[Pages H8282-H8283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST LAND CONVEYANCE ACT

Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2941) to provide for the conveyance of certain National
Forest System land within Kisatchie National Forest in the State of
Louisiana.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 2941

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 ``Kisatchie National Forest
Land Conveyance Act''.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF CONVEYANCES, KISATCHIE NATIONAL
FOREST, LOUISIANA.

(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 SW\1/
4\ 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.

SEC. 5. PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF LAND.

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).

SEC. 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.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Crawford) and the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.

General Leave

Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2941, the Kisatchie
National Forest Land Conveyance Act.
This measure introduced by our colleague, Mr. Abraham, authorizes the
USDA to sell specified Federal land in Winn Parish, Louisiana. The
rural residential qualities of the land make it incompatible with
National Forest management, and this transfer would eliminate
unnecessary administrative and boundary maintenance costs on the
already strained Forest Service.
The Kisatchie National Forest is rich in renewable wildlife
resources, and supporting wilderness habitat is vital to their
sustainability. This transfer, supported by the Forest Service, will
allow the forest to be managed at the highest level of stewardship.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2941, the Kisatchie National Forest Land
Conveyance Act.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2941 permits the sale of two isolated parcels of
Kisatchie National Forest land, totaling approximately 50 acres. These
parcels are isolated from the forest's core lands and are intermixed
with private land and residences, leaving it incompatible with the
National Forest management.
The proceeds from the sale of these parcels will be made available
for the acquisition of lands and interest in the Kisatchie National
Forest.
Under H.R. 2941, the Secretary of Agriculture is required to first
convey a portion of the land to Collins Camp Properties. Collins Camp
Properties must pay reasonable appraisal costs and costs of any
required administrative and environmental analysis.
H.R. 2941 allows the Kisatchie National Forest to consolidate
ownership of natural lands and continues the strong tradition of the
National Forest Service acting as stewards for the environment.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage
of H.R. 2941. I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for her support.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2941.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the

[[Page H8283]]

rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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