Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act

Bill: 114-s-61
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-01-07
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees

Land transfers

Louisiana
Latest action: action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Hearings held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-01-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act</b></p> <p>Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to sell specified federal land in Winn Parish, Louisiana. Requires USDA to sell a portion of that land to Collins Camp Properties for the Collins Campsites.</p> <p>Requires sale proceeds to be used for the acquisition of lands and interests in the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. </p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 61 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 7, 2015 Mr. Vitter introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To provide for the conveyance of certain National Forest System land in the State of Louisiana.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act . 2. Finding Congress finds that it is in the public interest to authorize the conveyance of certain Federal land in the Kisatchie National Forest in the State of Louisiana for market value consideration. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Collins camp properties The term Collins Camp Properties means Collins Camp Properties, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (3) State The term State means the State of Louisiana. 4. Authorization of conveyances (a) Authorization (1) In general Subject to valid existing rights and subsection (b), the Secretary may convey the Federal land described in paragraph (2) by quitclaim deed at public or private sale, including competitive sale by auction, bid, or other methods. (2) Description of land The Federal land referred to in paragraph (1) consists of— (A) all Federal land within sec. 9, T. 10 N., R. 5 W., Winn Parish, Louisiana; and (B) a 2.16-acre parcel of Federal land located in the SW¼ of sec. 4, T. 10 N., R. 5 W., Winn Parish, Louisiana, as depicted on a certificate of survey dated March 7, 2007, by Glen L. Cannon, P.L.S. 4436. (b) First right of purchase Subject to valid existing rights and section 6, during the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, on the provision of consideration by the Collins Camp Properties to the Secretary, the Secretary shall convey, by quitclaim deed, to Collins Camp Properties all right, title and interest of the United States in and to— (1) not more than 47.92 acres of Federal land comprising the Collins Campsites within sec. 9, T. 10 N., R. 5 W., in Winn Parish, Louisiana, as generally depicted on a certificate of survey dated February 28, 2007, by Glen L. Cannon, P.L.S. 4436; and (2) the parcel of Federal land described in subsection (a)(2)(B). (c) Terms and conditions The Secretary may— (1) configure the Federal land to be conveyed under this Act— (A) to maximize the marketability of the conveyance; or (B) to achieve management objectives; and (2) establish any terms and conditions for the conveyances under this Act that the Secretary determines to be in the public interest. (d) Consideration Consideration for a conveyance of Federal land under this Act shall be— (1) in the form of cash; and (2) in an amount equal to the market value of the Federal land being conveyed, as determined under subsection (e). (e) Market value The market value of the Federal land conveyed under this Act shall be determined— (1) in the case of Federal land conveyed under subsection (b), by an appraisal that is— (A) conducted in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and (B) approved by the Secretary; or (2) if conveyed by a method other than the methods described in subsection (b), by competitive sale. (f) Hazardous substances (1) In general In any conveyance of Federal land under this Act, the Secretary shall meet disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, but shall otherwise not be required to remediate or abate the substances. (2) Effect Nothing in this section otherwise affects the application of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. ) to the conveyances of Federal land. 5. Proceeds from the sale of land (a) Deposit of receipts The Secretary shall deposit the proceeds of a conveyance of Federal land under section 4 in the fund established under Public Law 90–171 (commonly known as the Sisk Act ) ( 16 U.S.C. 484a ). (b) Use of funds Amounts deposited under subsection (a) shall be available to the Secretary until expended, without further appropriation, for the acquisition of land and interests in land in the Kisatchie National Forest in the State. 6. Administration (a) Costs As a condition of a conveyance of Federal land to Collins Camp Properties under section 4, the Secretary shall require Collins Camp Properties to pay at closing— (1) reasonable appraisal costs; and (2) the cost of any administrative and environmental analyses required by law (including regulations). (b) Permits (1) In general An offer by Collins Camp Properties for the acquisition of the Federal land under section 4 shall be accompanied by a written statement from each holder of a Forest Service special use authorization with respect to the Federal land that specifies that the holder agrees to relinquish the special use authorization on the conveyance of the Federal land to Collins Camp Properties. (2) Special use authorizations If any holder of a special use authorization described in paragraph (1) fails to provide a written authorization in accordance with that paragraph, the Secretary shall require, as a condition of the conveyance, that Collins Camp Properties administer the special use authorization according to the terms of the special use authorization until the date on which the special use authorization expires.