Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Expansion Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6944
Sponsor: Rep. Weller, Jerry [R-IL-11]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
First responders and emergency personnel
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Illinois
Land transfers
Law enforcement officers
Military facilities and property
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Railroads
Roads and highways
Sports and recreation facilities
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Expansion Act of 2008 - Transfers administrative jurisdiction over the Joliet Training Area (JTA) from the Secretary of the Army to the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a specified parcel of land to Will County, Illinois. Requires the deed for such land to contain restrictive covenants enforceable by such Secretary for the benefit of the appurtenant federal lands and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. 

Requires the conveyed lands to only be used for: (1) parks and recreation; (2) firing ranges for small arms; (3) office and training facilities for fire fighters, police, and emergency personnel; (4) public safety facilities (but not for incarceration); and (5) offices for county and municipal governments. Prohibits the use of such lands for industrial or commercial purposes. 

Provides for environmental remediation of the lands conveyed to the county. 

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to CenterPoint Properties, LLC, an easement to specified lands to permit the construction of roads and railroads for access to appurtenant properties. 

Provides for certain cash payments.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Army to provide a preliminary assessment/site inspection to the Secretary of Agriculture for the lands comprising the JTA and to develop plans for remediation of the recognized environmental conditions identified by the preliminary assessment/site inspection.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
action_date: 2008-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House