the equitable and uniform appraisal of both the offered and selected land directed for exchange by this Act, all appraisals shall determine the highest and best use of the offered and selected land in accordance with applicable provisions of the Washington State Forest Practices Act and rules and regulations thereunder, including alternative measures for protecting critical habitat pursuant to a habitat conservation plan as provided in Washington Administrative Code 222–16–080–(6).

The values of the offered land and selected land shall be determined by appraisals utilizing nationally recognized appraisal standards, including applicable provisions of the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions (1992), the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, and section 206(d) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1716(d)).

The appraisals, if not already completed by the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998], shall be completed and submitted to the Secretary for approval not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act: Provided, That all timber harvest cease no later than November 30, 1998, except for any cleanup, reforestation, or other post-harvest work which cannot be completed by November 30, 1998. A comprehensive summary of the appraisal consistent with 7 CFR Part 1.11 shall be made available for public inspection in the Office of the Supervisor, Wenatchee National Forest, not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days prior to the exchange of deeds.

If the final appraised value of the offered land or lands and interest in lands conveyed by Plum Creek under section 604(c), except for the Cle Elum and Lost Lake lands, exceeds the final appraised value of the selected land, Plum Creek shall delete offered land parcels from the exchange in the exact order each land Section (or offered portion thereof) is listed in paragraph (2) until the values are approximately equal.