[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H11793-H11794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LAND CONVEYANCE TO CITY OF SUMPTER, OR

  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass bill 
(H.R. 1581) to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain 
lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture to the 
City of Sumpter, Oregon.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1581

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

     SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, CITY OF SUMPTER, OREGON.

       (a) Conveyance Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall convey, without consideration, to the city of Sumpter, 
     Oregon (in this section referred to as the ``City''), all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a 
     parcel of real property of approximately 1.43 acres 
     consisting of all of block 8 of the REVISED PLAN OF SUMPTER 
     TOWNSITE in the City, as shown in plat recorded March 6, 
     1897, in Plat Book 3, page 26; including the alley running 
     through such block, vacated by Ordinance No. 1966-3, recorded 
     December 14, 1966, in Deed 66-50-014.
       (b) Additional Description of Property.--The real property 
     to be conveyed under subsection (a) consists of the same 
     property that was deeded to the United States in the 
     following deeds:
       (1) Warranty Deed from Sumpter Power & Water Company to the 
     United States of America dated October 12, 1949, and recorded 
     in Vol. 152, page 170 of Baker County records on December 22, 
     1949.
       (2) Warranty Deed from Mrs. Alice Windle to the United 
     States of America dated October 11, 1949, and recorded in 
     Vol. 152, page 168 of Baker County records on December 22, 
     1949.
       (3) Warranty Deed from Alice L. Windle Charles and James M. 
     Charles to the United States of America dated August 8, 1962, 
     and recorded in Book 172, page 1331 on August 27, 1962.
       (c) Condition of Conveyance.--The conveyance under 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to the condition that the 
     City use the conveyed property only for public purposes, such 
     as a city park, information center, or interpretive area.
       (d) Release.--Notwithstanding the Comprehensive 
     Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 
     1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), upon making the conveyance 
     required by subsection (a), the United States is relieved 
     from liability for any and all claims arising from the 
     presence of hazardous materials on the conveyed property, and 
     the City shall thereafter be liable for any and all such 
     claims.
       (e) Reversionary Interest.--If the Secretary of Agriculture 
     determines that the real property conveyed under subsection 
     (a) is not being used in accordance with the condition 
     specified in subsection (c) or that the City has initiated 
     proceedings to sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of 
     all or a portion of the property, then, at the option 

[[Page H 11794]]
     of the Secretary, the United States shall have a right of reentry with 
     regard to the property, with title thereto revesting in 
     the United States.
       (f) Authorized Sale of Property.--Notwithstanding 
     subsections (c) and (e), the Secretary of Agriculture may 
     authorize the City to dispose of the real property conveyed 
     under subsection (a) if the proceeds from such disposal are 
     at least equal to the fair market value of the property and 
     are paid to the United States. The Secretary shall deposit 
     amounts received under this subsection into the special fund 
     in the Treasury into which funds are deposited pursuant to 
     the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 484a), commonly known 
     as the Sisk Act. The disposal of the conveyed property under 
     this subsection shall be subject to such terms and conditions 
     as the Secretary may prescribe.
       (g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of 
     Agriculture may require such additional terms and conditions 
     in connection with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the 
     Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of 
     the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon [Mr. Cooley] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Richardson] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon, [Mr. Cooley].
  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. COOLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1581, sponsored by 
myself, which would authorize the transfer of the Sumpter Guard Station 
in my district from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Sumpter, OR.
  The Sumpter Guard Station was established in the 1940's, and the site 
consists of three very primitive buildings. Two of the buildings, made 
from railroad boxcars, are considered usable if the electrical wiring 
is brought up to current standards. The third building is a small 
outhouse and is not longer usable.
  The station is located on 1.43 acres of land in the city of Sumpter, 
OR, and the site and buildings were recommended for disposal when the 
real property utilization survey was completed in 1988. Disposal of the 
property was contingent upon a thorough inventory of the cultural 
resource values and an assessment of any hazardous wastes at the site.
  The Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer has concurred that the 
site is not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and 
that transfer of ownership would not be an adverse effect. The 
hazardous materials report has been completed; no hazardous materials 
remain on the site.
  The U.S. Forest Service fully supports the transfer, has no further 
use of the Sumpter Guard Station, and wishes to dispose of the 
property. The city of Sumpter, on the other hand, is eager to receive 
the property and utilize it immediately for public benefit as a park 
facility.
  H.R. 1581 was reported favorably by the Committee on Resources by 
voice vote, and is noncontroversial. This is very sensible legislation 
for all interests, and I urge the Members of the House to support this 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. 
Basically what it is is a conveyance from the Secretary of Agriculture 
to the city of Sumpter, OR, all right, title and interest of the United 
States to a parcel of land that is approximately 1.43 acres, as 
described in the bill. The conveyance will be subject to the condition 
that the city use the conveyed property for only public purpose, such 
as a city park, information center, or interpretive area.
  The United States is relieved of liability for claims arising from 
the presence of hazardous materials on the conveyed property. If the 
city does not use the property in accordance with the conditions of the 
bill, then the Secretary has the option to take possession of the 
property, and, notwithstanding any provisions of the bill, the 
Secretary may authorize the city to dispose of the property.
  The Secretary of Agriculture may require additional terms and 
conditions as are appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
States.
  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RICHARDSON. 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 Oregon [Mr. Cooley] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1581.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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