[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H11602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CROWS LANDING CALIFORNIA LAND CONVEYANCE

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4088) to provide for the conveyance of certain property from 
the United States to Stanislaus County, CA, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4088

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, 
     as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration (in this Act referred to as ``NASA'') 
     shall convey to Stanislaus County, California, all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     property described in section 2.

     SEC. 2. PROPERTY DESCRIBED.

       The property to be conveyed pursuant to section 1 is--
       (1) the approximately 1528 acres of land in Stanislaus 
     County, California, known as the Crows Landing Facility of 
     NASA Ames Research Center (formerly known as the Naval 
     Auxiliary Landing Field, Crows Landing);
       (2) all improvements on the land described in paragraph 
     (1); and
       (3) any other Federal property that is--
       (A) under the jurisdiction of NASA;
       (B) located on the land described in paragraph (1); and
       (C) designated by NASA to be transferred to Stanislaus 
     County, California.

     SEC. 3. TERMS.

       (a) Consideration.--The conveyance required by section 1 
     shall be without consideration other than that required by 
     this section.
       (b) Environmental Remediation.--(1) The conveyance required 
     by section 1 shall not relieve any Federal agency or any 
     responsibility under law for any environmental remediation of 
     soil, groundwater, or surface water. Nothing in this 
     subsection shall be construed to alter the allocation of 
     environmental responsibility contained in the Memorandum of 
     Understanding between the Department of the Navy and NASA, 
     dated December 22, 1992.
       (2) Any remediation of contamination, other than that 
     described in paragraph (1), within or related to structures 
     or fixtures on the property described in section 2 shall be 
     subject to negotiation to the extent permitted by law.
       (c) Retained Right of Use.--NASA shall retain the right to 
     use the property described in section 2 for aviation 
     activities, without consideration and on other terms and 
     conditions mutually acceptable to NASA and Stanislaus County, 
     California.
       (d) Relinquishment of Legislative Jurisdiction.--NASA shall 
     relinquish, to the State of California, legislative 
     jurisdiction over the property conveyed pursuant to section 1 
     by filing a notice of relinquishment with the State of 
     California, which shall take effect upon acceptance thereof 
     as prescribed by the laws of California.
       (e) Additional Terms.--The Administrator of NASA may 
     negotiate such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyance required by section 1 as are appropriate 
     to protect the interests of the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Brown] 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker].
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill would transfer the Crows Landing facility at 
Ames Research Center to the surrounding jurisdiction. The landing 
facility is no longer essential to NASA's needs. But if transferred to 
the county, it will provide that county with a potential economic 
development tool by providing needed airport capability. However, if in 
the future NASA needs to use the facility, it would be able to do so, 
and has therefore given its approval for this transfer.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. BROWN of California asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, the chairman has properly 
described the bill. I have nothing further to add. I ask that the House 
pass the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4088, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  
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