PUBLIC LAW 106–330—OCT. 19, 2000 114 STAT. 1299

Public Law 106–330

106th Congress

An Act

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain administrative sites

for National Forest System lands in the State of Texas, to convey certain National

Forest System land to the New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades Center, and for

other purposes.

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 ‘‘Texas National Forests Improvement Act of 2000’’.

SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SITES, TEXAS NATIONAL

FOREST SYSTEM LANDS.

(a) AUTHORITY TO SELL OR EXCHANGE.—The Secretary of Agriculture may convey, by sale or exchange, under such terms and

conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, any and all right, title,

and interest of the United States in and to the following parcels

of National Forest System land (including improvements thereon)

located in the State of Texas:

(1) Davy Crockett National Forest, Trinity Ranger Quarters

#066310 (Tract K–2D), located at State Highway 94, Groveton,

Texas, consisting of approximately 3.0 acres, as depicted on

the map entitled ‘‘Trinity Ranger Quarters, Tract K–2D’’, dated

September 1, 1999.

(2) Davy Crockett National Forest quarters #066380 (Tract

K–604), located at 514 Devine Street, Groveton, Texas, consisting of approximately 0.5 acre, as depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Davy Crockett National Forest Quarters, Tract K–604’’,

dated September 1, 1999.

(3) Sabine National Forest quarters #055250 (Tract S–

1391), located at 706 Cartwright Drive, San Augustine, Texas,

consisting of approximately 0.5 acre, as depicted on the map

entitled ‘‘Sabine National Forest Quarters, Tract S–1391’’, dated

September 1, 1999.

(4) Sabine National Forest quarters #055400 (Tract S–

1389), located at 507 Planter Drive, San Augustine, Texas,

consisting of approximately 1.5 acres, as depicted on the map

entitled ‘‘Sabine National Forest Quarters, Tract S–1389’’, dated

September 1, 1999.

(5) Sabine National Forest quarters #077070 (Tract S–

1388), located at State Highway 87, Hemphill, Texas, consisting

of approximately 1.0 acre, as depicted on the map entitled

‘‘Sabine National Forest Quarters, Tract S–1388’’, dated September 1, 1999.

Texas National

Forests

Improvement Act

of 2000.

Oct. 19, 2000

[H.R. 4285]

114 STAT. 1300 PUBLIC LAW 106–330—OCT. 19, 2000

(6) Sabine National Forest quarters #077430 (Tract S–

1390), located at FM Road 944, Hemphill, Texas, consisting

of approximately 2.0 acres, as depicted on the map entitled

‘‘Sabine National Forest Quarters, Tract S–1390’’, dated September 1, 1999.

(7) Old Yellowpine Work Center site, within the Sabine

National Forest, consisting of approximately 1.0 acre, as

depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Old Yellowpine Work Center’’,

dated September 1, 1999.

(8) Yellowpine Work Center site, within the Sabine

National Forest, consisting of approximately 9.0 acres, as

depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Yellowpine Work Center’’, dated

September 1, 1999.

(9) Zavalla Work Center site, within the Angelina National

Forest, consisting of approximately 19.0 acres, as depicted on

the map entitled ‘‘Zavalla Work Center’’, dated September 1,

1999.

(b) AUTHORIZED CONSIDERATION.—As consideration for a

conveyance of land under subsection (a), the recipient of the land,

with the consent of the Secretary, may convey to the Secretary

other land, existing improvements, or improvements constructed

to specifications of the Secretary.

(c) APPLICABLE LAW.—Except as otherwise provided in this

section, any conveyance of land under subsection (a) shall be subject

to the laws and regulations applicable to the conveyance and

acquisition of land for the National Forest System.

(d) CASH EQUALIZATION.—Notwithstanding any other provision

of law, the Secretary may accept a cash equalization payment

in excess of 25 percent of the value of any parcel of land exchanged

under subsection (a).

(e) SOLICITATION OF OFFERS.—The Secretary may solicit offers

for the conveyance of land under this section on such terms and

conditions as the Secretary may prescribe. The Secretary may reject

any offer made under this section if the Secretary determines that

the offer is not adequate or not in the public interest.

SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF TEXAS NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND TO

NEW WAVERLY GULF COAST TRADES CENTER.

(a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORITY.—Subject to the terms and conditions specified in this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may

convey to the New Waverly Gulf Coast Trades Center (referred

to in this section as the ‘‘Center’’), all right, title, and interest

of the United States in and to a parcel of real property (including

improvements thereon) consisting of approximately 57 acres of land

located within the Sam Houston National Forest, Walker County,

Texas, as depicted on the map entitled ‘‘New Waverly Gulf Coast

Trades Center’’, dated September 15, 1999. A complete legal description of the property to be conveyed shall be available for public

inspection at an appropriate office of the Sam Houston National

Forest and in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service.

(b) CONSIDERATION.—

(1) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—As consideration for the conveyance authorized by this section, the Center shall pay to the

Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the

property, as determined by an appraisal acceptable to the Secretary and prepared in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal

PUBLIC LAW 106–330—OCT. 19, 2000 114 STAT. 1301

Standards for Federal Land Acquisition published by the

Department of Justice.

(2) APPRAISAL COST.—The Center shall pay the cost of

the appraisal of the property.

(3) TIME FOR PAYMENT.—The consideration determined

under paragraph (1) shall be paid, at the option of the Center—

(A) in full not later than 180 days after the date

of conveyance of the property; or

(B) in 7 equal annual installments commencing on

January 1 of the first year beginning after the conveyance

and annually thereafter until the total amount has been

paid.

(4) INTEREST.—Any payment due for the conveyance of

property under this section shall accrue interest, beginning

on the date of the conveyance, at an annual rate of 3 percent

on the unpaid balance.

(c) RELEASE.—Subject to compliance with all Federal environmental laws prior to conveyance, the Center, upon acquisition of

the property under this section, shall agree in writing to hold

the United States harmless from any and all claims to the property,

including all claims resulting from hazardous materials conveyed

on the lands.

(d) RIGHT OF REENTRY.—At any time before full payment is

made for the conveyance of the property under this section, the

conveyance shall be subject to a right of reentry in the United

States if the Secretary determines that—

(1) the Center has not complied with the requirements

of this section or the conditions prescribed by the Secretary

in the deed of conveyance; or

(2) the conveyed land is converted to a noneducational

or for profit use.

(e) ALTERNATIVE PROPERTY DISPOSAL AUTHORITY.—In the event

that the Center does not contract with the Secretary to acquire

the property described in this section within 18 months of the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary may dispose of

the property in the manner provided in section 2.

SEC. 4. DISPOSITION OF FUNDS.

(a) DEPOSIT IN SISK ACT FUND.—The Secretary shall deposit

the proceeds of a sale or exchange under this Act in the fund

established under Public Law 90–171 (16 U.S.C. 484a; commonly

known as the Sisk Act).

(b) USE OF PROCEEDS.—Funds deposited under subsection (a)

shall be available to the Secretary, without further appropriation,

for—

(1) the acquisition, construction, or improvement of

administrative facilities for units of the National Forest System

in the State of Texas; or

Deadline.

114 STAT. 1302 PUBLIC LAW 106–330—OCT. 19, 2000

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4285:

SENATE REPORTS: No. 106–447 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000):

July 27, considered and passed House.

Oct. 5, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

(2) the acquisition of lands or interests in lands in the

State of Texas.

Approved October 19, 2000.