I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4285
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.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 13, 2000
Mr. TURNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
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 Representa-
tives 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 1999’’.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SITES, TEXAS
NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS.
(a) AUTHORITY TO SELL OR EXCHANGE.—The Sec-
retary 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) lo-
cated 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 en-
titled ‘‘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 Na-
tional Forest Quarters, Tract S–1389’’, dated Sep-
tember 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 Na-
tional Forest Quarters, Tract S–1388’’, dated Sep-
tember 1, 1999.
(6) Sabine National Forest quarters #077430
(Tract S–1390), located at FM Road 944, Hemphill,
Texas, consisting of approximately 2.0 acres, as de-
picted 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 approxi-
mately 19.0 acres, as depicted on the map entitled
‘‘Zavalla Work Center’’, dated September 1, 1999.
(b) AUTHORIZED
CONSIDERATION.—As consider-
ation 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 improve-
ments, 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 pre-
by an appraisal acceptable to the Secretary and pre-
pared in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal
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 com-
mencing on January 1 of the first year begin-
ning after the conveyance and annually there-
after until the total amount has been paid.
(4) INTEREST.—Any payment due for the con-
veyance 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 Fed-
eral 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 re-
quirements of this section or the conditions pre-
scribed by the Secretary in the deed of conveyance;
or
(2) the conveyed land is converted to a nonedu-
cational or for profit use.
(e) ALTERNATIVE PROPERTY DISPOSAL AUTHOR-
ITY.—In the event that the Center does not contract with
the Secretary to acquire the property described in this sec-
tion 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 sub-
section (a) shall be available to the Secretary, without fur-
ther appropriation, for—
(1) the acquisition, construction, or improve-
ment of administrative facilities for units of the
National Forest System in the State of Texas; or
(2) the acquisition of lands or interests in lands
in the State of Texas.
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