Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute Land Conveyance Act

Bill: 110-s-3179
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2008-06-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Environmental Protection
Hazardous wastes
Health
Land transfers
Law
Liability for environmental damages
Medical research
Military bases
New Mexico
Research centers
Respiratory diseases
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: 
Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute Land Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to convey specified land identified as Parcel A (including any improvements) to the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in New Mexico only for research, scientific, or educational use. 

Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Air Force to complete any real property actions, including the revocation of any federal withdrawals of Parcels A and B, that are necessary to allow the Secretary to convey Parcel A or to transfer administrative jurisdiction over Parcel B to the Secretary of the Air Force.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to retain ownership and control of: (1) portions of the utility system and infrastructure on Parcel A; and (2) rights of access determined to be necessary to operate and maintain the utilities on such parcel. 

Requires the Institute to pay or reimburse costs incurred in the conveyance of Parcel A, including related survey costs. 

Instructs the Institute to take fee title to Parcel A and any improvements, as contaminated. Makes the Institute responsible for completing all environmental remediation required with respect to such parcel for all environmental conditions related to or arising from contamination.

Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide the Institute with: (1) access for employees and invitees of the Institute across Kirtland Air Force Base to Parcel A; and (2) access to utility services for such parcel.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to arrange and pay for the removal of any improvements made to Parcel B. 

action_date: 2008-09-16
text: 
Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute Land Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to convey specified land identified as Parcel A (including any improvements) to the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in New Mexico only for research, scientific, or educational use. 

Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Air Force to complete any real property actions, including the revocation of any federal withdrawals of Parcels A and B, that are necessary to allow the Secretary to convey Parcel A or to transfer administrative jurisdiction over Parcel B to the Secretary of the Air Force.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to retain ownership and control of: (1) portions of the utility system and infrastructure on Parcel A; and (2) rights of access determined to be necessary to operate and maintain the utilities on such parcel. 

Requires the Institute to pay or reimburse costs incurred in the conveyance of Parcel A, including related survey costs. 

Instructs the Institute to take fee title to Parcel A and any improvements, as contaminated. Makes the Institute responsible for completing all environmental remediation required with respect to such parcel for all environmental conditions related to or arising from contamination. 
 
Requires the Institute to indemnify the United States for: (1) any environmental remediation or response costs the United States reasonably incurs if the Institute fails to remediate Parcel A or for contamination at, in, under, from, or on the land for all environmental conditions related to or arising from contamination; (2) indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the United States from any damages, expenses, liabilities, penalties, claim, or demand for loss, including injury or death, resulting from releases, storage, or disposal, or any other acts or omissions by the Institute arising from activities conducted on such parcel on or after October 1, 1996; and (3) reimburse the United States for legal and attorney fees and expenses incurred in association with the defense of any claims described in clause 2. 
 
Makes the Secretary of Energy responsible for conducting any necessary environmental remediation or response actions with respect to Parcel A if the Institute does not complete the environmental remediation required by this Act.

Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide the Institute with: (1) access for employees and invitees of the Institute across Kirtland Air Force Base to Parcel A; and (2) access to utility services for such parcel. 

Requires the Secretary of Energy to arrange and pay for the removal of any improvements made to Parcel B. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1004.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-572.
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Introduced in Senate