[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 171 (Tuesday, December 11, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H9157-H9158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LAND CONVEYANCE TO CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2595) to direct the Secretary of the Army to convey a parcel
of land to Chatham County, Georgia, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2595
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE TO CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Army shall convey, by
quitclaim deed and without consideration, to the
Commissioners of Chatham County, Georgia, all right, title,
and interest of the United States in and to the approximately
12-acre parcel of land located on Hutchinson Island, Georgia,
adjacent to the Savannah Harbor Tide Gate structure.
(b) Survey To Obtain Legal Description.--The exact acreage
and the legal description of the parcel to be conveyed under
subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey that is
satisfactory to the Secretary.
(c) Use of Land.--
(1) In general.--The parcel conveyed under this section
shall remain in public ownership and shall be managed in
perpetuity for public recreational purposes or, in the
alternative, the parcel may be exchanged for another parcel
of equal appraised value that shall remain in public
ownership and shall be managed in perpetuity for public
recreational purposes.
(2) Reversion.--If the Secretary determines that the parcel
conveyed under this section is being used for purposes other
than public recreational purposes, title to the parcel shall
revert to the United States or, in the case of an exchange of
parcels under paragraph (1), if the Secretary determines that
the parcel received in the exchange is being used for
purposes other than public recreational purposes title to
that parcel shall revert to the United States.
(d) General Provisions.--
(1) Applicability of property screening provisions.--
Section 2696 of title 10, United States Code, shall not apply
to the conveyance under this section.
(2) Additional terms and conditions.--The Secretary may
require that the conveyance under this section be subject to
such
[[Page H9158]]
additional terms and conditions as the Secretary considers
appropriate and necessary to protect the interests of the
United States.
(3) Costs of conveyance.--The County shall be responsible
for all reasonable and necessary costs, including real estate
transaction and environmental compliance costs, associated
with the conveyance.
(4) Liability.--The County shall hold the United States
harmless from any liability with respect to activities
carried out, on or after the date of the conveyance, on the
real property conveyed. The United States shall remain
responsible for any liability with respect to activities
carried out, before such date, on the real property conveyed.
(5) Easements.--The County shall provide to the Secretary
all required rights of entry or easements necessary for
utilities and for access to the Savannah Harbor Tide Gate
structure and the dock located adjacent to the structure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Clement)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Many years ago, Mr. Speaker, Chatham County, Georgia, donated
approximately 12 acres of land on Hutchinson Island to the Federal
Government so that the Corps of Engineers could build the Savannah
River Tide Gate Structure. That project was closed in 1991 and the
operational gates were removed. As a result, according to the Corps of
Engineers, the Federal Government no longer needs this property.
Chatham County now would like to have this excess land returned to
them so it could be used as part of an economic development project and
a public recreational park. Without this legislation, the government
has to follow a lengthy process for disposing of the property. This
bill allows the property to go back to the county that gave up the land
in the first place and will expedite an important local project that
will benefit the public.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), the author of the bill and, presumably,
from Chatham County, Georgia, to explain it to us further.
Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time, and I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Clement) for his
indulgence.
This simply lets the Corps of Engineers get rid of some excess
property they do not want anymore. It allows the county to take that
property and trade it to a private developer, 12 acres; but in
exchange, they are going to get 40 acres back. I know the gentleman
from Colorado will be interested to know that they are going to have a
natural park in those 40 acres that is going to be ecologically
sensitive, a passive park, which I know the gentleman from Boulder is
familiar with.
So this is a very good piece of legislation with bipartisan support
by the local folks and the Corps of Engineers.
Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I know a comment was made a while ago about country
music or country western music, and as the representative from
Nashville, Tennessee, or Country Music USA, I appreciate the comments.
I want my colleagues to know that the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr.
Duncan) and myself and some others had the opportunity to sing on the
Grand Ole Opry not long ago, which was an experience of a lifetime.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the bill H.R. 2595, a bill to convey a
12-acre parcel of land to Chatham County, Georgia, for public
recreational purposes. This transfer will be accomplished without cost
to the United States and for the benefit of the local citizens. The
amended bill addresses a few issues from the original bill and should
be supported by the House.
The land that would be transferred under this bill is not needed by
the Corps of Engineers to carry out the purposes of the federally
authorized project. The bill includes requirements to provide the
Secretary of the Army rights of entry or easements so that the Corps
can operate the project without hindrance.
Chatham County is responsible for all of the administrative costs of
the land conveyance. In addition, the United States is protected from
any environmental liability that may arise after the conveyance.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the land that is being conveyed to the
county will be exchanged for another parcel of land. The bill before us
stipulates that the exchanged parcel will be kept in public ownership
and used for public recreational purposes. The exchange will also be
conducted on an equal-value basis. I urge an ``aye'' vote on this bill.
{time} 1830
Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would notify the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr.
Clement) that I am sorry that I missed their performance on the Grand
Old Opry; maybe on the return trip.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R.
2595, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Army to transfer land to
Chatham County, GA, to enhance recreation opportunities in that locale.
The land transfer authorized under this bill is similar to transfers
that our committee often approves as part of the Water Resources
Development Acts. However, the sponsor of this bill, Mr. Kingston, has
indicate that swift action is necessary in advance of next year's Water
Resources Development Act so that this project may proceed in a timely
manner.
The amended bill considered by the House today conforms the bill to
the typical terms and conditions associated with land transfers. The
revised language ensures that the transfer occurs at no cost to the
Federal taxpayer and at no loss to the U.S. Treasury. In addition, the
land will be maintained in public ownership for public benefit. If this
particular parcel of land is transferred by the county, the transfer
must be for lands or equal value, further protecting the interest of
the taxpayer. Finally, if the lands are put to use other than as
authorized by this bill, ownership of the lands will revert to the
United States. As is always done, the land transfer preserves for the
United States any easement or rights-of-way necessary to operate and
maintain the existing Federal project.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 2595.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Duncan). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2595, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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