[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 20, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S3371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself and Mr. Martinez):
  S. 934. A bill to amend the Florida National Forest Land Management 
Act of 2003 to authorize the conveyance of an additional tract of 
National Forest System land under that Act, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce 
legislation that helps the U.S. Forest Service to protect sensitive and 
precious forest by selling developed land in Leon County, FL, in order 
to purchase at-risk land in the heart of our national forests.
  Specifically, this bill allows for the sale of tract W-1979, which is 
114 acres in Tallahassee, the proceeds of which are specifically 
designated to purchase private inholdings in the Apalachicola National 
Forest. The Forest Service believes that W-1979 has lost its national 
forest character and is unmanageable; the land will be sold to Leon 
County, where it will help the continued advancement of Blueprint 2000, 
a series of community initiatives to improve Tallahassee and Leon 
County. By selling this land on the outskirt of the Apalachicola 
National Forest, the Forest Service can acquire precious land in the 
heart of the forest that could be lost to development.
  This legislation also gives the U.S. Forest Service in Florida the 
same flexibility to manage lands and capital that many other states 
have. Previously, whenever National Forest land was sold, the funds 
could only be used to purchase more land, while many important 
infrastructure projects went undone. With passage of this bill, 
proceeds only from the sale of ``non-green'' lands can go towards 
capitol improvements, such as administrative facilities that help the 
Forest Service manage the Ocala, Apalachicola, and Osceola National 
Forests. These non-green lands have already been developed with urban 
improvements, and no longer align with the goals of the U.S. Forest 
Service.
  Congressman Crenshaw and Boyd have introduced similar legislation in 
the House of Representatives. I hope that we can quickly pass these 
bills and help Leon County and the Forest Service.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 934

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

     SECTION 1. CONVEYANCES UNDER FLORIDA NATIONAL FOREST LAND 
                   MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2003.

       (a) Additional Conveyance Authorized.--Subsection (b) of 
     section 3 of the Florida National Forest Land Management Act 
     of 2003 (Public Law 108-152; 117 Stat. 1919) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (17);
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (18) as paragraph (19);
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (17) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(18) tract W-1979, located in Leon County consisting of 
     approximately 114 acres, within T. 1 S., R. 1 W., sec. 25; 
     and''; and
       (4) in paragraph (19) (as redesignated by paragraph (2)), 
     by striking ``(17)'' and inserting ``(18)''.
       (b) Additional Use of Proceeds.--Paragraph (2) of 
     subsection (i) of such section (117 Stat. 1921) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) acquisition, construction, or maintenance of 
     administrative improvements for units of the National Forest 
     System in the State.''.
       (c) Limitations on Use of Proceeds.--Subsection (i) of such 
     section is further amended by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraphs:
       ``(3) Geographical and use restriction for certain 
     conveyance.--Notwithstanding paragraph (2), proceeds from the 
     sale or exchange of the tract described in subsection (b)(18) 
     shall be used exclusively for the purchase of inholdings in 
     the Apalachicola National Forest.
       ``(4) Restriction on use of proceeds for administrative 
     improvements.--Proceeds from any sale or exchange of land 
     under this Act may be used for administrative improvements, 
     as authorized by paragraph (2)(C), only if the land 
     generating the proceeds was improved with infrastructure.''.
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