[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 100 (Thursday, July 27, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7192-H7193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TEXAS NATIONAL FORESTS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1999

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Agriculture be discharged from further consideration of 
the bill (H.R. 4285) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to 
convey certain administrative sites for National Forest System lands in 
the State of Texas, to convey certain National Forest System land to 
the New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades Center, and for other purposes, and 
ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 4285

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Texas National Forests 
     Improvement Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SITES, TEXAS NATIONAL 
                   FOREST SYSTEM LANDS.

       (a) Authority To Sell or Exchange.--The Secretary of 
     Agriculture may convey, by sale or exchange, under such terms 
     and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, any and all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 
     following parcels of National Forest System land (including 
     improvements thereon) located in the State of Texas:
       (1) Davy Crockett National Forest, Trinity Ranger Quarters 
     #066310 (Tract K-2D), located at State Highway 94, Groveton, 
     Texas, consisting of approximately 3.0 acres, as depicted on 
     the map entitled ``Trinity Ranger Quarters, Tract K-2D'', 
     dated September 1, 1999.
       (2) Davy Crockett National Forest quarters #066380 (Tract 
     K-604), located at 514 Devine Street, Groveton, Texas, 
     consisting of approximately 0.5 acre, as depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Davy Crockett National Forest Quarters, Tract K-
     604'', dated September 1, 1999.
       (3) Sabine National Forest quarters #055250 (Tract S-1391), 
     located at 706 Cartwright Drive, San Augustine, Texas, 
     consisting of approximately 0.5 acre, as depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Sabine National Forest Quarters, Tract S-1391'', 
     dated September 1, 1999.
       (4) Sabine National Forest quarters #055400 (Tract S-1389), 
     located at 507 Planter Drive, San Augustine, Texas, 
     consisting of approximately 1.5 acres, as depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Sabine National Forest Quarters, Tract S-1389'', 
     dated September 1, 1999.
       (5) Sabine National Forest quarters #077070 (Tract S-1388), 
     located at State Highway 87,

[[Page H7193]]

     Hemphill, Texas, consisting of approximately 1.0 acre, as 
     depicted on the map entitled ``Sabine National Forest 
     Quarters, Tract S-1388'', dated September 1, 1999.
       (6) Sabine National Forest quarters #077430 (Tract S-1390), 
     located at FM Road 944, Hemphill, Texas, consisting of 
     approximately 2.0 acres, as depicted on the map entitled 
     ``Sabine National Forest Quarters, Tract S-1390'', dated 
     September 1, 1999.
       (7) Old Yellowpine Work Center site, within the Sabine 
     National Forest, consisting of approximately 1.0 acre, as 
     depicted on the map entitled ``Old Yellowpine Work Center'', 
     dated September 1, 1999.
       (8) Yellowpine Work Center site, within the Sabine National 
     Forest, consisting of approximately 9.0 acres, as depicted on 
     the map entitled ``Yellowpine Work Center'', dated 
     September 1, 1999.
       (9) Zavalla Work Center site, within the Angelina National 
     Forest, consisting of approximately 19.0 acres, as depicted 
     on the map entitled ``Zavalla Work Center'', dated September 
     1, 1999.
       (b) Authorized Consideration.--As consideration for a 
     conveyance of land under subsection (a), the recipient of the 
     land, with the consent of the Secretary, may convey to the 
     Secretary other land, existing improvements, or improvements 
     constructed to specifications of the Secretary.
       (c) Applicable Law.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
     section, any conveyance of land under subsection (a) shall be 
     subject to the laws and regulations applicable to the 
     conveyance and acquisition of land for the National Forest 
     System.
       (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 any parcel of land 
     exchanged under subsection (a).
       (e) Solicitation of Offers.--The Secretary may solicit 
     offers for the conveyance of land under this section on such 
     terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe. The 
     Secretary may reject any offer made under this section if the 
     Secretary determines that the offer is not adequate or not in 
     the public interest.

     SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF TEXAS NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND TO 
                   NEW WAVERLY GULF COAST TRADES CENTER.

       (a) Conveyance Authority.--Subject to the terms and 
     conditions specified in this section, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture may convey to the New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades 
     Center (referred to in this section as the ``Center''), all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a 
     parcel of real property (including improvements thereon) 
     consisting of approximately 57 acres of land located within 
     the Sam Houston National Forest, Walker County, Texas, as 
     depicted on the map entitled ``New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades 
     Center'', dated September 15, 1999. A complete legal 
     description of the property to be conveyed shall be available 
     for public inspection at an appropriate office of the Sam 
     Houston National Forest and in the Office of the Chief of the 
     Forest Service.
       (b) Consideration.--
       (1) Fair market value.--As consideration for the conveyance 
     authorized by this section, the Center shall pay to the 
     Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the 
     property, as determined by an appraisal acceptable to the 
     Secretary and prepared in accordance with the Uniform 
     Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition published by 
     the Department of Justice.
       (2) Appraisal cost.--The Center shall pay the cost of the 
     appraisal of the property.
       (3) Time for payment.--The consideration determined under 
     paragraph (1) shall be paid, at the option of the Center--
       (A) in full not later than 180 days after the date of 
     conveyance of the property; or
       (B) in 7 equal annual installments commencing on January 1 
     of the first year beginning after the conveyance and annually 
     thereafter until the total amount has been paid.
       (4) Interest.--Any payment due for the conveyance of 
     property under this section shall accrue interest, beginning 
     on the date of the conveyance, at an annual rate of 3 percent 
     on the unpaid balance.
       (c) Release.--Subject to compliance with all Federal 
     environmental laws prior to conveyance, the Center, upon 
     acquisition of the property under this section, shall agree 
     in writing to hold the United States harmless from any and 
     all claims to the property, including all claims resulting 
     from hazardous materials conveyed on the lands.
       (d) Right of Reentry.--At any time before full payment is 
     made for the conveyance of the property under this section, 
     the conveyance shall be subject to a right of reentry in the 
     United States if the Secretary determines that--
       (1) the Center has not complied with the requirements of 
     this section or the conditions prescribed by the Secretary in 
     the deed of conveyance; or
       (2) the conveyed land is converted to a noneducational or 
     for profit use.
       (e) Alternative Property Disposal Authority.--In the event 
     that the Center does not contract with the Secretary to 
     acquire the property described in this section within 18 
     months of the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary may dispose of the property in the manner provided 
     in section 2.

     SEC. 4. DISPOSITION OF FUNDS.

       (a) Deposit in Sisk Act Fund.--The Secretary shall deposit 
     the proceeds of a sale or exchange under this Act in the fund 
     established under Public Law 90-171 (16 U.S.C. 484a; commonly 
     known as the Sisk Act).
       (b) Use of Proceeds.--Funds deposited under subsection (a) 
     shall be available to the Secretary, without further 
     appropriation, for--
       (1) the acquisition, construction, or improvement of 
     administrative facilities for units of the National Forest 
     System in the State of Texas; or
       (2) the acquisition of lands or interests in lands in the 
     State of Texas.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4285, ``Texas 
National Forest Improvement Act of 1999.''
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation gives the Secretary of Agriculture the 
authority to sell or exchange nine parcels of land located in the state 
of Texas.
  The parcels listed in this legislation cost the National Forest 
Service thousands of dollars to maintain and would be better utilized 
if transferred to private ownership.
  More specifically Mr. Speaker, this bill gives the Secretary of 
Agriculture the authority to convey 57 acres of land located within the 
Sam Houston National Forest to the New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades 
Center.
  The trade center is doing a great job of training at-risk youth in 
various construction related occupations. The trade center is using the 
existing forest service work site as a job-training center, which 
provides these youth an opportunity to gain a useful skill.
  Mr. Speaker, this transfer is supported by the USDA and would comply 
with all environmental regulations as required by law. In addition, 
this transfer will be transacted at fair market value.
  I want to commend my colleague, Mr. Turner, for his work on this 
legislation. And I ask all of my colleagues to support passage.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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