[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5006-S5007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH of Oregon:
  S. 785. A bill to convey certain land to the city of Grants Pass, OR; 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


               THE GRANTS PASS LAND TRANSFER ACT OF 1997

 Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I am today introducing 
legislation to transfer 320 acres of Oregon and California grant lands 
currently under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management [BLM] 
to the city of Grants Pass, OR. I am pleased to introduce this 
legislation because it exemplifies how I believe our government should 
work. I believe government works best when the local community has an 
opportunity to participate in making decisions important to them.
  Since 1968, the city of Grants Pass has leased 200 acres of BLM land 
to operate the Merlin Municipal Solid Waste Facility under permit by 
the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality [DEQ]. The current lease 
ends April 14 in the year 2000 and, pursuant to BLM's national policy, 
the lease will not be renewed. The city of Grants Pass has made an 
incredible commitment of time, manpower, and financial resources over 
several years to address and minimize the environmental concerns of the 
Merlin landfill. The long-term management and resolution of these 
environmental issues can best be handled by the city of Grants Pass 
through ownership of the property.
  The 120 acres not part of the Merlin landfill are described by BLM as 
``scab lands'' and are not subject to timber harvest. In addition, if 
the additional 120 acres are retained they would be landlocked or 
without access. For these reasons, the BLM recommends that these 120 
acres be included in the land transfer. The 120 acres and any of the 
200 acres not used for solid waste management will be retained 
exclusively for public use.
  The reason for this legislation is simple: Existing Federal law 
providing for the transfer of Federal land either does not cover Oregon 
and California grant lands, presents administrative procedural 
requirements, or does not provide

[[Page S5007]]

the United States with the necessary environmental liability 
safeguards.
  The Grants Pass land transfer legislation is supported at all levels 
of government--local, State, and Federal. This legislation is a 
companion bill to that of my good friend and colleague from the House, 
Congressman Bob Smith, and is being heard today before the House 
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. I encourage my 
colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the provisions of the 
bill be inserted in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 785

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF BLM LAND TO GRANTS PASS, OREGON.

       (A) Conveyance Required.--Effective on the date the City of 
     Grants Pass, Oregon tenders to the Secretary of the Interior 
     an indemnification agreement and without monetary 
     compensation, all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to the real property described in subsection 
     (b) is conveyed, by operation of law, to the City of Grants 
     Pass, Oregon (in this section referred to as the ``City'').
       (b) Property Described.--
       The real property referred to in subsection (a) is that 
     parcel of land depicted on the map entitled ``      '' and 
     dated       , 1997, consisting of--
       (1) approximately 200 acres of Bureau of Land Management 
     land on which the City has operated a landfill under lease; 
     and
       (1) approximately 200 acres of Bureau of Land Management 
     land that area adjacent to the land described in subparagraph 
     (1).
       (c) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall require the City to 
     agree to indemnify the Government of the United States for 
     all liability of the Government that arises from the 
     property.
                                 ______