[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2440 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 216
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2440
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National
Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 24, 2025
Mrs. Hyde-Smith introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
October 27, 2025
Reported by Mr. Boozman, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National
Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. OKHISSA LAKE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAND
CONVEYANCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Alliance.--The term ``Alliance'' means the
Scenic Rivers Development Alliance.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Request.--Subject to the requirements of this section,
if the Alliance submits a written request for conveyance by not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and the Secretary
determines that it is in the public interest to convey the National
Forest System land described in subsection (c), the Secretary shall
convey to the Alliance all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the National Forest System land described in
subsection (c) by quitclaim deed through a public or private sale,
including a competitive sale by auction or bid.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Description of National Forest System Land.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the
National Forest System land referred to in subsection (b) is--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the approximately 137.7 acres of real
property located in secs. 5 and 6, T. 5 N., R. 4 E.,
and sec. 31, T. 6 N., R. 4 E., Franklin County,
Mississippi, as depicted on the map prepared for the
Alliance by Marling Surveying, LLC, entitled ``Map of
Survey of a 137.70 Acre Tract, a Portion of U.S.
Department of Agriculture Forest Service Homochitto
National Forest Tracts H-41g & H-307'', and dated
September 16, 2024; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the approximately 173 acres of real
property located in secs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, T. 5 N., R. 4
E., Franklin County, Mississippi, as depicted on the
map prepared for the Alliance by Marling Surveying,
LLC, entitled ``Map of Survey of a +/- 173 Acre Tract,
a Portion of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest
Service Homochitto National Forest Tracts H-1, H-3b, H-
41g & H-307'', and dated September 16, 2024.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal
description of the National Forest System land to be conveyed
under this section shall be determined by a survey satisfactory
to the Secretary.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Consideration.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The consideration for the
conveyance of any National Forest System land under this
section shall be--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) provided in the form of cash;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in an amount equal to the fair market
value of the National Forest System land being
conveyed, as determined under paragraph (2).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Fair market value determination.--The fair
market value of the National Forest System land conveyed under
this section shall be determined--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in the case of a method of conveyance
described in subsection (b), by an appraisal that is--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) conducted in accordance with
the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal
Land Acquisitions; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) approved by the Secretary;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in the case of a conveyance by a
method other than a method described in subsection (b),
by competitive sale.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under this
section shall be subject to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) valid existing rights; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) such other terms and conditions as the
Secretary considers to be appropriate to protect the interests
of the United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Proceeds From Sale.--The Secretary shall deposit the
proceeds of the conveyance of any National Forest System land under
this section in the fund established under Public Law 90-171 (commonly
known as the ``Sisk Act'') (16 U.S.C. 484a).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Costs.--As a condition for the conveyance under this
section, the Secretary shall require the Alliance to pay at closing--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) any reasonable appraisal costs; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the costs of any administrative or
environmental analysis required by applicable law (including
regulations).</DELETED>
SECTION 1. OKHISSA LAKE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAND CONVEYANCE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Alliance.--The term ``Alliance'' means the Scenic
Rivers Development Alliance, an instrumentality of the State of
Mississippi.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(b) Conveyance.--Subject to the requirements of this section, not
later than 180 days after the completion of the appraisal under
subsection (d)(2) and the written agreement under subsection (e)(2),
the Secretary shall convey by quitclaim deed to the Alliance all right,
title, and interest of the United States in and to the surface estate
of the National Forest System land generally described in subsection
(c).
(c) Land to Be Conveyed.--
(1) In general.--The National Forest System land referred
to in subsection (b) is--
(A) the approximately 137.7 acres of real property
located in secs. 5 and 6, T. 5 N., R. 4 E., and sec.
31, T. 6 N., R. 4 E., Franklin County, Mississippi, as
depicted on the map prepared for the Alliance by
Marling Surveying, LLC, entitled ``Map of Survey of a
137.70 Acre Tract, a Portion of U.S. Department of
Agriculture Forest Service Homochitto National Forest
Tracts H-41g & H-307'', and dated September 16, 2024;
and
(B) the approximately 173 acres of real property
located in secs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, T. 5 N., R. 4 E.,
Franklin County, Mississippi, as depicted on the map
prepared for the Alliance by Marling Surveying, LLC,
entitled ``Map of Survey of a +/- 173 Acre Tract, a
Portion of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest
Service Homochitto National Forest Tracts H-1, H-3b, H-
41g & H-307'', and dated September 16, 2024.
(2) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the
National Forest System land to be conveyed under this section
shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
(d) Consideration.--The consideration for the conveyance of any
National Forest System land under this section shall be--
(1) provided in the form of cash; and
(2) in an amount equal to the fair market value of the
National Forest System land being conveyed, as determined by an
appraisal conducted in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal
Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and approved by the
Secretary.
(e) Terms and Conditions.--The conveyance under this section shall
be subject to--
(1) valid existing rights;
(2) a written agreement entered into between the Secretary
and the Alliance, under which the Alliance--
(A) agrees to cover the costs of upkeep and
maintenance of the Okhissa Lake Dam, including the dam,
spillway, and related water control facilities; and
(B) assumes responsibility and liability for
compliance with all Federal and State dam safety laws
and regulations;
(3) the reservations in the United States of easements for
public roads and trails, including--
(A) a perpetual, nonexclusive road right-of-way 30
feet in width for ingress and egress over all portions
of Forest Service Road 149A within any of the conveyed
land; and
(B) such road and trail rights-of-way as the
Secretary may determine to be necessary or desirable to
retain public and administrative access to Okhissa Lake
and appurtenant National Forest System land;
(4) the reservation in the United States of all mineral
rights, oil and gas rights, and all other subsurface rights in
the conveyed land;
(5) a right of re-entry reserving to the Secretary the
right to retake possession and title to the conveyed land in
the event the land is subsequently conveyed to a nonpublic
entity or used for purposes other than public recreation and
fish and wildlife habitat, subject to the condition that, in
the event the Secretary exercises such a right of re-entry, the
Alliance shall remain liable for the abatement and clean-up of
hazardous substances, oil, and any other contaminants;
(6) a restrictive covenant against the subdivision of the
conveyed land into residential lots; and
(7) such other terms and conditions as the Secretary
considers to be appropriate to protect the interests of the
United States.
(f) Proceeds From Sale.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall deposit the proceeds
of the conveyance of any National Forest System land under this
section in the fund established under Public Law 90-171
(commonly known as the ``Sisk Act'') (16 U.S.C. 484a).
(2) Use of funds.--Amounts deposited under paragraph (1)
shall remain available until expended, without further
appropriation, for the acquisition of land and interests in
land for the National Forest System.
(g) Costs.--As a condition for the conveyance under this section,
the Secretary shall require the Alliance to pay at closing any
reasonable appraisal, survey, and closing costs.
(h) Environmental Laws.--The Secretary shall not be required to
comply with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.) or any other applicable environmental law in carrying out the
conveyance under this section.
(i) Hazardous Materials.--For purposes of the conveyance under this
section, the Secretary--
(1) shall meet disclosure requirements for hazardous
substances, pollutants, or contaminants under section 120(h) of
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)); and
(2) shall not otherwise be required to remediate or abate
those hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.
Calendar No. 216
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2440
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National
Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 27, 2025
Reported with an amendment