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Week Ending May 5, 2006

S.584 A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to allow the continued occupancy and use of certain land and improvements within Rocky Mountain National Park.

BRIEF

   Fred and Marilyn Dick were tenants in common and lived on land that included Rocky Mountain National Park. They were divorced and Betty became sole owner. Fred, however, retained the right to first refusal if Marilyn ever chose to sell the property.

   Marilyn tried to sell the property to the US for addition to the Park in 1977 but Fred sued to cancel the transaction. The suit resulted in an agreement between the National Park Service and Fred and his new wife Betty that they could lease and occupy the property (23 acres) for 25 years. (From 1980)

   Fred died in 1992. Betty’s lease was up on July 16, 2005 but she was allowed to stay through the summer. Ms. Dick wants to continue to live there for the remainder of her life. The National Park Service wants her out.

   The bill would give relief to Betty by allowing her to live out “the remainder of her natural life” on the property

Sponsor: Senator Ken Salazar (CO)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent. Passed House by voice vote May 3, 2006

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost. Ms. Dick pays rent.

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