I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 194
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to make matching contributions toward
the purchase of the Sterling Forest in the State of New York, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 4, 1995
Mrs. ROUKEMA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to make matching
contributions toward the purchase of the Sterling Forest
in the State of New York, 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. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) there is a compelling Federal interest in
protecting the Sterling Forest areas of the States of
New York and New Jersey because of their histori-
cal and natural significance, including the Appalach-
ian Trail which runs through these areas; and
(2) the preservation of these areas is important
to preserving and maintaining the local ecosystem
and to protecting the purity of the water supply of
these areas.
SEC 2. MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD ACQUISITION
OF STERLING FOREST, NEW YORK.
(a) GENERAL
AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall
make a matching contribution to the Palisades Interstate
Park Commission for the acquisition of Sterling Forest
by the Commission, and interests in Sterling Forest by
the Secretary, in accordance with this section. The amount
of the matching contribution shall be one dollar of Federal
moneys for each dollar of non-Federal funds received by
the Commission from a non-Federal source and dedicated
to the acquisition of Sterling Forest. The total Federal
contribution 
under 
this 
section 
may 
not 
exceed
$25,000,000.
(b) ACQUISITION ON A WILLING SELLER BASIS.—
Federal funds may not be used pursuant to this section
to purchase any portion of Sterling Forest without the
consent of the owner thereof.
(c) INTERESTS ACQUIRED BY UNITED STATES.—The
acquisition of Sterling Forest pursuant to this section
shall reserve to the United States conservation easements
and rights of public access in and to Sterling Forest, as
determined by the Secretary, equivalent to conservation
easements held by the United States as described in sec-
tion 7(k)(2) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act
of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c(k)(2)).
(d) PROPERTY TAXES.—Nothing in this section shall
be construed to authorize the United States Government,
or relieve the Commission and the State of New York of
any obligation otherwise imposed under New York State
law, to pay property taxes or provide for the costs of stew-
ardship and management of any lands located in the State
of New York which may be acquired pursuant to this sec-
tion.
SEC. 3. NEW JERSEY PORTION OF STERLING FOREST.
(a) GENERAL
AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall
make a matching contribution to Passaic County, New
Jersey, toward the outstanding amount owed for the lands
described in subsection (b), as specified in the consent
judgment in the case of County of Passaic against MPS
Corporation, Sterling Forest Corporation and Sterling
Forest Development Corporation (Docket No. W–55820–
88) entered on September 1, 1993. The amount of the
matching contribution shall be one dollar of Federal mon-
eys for each dollar of non-Federal funds paid by Passaic
County, New Jersey, toward such outstanding amount.
(b) LANDS DESCRIBED.—The lands referred to in
subsection (a) are approximately 2,070 acres of lands con-
demned by Passaic County, New Jersey, on October 31,
1988, and the subject of the case referred to in subsection
(a).
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Sterling Forest’’ means the area
located in the New York portion of the New York-
New Jersey Highlands Region that comprises ap-
proximately 17,530 acres and is owned on the date
of enactment of this Act by the Sterling Forest Cor-
poration;
(2) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Pali-
sades Interstate Park Commission established by
interstate compact (Chapter 170 of the Laws of
1937 of the State of New York; Chapter 148 of the
Laws of 1937 of the State of New Jersey) and ap-
proved in 1937 by joint resolution of the Congress
(Chapter 706; 50 Stat. 719); and
(3) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of the Interior.
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