H. R. 4285
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
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 Improve-
ment Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SITES, TEXAS NATIONAL
FOREST SYSTEM LANDS.
(a) AUTHORITY TO SELL OR EXCHANGE.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture 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, con-
sisting of approximately 0.5 acre, as depicted on the map enti-
tled ‘‘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 Sep-
tember 1, 1999.
H. R. 4285—2
(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 Sep-
tember 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 condi-
tions 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 descrip-
tion 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 convey-
ance 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 Sec-
retary and prepared in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal
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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 environ-
mental 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