[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14419-S14420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THOMAS (for himself and Mr. Enzi):
  S. 1894. A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain land to Park 
County, Wyoming; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                     north cody, wy land conveyance

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce a bill today to 
provide for the conveyance of economic development land for Park 
County, WY.
  The management of our public lands and natural resources is often 
complicated and requires the coordination of many individuals to 
accomplish desired objectives. When western folks

[[Page S14420]]

discuss Federal land issues, we do not often have an opportunity to 
identify proposals that capture and enjoy the support from a wide array 
of interests; however, the bill Senator Enzi and I are introducing 
today offers just such a unique prospect. Project coordinators and 
involved parties have spent a great deal of time incorporating the 
concerns of various individuals by presenting their plans to agency and 
congressional representatives.
  This parcel of land was identified by the Bureau of Land Management 
and Bureau of Reclamation as an unsuitable area for public domain and 
the agencies have recommended that it be disposed of by the Federal 
Government. The Park County Commissioners subsequently approached the 
Wyoming Congressional Delegation about allowing the county to pursue 
economic development efforts that would be beneficial to the local town 
and surrounding communities. Specifically, this legislation is needed 
to allow the Federal Government to sell approximately 190 acres of land 
to Park County, WY for the appraised value of $240,000. The county 
commissioners intend to work with an economic development group to 
attract new businesses to the area and allow other companies to expand 
at an industrial park adjacent to the conveyance land.
  Mr. President, this bill enjoys the support of many different groups 
including county government officials as well as the local community. 
This proposal will provide for the creation of a number of private 
sector jobs in a county that has 82 percent Federal land ownership. It 
is my hope that the Senate will seize this opportunity to allow a local 
community to improve their livelihoods and economic prospects.
  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. 1894

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF LAND TO PARK COUNTY, WYOMING.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the parcel of land described in subsection (d) has been 
     withdrawn from the public domain for reclamation purposes and 
     is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation;
       (2) the land has been subject to a withdrawal review, a 
     level I contaminant survey, and historical, cultural, and 
     archaeological resource surveys by the Bureau of Reclamation;
       (3) the Bureau of Land Management has conducted a cadastral 
     survey of the land and has determined that the land is no 
     longer suitable for return to the public domain; and
       (4) the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land 
     Management concur in the recommendation of disposal of the 
     land as described in the documents referred to in paragraph 
     (2).
       (b) Definitions.--In this Act:
       (1) County.--The term ``County'' means Park County, 
     Wyoming.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (c) Conveyance.--In consideration of payment of $240,000 to 
     the Secretary by the County, the Secretary shall convey to 
     the County all right, title, and interest of the United 
     States in and to the parcel of land described in subsection 
     (d).
       (d) Description of Property.--The parcel of land described 
     in this subsection is the parcel located in the County 
     comprising 190.12 acres, the legal description of which is as 
     follows:

             Sixth Principal Meridian, Park County, Wyoming

T. 53 N., R. 101 W.                                             Acreage
  Section 20, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\..........................5.00
  Section 29, Lot 7................................................9.91
           Lot 9..................................................38.24
           Lot 10.................................................31.29
           Lot 12..................................................5.78
           Lot 13..................................................8.64
           Lot 14....................................................04
           Lot 15..................................................9.73
           S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\.............................5.00
           SW\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\..................................10.00
           SE\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\..................................10.00
           NW\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\..................................10.00
           Tract 101..............................................13.24
  Section 30, Lot 31..............................................16.95
           Lot 32.................................................16.30

       (e) Reservation of Rights.--The instrument of conveyance 
     under subsection (c) shall reserve all rights to locatable, 
     salable, and leasable oil and gas reserves.
       (f) Leases, Easements, Rights-of-way, and Special Use 
     Permits.--The conveyance under subsection (c) shall be 
     subject to any land use leases, easements, rights-of-way, and 
     special use permits in existence as of the date of the 
     conveyance.
       (g) Environmental Liability.--
       (1) Liability of the future owners.--
       (A) Finding.--Congress finds that--
       (i) the United States has in good faith exercised due 
     diligence in accordance with applicable laws (including 
     regulations), in an effort to identify any environmental 
     contamination on the parcel of land described in subsection 
     (d); and
       (ii) the parcel is free of any environmental contamination.
       (B) Release from liability.--The United States holds 
     harmless and releases from all liability any future owners of 
     the conveyed land for any violation of environmental law or 
     other contamination problem arising from any action or 
     inaction of any tenant of the land that vacates the lease 
     before the date of the conveyance under subsection (c).
       (2) Liability of tenants.--A tenant of the parcel of land 
     described in subsection (d) on the date of the conveyance or 
     thereafter shall be liable for any violation of environmental 
     law or other contamination problem that results from any 
     action or inaction of the tenant after the date of the 
     conveyance.
       (h) Use of Land.--The conveyance under subsection (c) shall 
     be subject to the condition that the County--
       (1) use the land for the promotion of economic development; 
     or
       (2) transfer the land to a local organization formed for 
     the purpose of promoting economic development.
       (i) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may 
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection 
     with the conveyance under subsection (c) as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
     States.
                                 ______