[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4952 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4952

 To provide for the conveyance of the land containing the Mount Wilson 
 Observatory in the Angeles National Forest, California, to the Mount 
Wilson Institute, the nonprofit organization operating the observatory.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 2002

Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Hansen, and Mr. Cannon) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for the conveyance of the land containing the Mount Wilson 
 Observatory in the Angeles National Forest, California, to the Mount 
Wilson Institute, the nonprofit organization operating the observatory.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mount Wilson Observatory 
Preservation and Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. LAND CONVEYANCE, MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY, ANGELES NATIONAL 
              FOREST, CALIFORNIA.

    (a) Conveyance Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
convey, without consideration, to the Mount Wilson Institute all right, 
title, and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real 
property, including any improvements thereon that are administered by 
the Forest Service, consisting of approximately 110 acres in the 
Angeles National Forest in the State of California and containing the 
Mount Wilson Observatory and related roadways, parking lots, and public 
facilities that are administered by the Forest Service, as depicted on 
the map entitled ``Mount Wilson Observatory Conveyance'' and dated June 
17, 2002.
    (b) Purpose of Conveyance.--The Mount Wilson Institute operates the 
Mount Wilson Observatory, and the land on which the observatory is 
situated is leased from the Forest Service. The purpose of the 
conveyance under subsection (a) is to recognize the unique 
qualifications of the Mount Wilson Institute as the best possible 
steward to operate, maintain, preserve, and enhance the observatory for 
scientific, educational, historical, and other public purposes.
    (c) Condition of Conveyance.--The conveyance under subsection (a) 
shall be subject to the terms of the existing lease between the Forest 
Service and the Carnegie Institution of Washington regarding the land 
to be conveyed, and the Mount Wilson Institute shall assume the 
obligations of the Forest Service under the lease.
    (d) Reversion.--If the Secretary determines at any time that the 
land conveyed under subsection (a) is not being used for scientific, 
educational, historical, or other public purposes, all right, title, 
and interest in and to that land (including any improvements thereon 
that were conveyed by the United States under subsection (a)) shall 
revert to the United States, and the United States shall have the right 
of immediate entry thereon. If such a reversion occurs before the 
termination of the lease referred to in subsection (c), the lease shall 
continue between the Forest Service and the Carnegie Institution of 
Washington.
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