A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.
A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.
Plain Language Summary
# S 700 Summary: Pleasant Valley Ranger District Transfer to Gila County **What the Bill Does:** This bill would transfer approximately 233 acres of federal forest land in Arizona's Tonto National Forest to Gila County at no cost. The land, currently managed by the U.S. Forest Service, would be conveyed through a simple deed transfer without any payment required from the county.
However, the county must cover all costs associated with the transfer process itself. **Key Conditions and Who It Affects:** The main requirement is that Gila County must use the land exclusively to serve and support veterans. If the county ever stops using the property for this purpose, ownership automatically reverts back to the federal government. The Forest Service would have no obligation to guarantee the condition of the land or make any repairs—the county accepts it "as-is." This primarily affects Gila County, Arizona, and veterans in that region who could potentially benefit from facilities or services built on the property. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
This bill directs the Forest Service to convey specified property to Gila County, Arizona, upon the county's submission of a written request for such conveyance. The property, identified as the Gila County Area, consists of approximately 232.9 acres of National Forest System land located in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona.The county must use the land for the purposes of serving and supporting veterans. If any land conveyed under this bill ceases to be used for such purpose, all right, title, and interest in and to the land shall revert to the United States, at the discretion of the Forest Service.The conveyance must be made with a quitclaim deed and without consideration (value, such as payment, provided in exchange for the property).The Forest Service must not be required to provide any covenant or warranty for the land and improvements conveyed to the county under such conveyance.As a condition of the conveyance, the county must pay all the costs associated with the conveyance, including any (1) surveys, (2) environmental analysis or resource survey required under federal law, and (3) analysis required to comply with certain provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Latest Action
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.