[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVEY LANDS TO CITY OF ROLLA, 
                                   MO

  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Agriculture be discharged from further consideration of 
the bill (H.R. 3426) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to 
convey lands to the city of Rolla, MO, and ask for its immediate 
consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I do so to 
yield to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. de la Garza], the chairman of 
the committee.
  (Mr. EMERSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remaarks.)
  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, this legislation was introduced by our 
colleagues, the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Emerson]. It is land 
deeded for city purposes in the city of Rolla, MO.
  We recommend its passage.
  Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I 
rise today in strong support of this measure, H.R. 3426, which is vital 
to the rural economic development efforts of southern Missouri. This 
legislation will authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture to convey 
land within the Mark Twain National Forest to the city and citizens of 
Rolla, MO.
  The city of Rolla has been diligent in its plan to utilize the U.S. 
Forest Service's district ranger office site in the development and 
construction of a regional tourist center. I feel its important to note 
that tourism is the second largest industry in Missouri and this 
tourist center has already attracted great interest along with needed 
dollars to the regional Rolla economy.
  Clearly, this project is a prime example of a local community 
exercising its own rural development plan for local expansion and job 
creation. In these times of reduced Federal support for rural 
community-based economic enterprises, the city of Rolla is a shining 
example and model of both involvement and initiative that other 
communities around the country can clearly emulate.
  For nearly a year now, the city of Rolla has been collecting a 3 
percent tax on local hotels in the attempt to finance this project 
independent of any assistance from the Federal Government. Indeed, this 
land transfer arrangement is a very unique partnership for the both 
Rolla and the Mark Twain National Forest.
  Several of Missouri's proud historical landmarks, which are an 
important element of this site, will be maintained and preserved for 
current and future generations through the efforts of the city of 
Rolla--at a reduced burden to local taxpayers. This is particularly 
important to bear in mind since this facility would have no further 
commercial viability without the direct involvement of the city of 
Rolla. So now, two worthy goals can be achieved--economic development 
and historical preservation.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the leadership efforts of the Mark Twain 
National Forest and the city of Rolla and I urge the expeditious 
approval of this measure in order that the citizens of Rolla can get on 
with the business of economic development and job creation.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
  (The text of the bill H.R. 3426, as introduced, will be printed in a 
subsequent issue of the Record.)


   amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by mr. de la garza

  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. de 
     la Garza:
       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, ROLLA RANGER DISTRICT 
                   ADMINISTRATIVE SITE, ROLLA, MISSOURI.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--Subject to the terms and 
     conditions specified in this section, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture may sell to the City of Rolla, Missouri (in this 
     section referred to as the ``City), all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States in and to the following:
       The property identified as the Rolla Ranger District 
     Administrative Site of the Forest Service located in Rolla, 
     Phelps County, Missouri, encompassing 10 acres more or less, 
     the conveyance of which by C. D. and Oma A. Hazlewood to the 
     United States was recorded on May 6, 1936, in book 104, page 
     286 of the Record of Deeds of Phelps County, Missouri.
       (b) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance 
     under subsection (a), the City shall pay to the Secretary an 
     amount equal to the fair market value of the property, as 
     determined by an appraisal (acceptable to the Secretary) 
     prepared in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards 
     for Federal Land Acquisition, as published by the Department 
     of Justice. Payment shall be due in full within 6 months 
     after the date the conveyance is made or, at the option of 
     the City, in 20 equal annual installments commencing on 
     January 1 of the first year following the conveyance and 
     annually thereafter until the total amount due has been 
     paid.
       (c) Deposit of Funds Received.--Funds received by the 
     Secretary under subsection (b) as consideration for the 
     conveyance shall be deposited into the special fund in the 
     Treasury authorized by the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 
     484a, commonly known as the Sisk Act). Such funds shall be 
     available, subject to appropriation, until expended by the 
     Secretary.
       (d) Release.--Subject to compliance with all Federal 
     environmental laws prior to transfer, the City, upon 
     conveyance of the property under subsection (a), shall agree 
     in writing to hold the United States harmless from any and 
     all claims relating to the property, including all claims 
     resulting from hazardous materials on the conveyed lands.
       (e) Reversion.--The conveyance under subsection (a) shall 
     be made by quitclaim deed in fee simple subject to reversion 
     to the United States and right of re-entry upon such 
     conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary in the deed 
     of conveyance or in the event the City fails to comply with 
     the compensation requirements specified in subsection (b).
       (f) Conservation of Historic Resources.--In consultation 
     with the State Historic Preservation Office of the State of 
     Missouri, the Secretary shall ensure that the historic 
     resources on the property to be conveyed are conserved by 
     requiring, at the closing on the conveyance of the property, 
     that the City convey an historic preservation easement to the 
     State of Missouri assuring the right of the State to enter 
     the property for historic preservation purposes. The historic 
     preservation easement shall be negotiated between the State 
     of Missouri and the City, and the conveyance of the easement 
     shall be a condition to the conveyance authorized under 
     subsection (a). The protection of the historic resources on 
     the conveyed property shall be the responsibility of the 
     State of Missouri and the City, and not the Secretary.

  Mr. de la GARZA (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. de la 
Garza].
  The amendment is the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time, and passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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