[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3568-S3569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LANDS TO THE COUNTY OF RIO ARRIBA, NM

  The bill (S. 278) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain lands to the county of Rio Arriba, New Mexico, was considered, 
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and 
passed; as follows:

                                 S. 278

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

     SECTION 1. OLD COYOTE ADMINISTRATIVE SITE.

       (a) Conveyance of Property.--Not later than one year after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
     Interior (herein ``the Secretary'') shall convey to the 
     County of Rio Arriba, New Mexico (herein ``the County''), 
     subject to the terms and conditions stated in subsection (b), 
     all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     the land (including all improvements on the land) known as 
     the ``Old Coyote Administrative Site'' located approximately 
     \1/2\ mile east of the Village of Coyote, New Mexico, on 
     State Road 96, comprising one tract of 130.27 acres (as 
     described in Public Land Order 3730), and one tract of 276.76 
     acres (as described in Executive Order 4599).
       (b) Terms and Conditions.--
       (1) Consideration for the conveyance described in 
     subsection (a) shall be--
       (A) an amount that is consistent with the special pricing 
     program for Governmental entities under the Recreation and 
     Public Purposes Act; and
       (B) an agreement between the Secretary and the County 
     indemnifying the Government of the United States from all 
     liability of the Government that arises from the property.
       (2) The lands conveyed by this Act shall be used for public 
     purposes. If such lands cease to be used for public purposes, 
     at the option of the United States, such lands will revert to 
     the United States.
       (c) Land Withdrawals.--Land withdrawals under Public Land 
     Order 3730 and Executive Order 4599 as extended in the 
     Federal Register on May 25, 1989 (54 F.R. 22629) shall be 
     revoked simultaneous with the conveyance of the property 
     under subsection (a).
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I am very pleased that the Senate has 
again passed legislation to convey unwanted federal land to Rio Arriba 
County, New Mexico. While identical legislation passed the Senate last 
summer, it was unable to get through the House of Representatives due 
to political wrangling in the waning days of the 105th Congress.
  Meanwhile, Rio Arriba has been waiting for access to this much-needed 
land and facilities. The vast majority of this Northern New Mexico 
county is in federal ownership. Communities find themselves unable to 
grow or find available property necessary to provide local services. 
This legislation allows for transfer by the Secretary of the Interior 
real property and improvements at an abandoned and surplus 
administrative site for the Carson National Forest to the County. The 
site is known as the old Coyote Ranger District Station, near the small 
town of Coyote, new Mexico.
  The Coyote Station will continue to be used for public purposes, 
including a community center, and a fire substation. Some of the 
buildings will also be available for the County to use for storage and 
repair of road maintenance equipment, and other County vehicles.
  Mr. President, the Forest Service has determined that this site is of 
no further use to them, since they have recently completed construction 
of a new

[[Page S3569]]

administrative facility for the Coyote Range District. The Forest 
Service reported to the General Services Administration that the 
improvements on the site were considered surplus, and would be 
available for disposal under their administrative procedures. At this 
particular site, however, the land on which the facilities have been 
built is withdrawn public domain land, under the jurisdiction of the 
Bureau of Land Management.
  The Administration is supportive of the legislation. Since neither 
the Bureau of land Management nor the Forest Service have any interest 
in maintaining Federal ownership of this land and the surplus 
facilities, and Rio Arriba County desperately needs them, passage of S. 
278 is a win-win situation for the federal government and New Mexico. I 
hope this meritorious bill will be passed promptly in the House, and 
quickly become law to give Rio Arriba County the necessary community 
land to grow.

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