[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 26 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KYL:

[[Page S1887]]

  S. 1752. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey 
certain administrative sites and use the proceeds for the acquisition 
of office sites and the acquisition, construction, or improvement of 
offices and support buildings for the Coconino National Forest, Kaibab 
National Forest, Prescott National Forest, and Tonto National Forest in 
the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                      forest services legislation

  MR. KYL. Mr. President, the U.S. Forest Service is interested in 
exchanging or selling six unmanageable, undesirable and/or excess 
parcels of land in the Prescott, Tonto, Kaibab and Coconino National 
Forests. If the parcels are sold, the Forest Service wants to use the 
proceeds from five of these sales to either fund new construction or 
upgrade current administrative facilities at these national forests. 
Funds generated from the sale of the sixth parcel could be used to fund 
acquisition of sites, or construction of administrative facilities at 
any national forest in Arizona. Transfers of land completed under this 
bill will be done in accordance with all other applicable laws, 
including environmental laws.
  Mr. President, this bill will enhance customer and administrative 
services by allowing the Forest Service to consolidate and update 
facilities and/or relocate facilities to more convenient locations. It 
offers a simple and common-sense way to enhance services for national 
forest users in Arizona, and to facilitate the disposal of 
unmanageable, undesirable and/or excess parcels of national forest 
lands.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1752

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

     SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
     Agriculture.

     SEC. 2. SALE OR EXCHANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SITES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, under such terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, may sell or 
     exchange any or all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to the following National Forest System 
     administrative sites:
       (1) The Camp Verde Administrative Site, comprising 
     approximately 213.60 acres, as depicted on the map entitled 
     ``Camp Verde Administrative Site'', dated April 12, 1997.
       (2) A portion of the Cave Creek Administrative Site, 
     comprising approximately 16 acres, as depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Cave Creek Administrative Site'', dated May 1, 
     1997.
       (3) The Fredonia Duplex Housing Site, comprising 
     approximately 1.40 acres and the Fredonia Dwelling Site, 
     comprising approximately 1.58 acres, as depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Fredonia Duplex Dwelling, Fredonia Ranger 
     Dwelling'', dated August 28, 1997.
       (4) The Groom Creek Administrative Site, comprising 
     approximately 7.88 acres, as depicted on the map entitled 
     ``Groom Creek Administrative Site'', dated April 29, 1997.
       (5) The Payson Administrative Site, comprising 
     approximately 296.43 acres, as depicted on the map entitled 
     ``Payson Ranger Station Administrative Site'', dated May 
     1, 1997.
       (6) The Sedona Administrative Site, comprising 
     approximately 21.41 acres, as depicted on the map entitled 
     ``Sedona Ranger Station Administrative Site'', dated April 
     12, 1997.
       (b) Exchange Acquisitions.--The Secretary may acquire land 
     and existing or future administrative improvements in 
     exchange for a conveyance of an administrative site under 
     subsection (a).
       (c) Applicable Authorities.--A sale or exchange of an 
     administrative site shall be subject to the laws (including 
     regulations) applicable to the conveyance and acquisition of 
     land for National Forest System purposes.
       (d) Cash Equalization.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, the Secretary may accept a cash equalization payment 
     in excess of 25 percent of the value of an administrative 
     site in an exchange under subsection (a).
       (e) Solicitations of Offers.--In carrying out this Act, the 
     Secretary may--
       (1) use public or private solicitations of offers for sale 
     or exchange on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may 
     prescribe; and
       (2) reject any offer if the Secretary determines that the 
     offer is not adequate or not in the public interest.

     SEC. 3. DISPOSITION OF FUNDS.

       The proceeds of a sale or exchange under section 2 shall be 
     deposited in the fund established under Public Law 90-171 (16 
     U.S.C. 484a) (commonly known as the ``Sisk Act'') and shall 
     be available for expenditure, until expended, for--
       (1) the acquisition of land and interests in land for 
     administrative sites; and
       (2) the acquisition, construction, or improvement of 
     offices and support buildings for the Coconino National 
     Forest, Kaibab National Forest, Prescott National Forest, and 
     Tonto National Forest.

     SEC. 4. REVOCATIONS.

       (a) Public Land Orders.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, to facilitate the sale or exchange of the 
     administrative sites, public land orders withdrawing the 
     administrative sites from all forms of appropriation under 
     the public land laws (including the mining laws but not the 
     mineral leasing laws) are revoked for any portion of the 
     administrative sites conveyed by the Secretary.
       (b) Effective Date.--The effective date of a revocation 
     made by this section shall be the date of the patent or deed 
     conveying the administrative site.
                                 ______