January 31, 2025
Mr. Crane introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.
Section 1. Conveyance of Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) County
The term County means Gila County, Arizona.
(2) Map
The term map means the map entitled Pleasant Valley Admin Site Proposal
and dated September 23, 2021.
(3) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(b) Conveyance required
Subject to this section, if the County submits to the Secretary a written request for conveyance of the property described in subsection (c) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the County all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the property described in subsection (c).
(c) Description of property
(1) In general
The property referred to in subsection (b) is the parcel of real property, including all land and improvements, generally depicted as Gila County Area
on the map, consisting of approximately 232.9 acres of National Forest System land located in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona.
(2) Map
(A) Minor errors
The Secretary may correct minor errors in the map.
(B) Availability
A copy of the map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service.
(3) Survey
The exact acreage and legal description of the National Forest System land to be conveyed under subsection (b) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
(d) Terms and conditions
The conveyance under subsection (b) shall be—
(1)
subject to valid existing rights;
(2)
made without consideration;
(3)
made by quitclaim deed; and
(4)
subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(e) Costs of conveyance
As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (b), the County shall pay all costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of—
(1)
a survey, if necessary, under subsection (c)(3);
(2)
any environmental analysis or resource survey required under Federal law; and
(3)
any analysis required to comply with division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (commonly referred to as the National Historic Preservation Act
).
(f) Environmental conditions
Notwithstanding section 120(h)(3)(A) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)(A)), the Secretary shall not be required to provide any covenant or warranty for the land and improvements conveyed to the County under subsection (b).
(g) Use of land
The land conveyed to the county under subsection (b) shall be used by the County only for the purposes of serving and supporting veterans of the Armed Forces.
(h) Reversion
If any land conveyed under subsection (b) is used in a manner that is inconsistent with the requirements of subsection (g), all right, title, and interest in and to the land shall revert to the United States, at the discretion of the Secretary.