[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 68 (Tuesday, June 6, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4567-S4568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID:
  S. 2673. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain land to Eureka County, Nevada, for continued use as cemeteries, 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


               the eureka county cemetery conveyance act

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Eureka County 
Cemetery Conveyance Act.
  The settlement of Beowawe, Nevada was destination and home to 
pioneers that settled the isolated high desert of the central Great 
Basin. The inhabitants of this community set aside a specific community 
cemetery to provide the final resting place for friends and family who 
passed away. The early settlers established and managed the cemetery in 
the late 1800's. The Beowawe cemetery is on land currently managed by 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

[[Page S4568]]

  The site of these historic cemetery was established prior to the 
creation of the BLM as an agency. The BLM was created in 1946. Under 
current law, the agency must sell the encumbered land at fair market 
value to this community. My bill provides for conveyance of this 
cemetery to Eureka County, at no cost. It is unconscionable to me that 
this community would have to buy their ancestors back from the Federal 
government.
  I sincerely hope that members of Congress recognize the benefit to 
the local community that the conveyances would provide and pass this 
legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the full 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. 2673

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the historical use by settlers and travelers since the 
     late 1800's of the cemetery known as ``Maiden's Grave 
     Cemetery'' in Beowawe, Nevada, predates incorporation of the 
     land on which the cemetery is situated within the 
     jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management; and
       (2) it is appropriate that that use be continued through 
     local public ownership of the parcel rather than through the 
     permitting process of the Federal agency.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE TO EUREKA COUNTY, NEVADA.

       (a) Conveyance.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
     through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), shall 
     convey, without consideration, subject to valid existing 
     rights, to Eureka County, Nevada (referred to in this section 
     as the ``county''), all right, title, and interest of the 
     United States in and to the parcel of land described in 
     subsection (b).
       (b) Description of Land.--The parcel of land referred to in 
     subsection (a) is the parcel of public land (including any 
     improvements on the land) known as ``Maiden's Grave 
     Cemetery'', consisting of approximately 10 acres and more 
     particularly described as S1/2NE1/4SW1/4SW1/4, N1/2SE1/4SW1/
     4SW1/4 of section 10, T.31N., R.49E., Mount Diablo Meridian.
       (c) Use of Land.--
       (1) In general.--The county shall continue the use of the 
     parcel conveyed under subsection (a) as a cemetery.
       (2) Reversion.--If the Secretary, after notice to the 
     county and an opportunity for a hearing, makes a finding that 
     the county has discontinued the use of the parcel conveyed 
     under subsection (a) as a cemetery, title to the parcel shall 
     revert to the Secretary.
       (d) Right-of-Way.--At the time of the conveyance under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall grant the county a right-
     of-way allowing access for persons desiring to visit the 
     cemetery and other cemetery purposes over an appropriate 
     access route.
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