[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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