[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8127-S8128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID:
  S. 1329. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain land to Nye County, Nevada, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                conveyance of land to nye county, nevada

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
authorize Nye County, Nevada to acquire approximately 800 acres of 
public land. This conveyance will facilitate the development of both 
the Nevada Science and Technology Center and the Amargosa Valley 
Science and Technology Park, part of a larger proposed Nevada Science 
and Technology Corridor.
  The Nevada Science and Technology Center is a proposed interactive 
science center and museum, highlighting the environment, industries, 
and technological developments associated with the region. This state 
of the art facility will have the potential to draw visitors from the 
Las Vegas Valley, 80 miles to the southeast, and the 1.3 million 
tourists who visit nearby Death Valley on an annual basis. The Center 
will appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds because it will 
provide a unique, fun, hands-on experience. Planning for this project 
is ongoing under the direction of a Nevada registered non-profit 
organization.
  The Amargosa Valley Science and Technology Park is a proposed 
research and development business park designed to support Department 
of Energy contractors and suppliers associated with the Nevada Test 
Site, located immediately to the north of this site. Nye County 
currently has a $1.5 million grant from the Economic Development 
Administration in the final stages of review at that agency's regional 
office. Once finalized, this grant will provide the funding for water 
and infrastructure development in support of both the science center 
and the research and development park.
  The lands proposed for conveyance have been identified for disposal 
under the Bureau of Land Management's October 1998 Las Vegas Resource 
Management Plan. Due to the non-profit nature of the Science Center, 
this portion of land, approximately 450 acres, would be conveyed at no 
cost. Because the research and industrial park will house commercial 
operations, the County would be required to pay fair market value for 
these lands, approximately 350 acres. The legislation contains 
provisions for the no-cost land to revert to the federal government 
should it be used for purposes other than the science center and 
related facilities.
  This legislation will provide the impetus for future development in 
this area, providing the opportunity for economic growth in Nye County. 
I urge my colleagues to vote for passage of this bill.
  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. 1329

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE TO NYE COUNTY, NEVADA.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) County.--The term ``County'' means Nye County, Nevada.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of 
     Land Management.
       (b) Parcels Conveyed for Use of the Nevada Science and 
     Technology Center.--
       (1) In general.--For no consideration and at no other cost 
     to the County, the Secretary shall convey to the County, 
     subject to valid existing rights, all right, title, and 
     interest in and to the parcels of public land described in 
     paragraph (2).
       (2) Land description.--The parcels of public land referred 
     to in paragraph (1) are the following:
       (A) The portion of Sec. 13 north of United States Route 95, 
     T. 15 S. R. 49 E, Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada.
       (B) In Sec. 18, T. 15 S., R. 50 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, 
     Nevada:
       (i) W \1/2\ W \1/2\ NW \1/4\.
       (ii) The portion of the W \1/2\ W \1/2\ SW \1/4\ north of 
     United States Route 95.
       (3) Use.--
       (A) In general.--The parcels described in paragraph (2) 
     shall be used for the construction and operation of the 
     Nevada Science and Technology Center as a nonprofit museum 
     and exposition center, and related facilities and activities.
       (B) Reversion.--The conveyance of any parcel described in 
     paragraph (2) shall be subject to reversion to the United 
     States, at the discretion of Secretary, if the parcel is used 
     for a purpose other than that specified in subparagraph (A).
       (b) Parcels Conveyed for Other Use for a commercial 
     purpose.--
       (1) Right to purchase.--For a period of 5 years beginning 
     on the date of enactment of this Act, the County shall have 
     the exclusive right to purchase the parcels of public land 
     described in paragraph (2) for the fair market value of the 
     parcels, as determined by the Secretary.
       (2) Land description.--The parcels of public land referred 
     to in paragraph (1) are the following parcels in Sec. 18, T. 
     15 S., R. 50 E., Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada:
       (A) E \1/2\ NW \1/4\.
       (B) E \1/2\ W \1/2\ NW \1/4\.
       (C) The portion of the E \1/2\ SW \1/4\ north of United 
     States Route 95.
       (D) The portion of the E \1/2\ W \1/2\ SW \1/4\ north of 
     United States Route 95.
       (E) The portion of the SE \1/4\ north of United States 
     Route 95.
       (3) Use of proceeds.--Proceeds of a sale of a parcel 
     described in paragraph (2)--
       (A) shall be deposited in the special account established 
     under section 4(e)(1)(C) of

[[Page S8128]]

     the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (112 
     Stat. 2345); and
       (B) shall be available to the Secretary as provided in 
     section 4(e)(3) of that Act (112 Stat. 2346).
                                 ______