[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 141 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
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[Congressional Record: October 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             H O U S E  O F  R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S


Vol. 140


WASHINGTON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1994

No. 141--Part II


House of Representatives

                HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP INVESTMENT ACT OF 1994

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4704) to provide for the conveyance of certain lands and 
improvements in Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania, to a nonprofit 
organization known as the ``Beaver County Corporation for Economic 
Development'' to provide a site for economic development, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4704

       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 ``Hopewell Township Investment 
     Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF LAND.

       (a) Administrator of General Services.--The Administrator 
     of General Services (hereinafter in this Act referred to as 
     the ``Administrator'') is authorized to transfer, by 
     negotiated sale at fair market value, to a nonprofit 
     organization known as the ``Beaver County Corporation for 
     Economic Development'' all right, title, and interest of the 
     United States in and to those pieces or parcels of land in 
     Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania, described in subsection (c), 
     together with all improvements thereon and appurtenances 
     thereto. The purpose of the conveyance is to provide a site 
     for economic development in Hopewell Township.
       (b) Conveyance Terms.--
       (1) Date of conveyance.--The date of the conveyance of 
     property under subsection (a) shall be not later than the 
     180th day following the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Terms and conditions.--The conveyance of property under 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to such terms and conditions 
     as may be determined by the Administrator to be necessary to 
     safeguard the interests of the United States. Such terms and 
     conditions shall be consistent with the terms and conditions 
     set forth in this Act.
       (3) Quitclaim Deed.--The conveyance of property under 
     subsection (a) shall be by quitclaim deed.
       (c) Property Description.--The land referred to in 
     subsection (a) is the parcel of land in the township of 
     Hopewell, county of Beaver, Pennsylvania, bounded and 
     described as follows:
       (1) Beginning at the southwest corner at a point common to 
     Lot No. 1, same plan, lands now or formerly of Frank and 
     Catherine Wutter, and the easterly right-of-way line of 
     Pennsylvania Legislative Route No. 60 (Beaver Valley 
     Expressway); thence proceeding by the easterly right-of-way 
     of Pennsylvania Legislative Route No. 60 by the following 
     three courses and distances:
       (A) North 17 degrees, 14 minutes, 20 seconds West, 213.10 
     feet to a point.
       (B) North 72 degrees, 45 minutes, 40 seconds East, 30.00 
     feet to a point.
       (C) North 17 degrees, 14 minutes, 20 seconds West, 252.91 
     feet to a point; on a line dividing Lot No. 1 from the other 
     part of Lot No. 1, said part now called Lot No. 5, same 
     plan; tence by last mentioned dividing line, North 78 
     degrees, 00 minutes, 00 seconds East; 135.58 to a point, a 
     cul-de-sac and the southerly side of Industrial Drive by 
     the following course and distances:
       (i) By a curve to the right having a radius of 100.00 feet 
     for an arc distance of 243.401 feet to a point.
       (ii) Thence by a curve to the right having a radius of 
     100.00 feet for an arc distance of 86.321 feet to a point.
       (iii) Thence by 78 degrees, 00 minutes, 00 seconds East, 
     777.78 feet to a point.
       (iv) Thence, North 12 degrees, 00 minutes, 00 seconds West, 
     74.71 feet to a point.
       (v) Thence by a curve to the right, having a radius of 
     50.00 feet for an arc distance of 78.54 feet to a point.
       (vi) Thence North 78 degrees, 00 minutes, 00 seconds East, 
     81.24 feet to a point.
       (vii) Thence by a curve to the right, having a radius of 
     415.00 feet for an arc distance of 140.64 feet to a point.
       (viii) Thence, South 82 degrees, 35 minutes, 01 second 
     East, 125.00 feet to a point.
       (ix) Thence, South 7 degrees, 24 minutes, 59 seconds West, 
     5.00 feet to a point.
       (x) Thence by a curve to the right, having a radius of 
     320.00 feet for an arc distance of 256.85 feet to a point.
       (xi) Thence by a curve to the right having a radius of 
     50.00 feet for an arc distance of 44.18 feet to a point on 
     the northerly side of Airport Road.
       (2) Thence by the northerly side thereof by the following:
       (A) South 14 degrees, 01 minute, 54 seconds West, 56.94 
     feet to a point.
       (B) Thence by a curve to the right having a radius of 
     225.00 feet for an arc distance of 207.989 feet to a point.
       (C) Thence South 66 degrees, 59 minutes, 45 seconds West, 
     192.08 feet to a point on the southern boundary of Lot No. 1, 
     which line is also the line dividing Lot No. 1 from lands now 
     or formerly, Frank and Catherine Wutter.
       (3) Thence by the same, South 75 degrees, 01 minutes, 00 
     seconds West, 1,351.23 feet to a point at the place of 
     beginning.

     SEC. 3. ALTERNATIVE CONVEYANCE.

       In the event that the conveyance under section 2(a) is not 
     completed on or before the 180th day following the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator is authorized to 
     dispose of the land referred to in section 2(a) to Hopewell 
     Township, Pennsylvania, in accordance with section 203(k)(2) 
     of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 
     1949 (40 U.S.C. 484(k)(2)).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Traficant] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant].
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Klink], the sponsor 
of the bill.
  Mr. KLINK. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to express my thanks to Chairman 
Norm Mineta and the ranking member, Bud Shuster, my fellow 
Pennsylvanian, and the other members of the Committee on Public Works 
and Transportation for their assistance with my bill, the Hopewell 
Township Investment Act of 1994 (H.R. 4704).
  The purpose of my bill is to promote economic development and to 
create jobs in Hopewell Township at a site near Aliquippa, PA.
  Specifically, H.R. 4704 accomplishes this goal by directing 
negotiations between the Administrator of the General Services 
Administration and the Beaver County Corporation for Economic 
Development [CED] for the sale of the former Mine Safety and Health 
Administration site.
  Under the amended bill, when the GSA sells the land to the 
corporation the property will only be used for economic development 
purposes.
  If the GSA and the corporation cannot agree on a sale price 6 months 
after the bill's enactment date, then the land will be transferred at 
no cost to Hopewell Township to be used for parkland and for 
recreational purposes.
  The Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development is a non-
profit corporation that has the responsibility for spurring economic 
development and bringing new businesses in a portion of my 
congressional district in western Pennsylvania.
  The corporation has pledged its resources to preparing the property 
for new industry once its ownership changes hands. The corporation has 
envisioned two types of development that could occur on this property--
either an incubator facility for a variety of new businesses or a 
single large employer such as an engineering or a research and 
development firm.
  In 1987, the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced plans to 
consolidation its activities by locating additional operations at this 
site and creating 200 new jobs. At that time, this site served as the 
staging area for the Federal Government's response to mine disasters in 
the Eastern United States.
  In anticipation of attracting a larger Federal presence, Hopewell 
Township spent $250,000 to upgrade the site with sewer and road 
improvements.
  Bowing to pressure from a Member of the other body, the Mine Safety 
and Health Administration moved its consolidation to Beckley, WV and in 
the process transferred its Hopewell operation there. Rather than 
gaining 200 new Federal jobs, our area lost 20 Federal employees in the 
Consolidation.
  So as you can see this was a situation where the glass started out 
half-full, the locality poured its resources into topping off the 
glass. Unfortunately, the glass in now empty.
  Currently, the property includes a 44,000-square-foot, one-story 
block building that is vacant and it is situated on a plot of nearly 16 
acres that is accessed by a gravel road. Since the Mine Safety and 
Health Administration's move to West Virginia, the site has been under 
the jurisdiction of the General Services Administration.
  Site development would require the widening and the paving of the 
road, substantial renovation to the building and the extension of sewer 
and water services. To complete the job, the corporation has pledged as 
much as $1 million in infrastructure improvements.
  Once the corporation takes over the property it will use local and 
State funding only and no Federal money for the building renovation, 
landscaping, and the required improvements to ready the property for an 
industrial client or industrial clients.
  My bill clears the deck so Beaver County can use this site to recruit 
industry, create jobs and put it back on the tax rolls. This 
legislation will enable the affected localities, rather the Federal 
Government, to determine their own destiny.
  I would add that I have worked with the Committee on Government 
Operations and the GSA to incorporate their suggestions into H.R. 4704.
  I want to express my sincere thanks to my friends, Chairman Jim 
Traficant and ranking member John Duncan, of the Subcommittee on Public 
Buildings and Grounds as well as their staff members, Susan Brita and 
Richard Barnett, for their guidance and stalwart support during the 
bill's markup and our discussions with the GSA and the Committee on 
Government Operations.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the prompt consideration of this legislation.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], the ranking Republican on 
the committee.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise simply to say that the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania [Mr. Klink] has done an absolutely outstanding job in 
moving this legislation. This is badly needed. He is the one who pushed 
it through our committee, and I salute him for his efforts.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4704 was introduced for the worthwhile purpose of 
making certain property available for use for economic development 
purposes. The General Services is authorized to transfer the property 
to a non-profit organization through negotiated sale at fair market 
value. The Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development is a 
nonprofit corporation certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 
This corporation is responsible for the economic development of Beaver 
County and Hopewell Township. The goal of this particular development 
opportunity is to utilize this property as the centerpiece of the 
Hopewell Aliquippa Airport Industrial Park, and thereby create much 
needed jobs for western Pennsylvania.
  This bill has bipartisan support, and we are pleased to support 
congressman Ron Klink in his efforts to create jobs for his community.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 4704, with amendments.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4704, the Hopewell Township 
Investment Act of 1994. This bill, introduced by the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania, Ron Klink, received a hearing on August 10, by the 
Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and local officials made 
a compelling case for this transfer.
  H.R. 4704 would transfer, through negotiated sale, approximately 16 
acres of land, plus a 45,000-square foot building, from the Federal 
property inventory to the Beaver County Corporation for Economic 
Development. The corporation would be responsible for pursuing job 
creating and economic development initiatives with this property. It 
this does not come to pass, the land will revert to the Federal 
Government.
  This property, near the Aliquippa Airport, was originally purchased 
by the Federal Government in 1981 to establish an emergency response 
center for the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the Department 
of Labor. The prospect of the facility prompted the township to invest 
in infrastructure improvements to serve this facility. However, this 
facility was never occupied, and in 1993 the Federal Government 
declared it surplus.
  This bill allows Hopewell Township to negotiate with GSA for the sale 
of this property. Congress recognizes a local community's efforts to 
provide basic services to help support a proposed Federal facility. 
Passage of this legislation helps meet the objectives of the community 
in job creating activities.
  I support this bill and I urge my colleagues to support the measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4704, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the grounds that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further provisions on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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