I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 416

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 12, 1999

Referred to the Committee on Resources

AN ACT

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the city

of Sisters, Oregon, a certain parcel of land for use in

connection with a sewage treatment facility.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

2 Congress finds that—

3 (1) the city of Sisters, Oregon, faces a public

4 health threat from a major outbreak of infectious

5 diseases due to the lack of a sewer system;

6 (2) the lack of a sewer system also threatens

7 groundwater and surface water resources in the

8 area;

9 (3) the city is surrounded by Forest Service

10 land and has no reasonable access to non-Federal

11 parcels of land large enough, and with the proper

12 soil conditions, for the development of a sewage

13 treatment facility;

14 (4) the Forest Service currently must operate,

15 maintain, and replace 11 separate septic systems to

16 serve existing Forest Service facilities in the city of

17 Sisters; and

18 (5) the Forest Service currently administers 77

19 acres of land within the city limits that would in20 crease in value as a result of construction of a sewer

21 system.

22 SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE.

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable and upon

24 completion of any documents or analysis required by any

25 environmental law, but not later than 180 days after the

26 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture
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1 shall convey to the city of Sisters, Oregon, at no cost to

2 the city except the cost of preparation of any documents

3 required by any environmental law in connection with the

4 conveyance, an amount of land that is not more than is

5 reasonably necessary for a sewage treatment facility and

6 for the disposal of treated effluent consistent with sub7 section (c).

8 (b) LAND DESCRIPTION.—The amount of land con9 veyed under subsection (a) shall be not less than 160 acres

10 and not more than 240 acres from within—

11 (1) the SE quarter of section 09, township 15

12 south, range 10 west, W.M., Deschutes, Oregon, and

13 the portion of the SW quarter of section 09, town14 ship 15 south, range 10 west, W.M., Deschutes, Or15 egon, that lies east of Three Creeks Lake Road, but

16 not including the westernmost 500 feet of that por17 tion; and

18 (2) the portion of the SW quarter of section 09,

19 township 15 south, range 10 west, W.M., Deschutes

20 County, Oregon, lying easterly of Three Creeks Lake

21 Road.

22 (c) CONDITION.—The conveyance under subsection

23 (a) shall be made on the condition that the city agree to

24 conduct a public process before the final determination is
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1 made regarding land use for the disposition of treated ef2 fluent.

3 (d) USE OF LAND.—

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The land conveyed under

5 subsection (a) shall be used by the city for a sewage

6 treatment facility and for the disposal of treated ef7 fluent.

8 (2) OPTIONAL REVERTER.—If at any time the

9 land conveyed under subsection (a) ceases to be used

10 for a purpose described in paragraph (1), at the op11 tion of the United States, title to the land shall re12 vert to the United States.

13 (e) AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE LAND IN SUBSTI14 TUTION.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, the

15 Secretary shall acquire land within Oregon, and within or

16 in the vicinity of the Deschutes National Forest, of an

17 acreage equivalent to that of the land conveyed under sub18 section (a). Any lands acquired shall be added to and ad19 ministered as part of the Deschutes National Forest.

Passed the Senate July 1, 1999.

Attest: GARY SISCO,

Secretary.