Port of Whitman Economic Expansion Act

Bill: 115-hr-5742
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2018-05-09
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers

Washington State

Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2018-05-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-05-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Port of Whitman Economic Expansion Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of the Army, upon the conveyance of a certain tract or tracts of land owned by the Port of Whitman County (a port district in Whitman County, Washington) to the United States, to convey to the Port of Whitman County approximately 288 acres of land in Whitman County within Tract D of Little Goose Lock and Dam. </p> <p>The bill makes the provisions concerning the transfer and screening of real property between departments of the Armed Forces before conveyance inapplicable to this conveyance. </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5742 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 9, 2018 Mrs. McMorris Rodgers introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To provide for a land exchange of Federal and non-Federal land in Whitman County, Washington.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Port of Whitman Economic Expansion Act . 2. Port of Whitman County (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Federal land The term Federal land means the approximately 288 acres of land situated in Whitman County, Washington, contained within Tract D of Little Goose Lock and Dam. (2) Non-Federal land The term non-Federal land means a tract or tracts of land owned by the Port of Whitman County, Washington, the fish and wildlife habitat value of which the Secretary of the Army determines, in coordination with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Secretary of the Interior acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to equal or exceed the fish and wildlife habitat value of the Federal land. (b) Land exchange On conveyance by the Port of Whitman County to the United States of all right, title, and interest in and to the non-Federal land, the Secretary of the Army shall convey to the Port of Whitman County all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land. (c) Deeds (1) Deed to non-Federal land The Secretary may only accept conveyance of the non-Federal land by warranty deed, as determined acceptable by the Secretary. (2) Deed to Federal land The Secretary shall convey the Federal land to the Port of Whitman County by quitclaim deed and subject to any reservations, terms, and conditions the Secretary determines necessary to allow the United States to operate and maintain the Lower Snake River Project and to protect the interests of the United States. (d) Cash payment If the appraised fair market value of the Federal land, as determined by the Secretary, exceeds the appraised fair market value of the non-Federal land, as determined by the Secretary, the Port of Whitman County shall make a cash payment to the United States reflecting the difference in the appraised fair market values. (e) Administrative expenses The Port of Whitman County shall be responsible for the administrative costs of the transaction in accordance with section 2695 of title 10, United States Code. (f) Liability The Port of Whitman County shall hold the United States harmless from any liability with respect to activities carried out on the Federal land on or after the date of the conveyance. (g) Applicability of real property screening provisions Section 2696 of title 10, United States Code, shall not apply to the conveyance of the Federal land under this section. (h) Survey To obtain legal description The exact acreage and legal description of the Federal land and non-Federal land shall be determined by a survey that is satisfactory to the Secretary.