[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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