[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          LINCOLN COUNTY, MONTANA, LANDS TRANSFER ACT OF 1994

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of the 
Senate bill (S. 528) to provide for the transfer of certain U.S. Forest 
Service lands located in Lincoln County, MT to Lincoln County in the 
State of Montana, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                 S. 528

       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 ``Lincoln County, Montana, 
     Lands Transfer Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY.

       (a) As soon as practicable, but in no event not later than 
     180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter the ``Secretary'') 
     shall convey, without consideration, all right, title, and 
     interest of the United States to the following lands located 
     within the boundaries of the Kootenai National Forest, 
     Montana, to Lincoln County, Montana--
       (1) approximately 30 acres, as generally depicted on the 
     map entitled ``Kootenai National Forest Lands--Libby Junior 
     High School'' dated August 1994;
       (2) approximately 2 acres, as generally depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Kootenai National Forest Lands--Boyd Cemetery'' 
     dated August 1994;
       (3) approximately 27.68 acres, as generally depicted on the 
     map entitled ``Kootenai National Forest Lands--Yaak Ambulance 
     Barn'' dated August 1994;
       (4) approximately 170 acres, as generally depicted on the 
     map entitled ``Kootenai National Forest Lands--Libby 
     Landfill'' dated August 1994;
       (5) approximately 11 acres, as generally depicted on the 
     map entitled ``Kootenai National Forest Lands--Eureka 
     Administration Site'' dated August 1994; and
       (6) approximately 99.5 acres, as generally depicted on the 
     map entitled ``Kootenai National Forest Lands--Old Libby 
     Airport'' dated August 1994.
       (b) As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall convey, without consideration, 
     the timber and mineral rights to approximately 182.04 acres 
     at the new Libby Airport, as generally depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Kootenai National Forest Lands--Timber and Mineral 
     Rights Transfer at Libby Airport'' dated August 1994, to 
     Lincoln County, Montana.
       (c) If the lands referred to in subsection (a) cease to be 
     used for public purposes, such lands shall revert to the 
     United States: Provided, That the lands shall not revert if 
     the Secretary determines that such lands, or any portion 
     thereof, have become contaminated with hazardous substances 
     (as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
     Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 and 
     following)).

     SEC. 3. RELEASE.

       Upon the transfer of any lands or interests therein 
     identified in section 2 of this Act to Lincoln County, 
     Lincoln County shall release the United States from any 
     liability for claims relating to such lands or interests 
     therein.

     SEC. 4. MAPS.

       The maps referred to in this Act shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of 
     the Forest Service, in Washington, D.C.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, S. 528 would transfer about 340 acres of the 
Kootenai National Forest to Lincoln County, MT.
  These lands are in six parcels and would be used by the county for a 
variety of public purposes, including a junior high school, a cemetery, 
an ambulance barn, a landfill, an administrative site, and an airport.
  Under the bill, if the county ceases to use the lands for public 
purposes, title will revert to the United States unless they have been 
subjected to contamination such that the United States does not wish to 
receive title.
  I urge the passage of the bill.
  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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