I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3560 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 5, 2011 Mr. Grijalva introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To provide for the conveyance of certain Federal lands in Yuma County, Arizona.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Meers Point Boundary Adjustment Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Administrative Costs

The term administrative costs refers to any costs necessary to transfer the Federal Land from the United States to the Grantee, such as— (A)boundary surveys; (B)boundary marking; (C)title work; (D)closing costs; (E)recording fees; and (F)Level 1 contaminant reports. (2)

Federal land

The term Federal Land means the land that is owned by the United States and managed cooperatively by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; located within lots 34, 35, 37, and 38 in section 13 of Township 5 South, Range 22 West; and identified in the survey as those portions of lots 34, 35, 37, and 38 that are within the boundary of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. (3)

Grantee

The term Grantee means the current landowner or landowners of those properties described in Quit Claim Deeds, dated July 1, 1992, and filed in Yuma County, Arizona at DKT 1816, page 740; DKT 1816, page 748; DKT 1816, page 752; and State of Arizona, State Land Department Special Land Use Permit No. 23–113167–17, dated August 27, 2008, and identified in this Act as— (A)lot 34, State of Arizona lease lot; (B)lot 35; (C)lot 37; and (D)lot 38. (4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (5)

Survey

The term Survey means a survey of Meers Point that shall— (A)be conducted by the Secretary, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; (B)cover those portions of lots 34, 35, 37, and 38 that are currently within the boundary of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge; and (C)determine the exact acreage and legal description of the Federal Land to be conveyed under this Act.

3.

Conveyance of Federal Land to Grantees

(a)

In general

After completion of the survey, the Secretary shall convey to each Grantee by quitclaim deed all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to that Federal Land within each Grantee’s lot. (b)

Consideration

(1)

Payment of administrative costs

As consideration for the conveyance of the Federal Land under this section, each Grantee shall pay to the Secretary a percentage of the total administrative costs incurred by the United States in an amount that equals the proportion of the acreage conveyed to each Grantee to the total acreage conveyed under subsection (a) to all Grantees. Such consideration shall be paid by a Grantee to the Secretary on or before the date of the conveyance. (2)

Waiver for State

Payment is hereby waived for any conveyance of Federal Land under this Act to the State of Arizona. (c)

Release from liability

Effective on the date of conveyance of Federal Land to a Grantee under this section, the United States shall— (1)not be liable for damages arising out of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to the Federal Land conveyed; and (2)shall be liable for damages caused by acts of negligence committed by the United States before the date of conveyance, consistent with chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code. (d)

Grantee discretion

The conveyance of Federal Land in accordance with this Act shall be subject to a Grantee’s compliance with the provisions of this section.

4.

Disposition and use of proceeds

Any amounts paid to the Secretary under section 3, shall remain available to the Secretary, without further appropriation until expended, for visitor services and resource protection at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge.