[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 130 (Tuesday, September 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9516-H9517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LOUISIANA FOREST LAND CONVEYANCE

  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 940) to provide for the conveyance of National Forest System 
land in the State of Louisiana.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 940

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND DEFINITIONS.

       (a) Finding.--Congress finds it in the public interest to 
     authorize the sale of certain federally owned land in the 
     Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana for market value 
     consideration.
       (b)  Definitions.--As used in this Act:
       (1) The term ``Collins Camp Properties'' means Collins Camp 
     Properties, Incorporated, a corporation existing under the 
     laws of the State of Louisiana.
       (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
     Agriculture.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO SELL LAND.

       (a) Authorization.--Subject to valid existing rights and 
     subsection (b), the Secretary is authorized to sell by 
     quitclaim deed the following lands in the State of Louisiana 
     at public or private sale, including by competitive sale by 
     auction, bid or otherwise:
       (1) All federally owned lands within section 9, Township 10 
     North, Range 5 West, in Winn Parish, Louisiana.
       (2) A parcel of land consisting of 2.16 acres situated in 
     the SW\1/4\ of section 4, Township 10 North, Range 5 West, 
     Winn Parish, Louisiana, as more specifically depicted on a 
     certificate of survey dated March 7, 2007, by Glen L. Cannon, 
     P.L.S. 4436.
       (b) First Right of Purchase.--Subject to valid existing 
     rights and the provisions of section 4, for a period of one 
     year after the date of enactment of this Act, upon tender of 
     consideration from the Collins Camp Properties, the Secretary 
     shall sell and quitclaim to said corporation all right, title 
     and interest of the United States in--
       (1) up to 47.92 acres within section 9, Township 10 North, 
     Range 5 West, in Winn Parish, Louisiana, as generally 
     depicted on a certificate of survey dated February 28, 2007, 
     by Glen L. Cannon, P.L.S. 4436, said land comprising the 
     Collins Campsites; and
       (2) the 2.16 acres described in subsection (a)(2).
       (c) Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may configure the 
     lands to maximize marketability or achieve management 
     objectives, and may prescribe such terms and conditions on 
     the land sales authorized by this Act as the Secretary deems 
     in the public interest.
       (d) Consideration.--Land sales authorized by this Act shall 
     be for cash consideration equal to the market value of the 
     land.
       (e) Market Value.--The market value of the land sold under 
     this Act shall be as determined by an appraisal approved by 
     the Secretary and done in conformity with the Uniform 
     Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; or, if 
     sold by means other than that provided in subsection (b), 
     market value may be determined by competitive sale.
       (f) Hazardous Substances.--(1) In any disposal of lands 
     authorized by this Act, the Secretary shall meet disclosure 
     requirements for hazardous substances, but shall otherwise 
     not be required to remediate or abate those substances.
       (2) Nothing in this section shall otherwise affect the 
     application of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
     Compensation and Liability Act (``CERCLA'', 42 U.S.C. 9601, 
     and following) to conveyances of lands out of Federal 
     ownership.

     SEC. 3. PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF LAND.

       (a) Deposit of Receipts.--The consideration received by the 
     Secretary for the sale of land under this Act shall be 
     deposited into the account in the Treasury of the United 
     States established by Public Law 90-171 (commonly known as 
     the Sisk Act; 16 U.S.C. 484a).
       (b) Use of Funds.--Monies deposited pursuant to subsection 
     (a) shall be available to the Secretary until expended, 
     without further appropriation, for the acquisition of lands 
     and interests in land in the Kisatchie National Forest in 
     Louisiana.

     SEC. 4. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

       (a) Costs.--The Secretary shall require the Collins Camp 
     Properties to pay at closing the reasonable costs of 
     appraisal and any administrative and environmental analyses 
     required by law or regulation.
       (b) Permits.--An offer by Collins Camp Properties shall be 
     accompanied by written statements from holders of Forest 
     Service special use authorizations agreeing to relinquish 
     their authorizations upon a sale to Collins Camp Properties. 
     For any holder not providing such written authorization, the 
     Secretary shall require the Collins Camp Properties to 
     administer such authorization according to its terms until 
     the date of expiration.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 940 was introduced by Congressman Rodney Alexander of Louisiana. 
This bill would authorize the Forest Service to sell certain 
residential parcels of land in the Kisatchie National Forest, located 
in Winn Parish, Louisiana. The total land sold would be just over 50 
acres, and a local nonprofit group already living in residence on the 
site would have the right of first refusal to purchase the land at fair 
market value. H.R. 940 has the bipartisan support of all seven members 
of the Louisiana congressional delegation as well as the support of the 
U.S. Forest Service, and I urge its passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 940, a bill which gives the Secretary of 
Agriculture the authority to sell 50 acres of national forest land 
along the Lower Saline Lake in the State of Louisiana. The bill, 
drafted with the assistance and support of the Forest Service, gives 
the first option to purchase this tract to a group of residents who 
already own cabins on the land.
  The sale of 50 acres relieves the Forest Service from the burden of 
performing maintenance and cleanup of the land and gives the task to 
private citizens who are ready and willing to assume this 
responsibility. CBO has scored this bill, and it will not have a cost 
for the taxpayers. The purchaser of the land will be responsible for 
all costs and fees associated with the transaction, further ensuring 
that the taxpayers will not be forced to pay for this legislation. This 
bill passed out of

[[Page H9517]]

the House Agriculture Committee unanimously, and I urge my colleagues 
to support this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Alexander) for whatever time he may consume.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Thank you for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I want to 
thank the ranking member, the chairman and the members of the committee 
for passing this important piece of legislation. The entire Louisiana 
delegation are cosponsors of this. The National Forest Service is in 
support of it. In fact, they provided the language that is in this 
bill. As it's been said, CBO has scored it as zero. From the sale of 
this land, the proceeds will go back to the National Forest Service for 
money that they have spent over the years, providing maintenance for 
this 50 acres of land that will be sold to this not-for-profit group.
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, the minority has no further speakers; 
therefore, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 940.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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