[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S9026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          ALBUQUERQUE BIOLOGICAL PARK TITLE CLARIFICATION ACT

  The bill (S. 229) to clear title to certain real property in New 
Mexico associated with the Middle Rio Grande Project, and for other 
purposes, was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 229

       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 ``Albuquerque Biological Park 
     Title Clarification Act''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to direct the Secretary of the 
     Interior to issue a quitclaim deed conveying any right, 
     title, and interest the United States may have in and to 
     Tingley Beach or San Gabriel Park to the City, thereby 
     removing the cloud on the City's title to these lands.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) City.--The term ``City'' means the City of Albuquerque, 
     New Mexico.
       (2) Middle rio grande conservancy district.--The terms 
     ``Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District'' and ``MRGCD'' mean 
     a political subdivision of the State of New Mexico, created 
     in 1925 to provide and maintain flood protection and 
     drainage, and maintenance of ditches, canals, and 
     distribution systems for irrigation and water delivery and 
     operations in the Middle Rio Grande Valley.
       (3) Middle rio grande project.--The term ``Middle Rio 
     Grande Project'' means the works associated with water 
     deliveries and operations in the Rio Grande basin as 
     authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1948 (Public Law 80-
     858; 62 Stat. 1175) and the Flood Control Act of 1950 (Public 
     Law 81-516; 64 Stat. 170).
       (4) San gabriel park.--The term ``San Gabriel Park'' means 
     the tract of land containing 40.2236 acres, more or less, 
     situated within Section 12 and Section 13, T10N, R2E, 
     N.M.P.M., City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, 
     and described by New Mexico State Plane Grid Bearings 
     (Central Zone) and ground distances in a Special Warranty 
     Deed conveying the property from MRGCD to the City, dated 
     November 25, 1997.
       (5) Tingley beach.--The term ``Tingley Beach'' means the 
     tract of land containing 25.2005 acres, more or less, 
     situated within Section 13 and Section 24, T10N, R2E, 
     N.M.P.M., City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, 
     and described by New Mexico State Plane Grid Bearings 
     (Central Zone) and ground distances in a Special Warranty 
     Deed conveying the property from MRGCD to the City, dated 
     November 25, 1997.

     SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF PROPERTY INTEREST.

       (a) Required Action.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     issue a quitclaim deed conveying any right, title, and 
     interest the United States may have in and to Tingley Beach 
     and San Gabriel Park to the City.
       (b) Timing.--The Secretary shall carry out the action in 
     subsection (a) as soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this title and in accordance with all applicable 
     law.
       (c) No Additional Payment.--The City shall not be required 
     to pay any additional costs to the United States for the 
     value of San Gabriel Park and Tingley Beach.

     SEC. 5. OTHER RIGHTS, TITLE, AND INTERESTS UNAFFECTED.

       (a) In General.--Except as expressly provided in section 4, 
     nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect any right, 
     title, or interest in and to any land associated with the 
     Middle Rio Grande Project.
       (b) Ongoing Litigation.--Nothing contained in this Act 
     shall be construed or utilized to affect or otherwise 
     interfere with any position set forth by any party in the 
     lawsuit pending before the United States District Court for 
     the District of New Mexico, No. CV 99-1320 JP/RLP-ACE, 
     entitled Rio Grande Silvery Minnow v. John W. Keys, III, 
     concerning the right, title, or interest in and to any 
     property associated with the Middle Rio Grande Project.

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