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“AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVEY LANDS TO THE CITY OF ROLLA, MO” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H8304-H8306 on Aug. 2, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVEY LANDS TO THE CITY OF
ROLLA, MO
Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up the bill
(H.R. 701) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey lands to the city of Rolla, MO, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
Mr. STENHOLM. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I shall not object, but I yield to the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Emerson] for an explanation of the bill.
(Mr. EMERSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding under his reservation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this measure, H.R. 701, which is vital to the rural economic development efforts of southern Missouri. This legislation will authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture to convey land within the Mark Twain National Forest to the city and citizens of Rolla, MO. This same bill was approved by the full House in the 103d Congress; however, procedural obstacles in the U.S. Senate on the last day of the 2d session, unrelated to the merits of this legislation, blocked further consideration and eventual passage.
The city of Rolla has been diligent in its plan to utilize the U.S. Forest Service's district ranger office site in the development and construction of a regional tourist center. I feel its important to note that tourism is the second largest industry in Missouri and this tourist center has already attracted great interest along with injecting needed dollars into the regional Rolla economy.
Clearly, this project is a prime example of a local community exercising its own rural development plan for local expansion and job creation. In these times of reduced Federal support for rural community-based economic enterprises, the city of Rolla is a shining example and model of both involvement and initiative that other communities around the country can clearly emulate.
For over a year now, the city of Rolla has been collecting a 3-
percent tax on local hotels in the attempt to finance this project independent of any assistance from the Federal Government. Indeed, this land transfer arrangement is a very unique partnership for both Rolla and the Mark Twain National Forest. Several of Missouri's proud historical landmarks, which are important elements of this site, will be maintained and preserved for current and future generations through the efforts of the city of Rolla--at a substantially reduced cost to State and Federal taxpayers.
This is particularly important to bear in mind, since this facility would have no further commercial viability without the direct involvement of the city of Rolla. So now, two worthy goals can be achieved--economic development and historical preservation. Indeed, there are other facilities that would serve the city's need for a tourist center, but the local community and its leaders have had the vision to realize this is a prime opportunity to help themselves and relieve Federal taxpayers from the burden of maintaining these Forest Service buildings and related facilities within the city of Rolla.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the leadership efforts of the Mark Twain National Forest and the city of Rolla. I urge the expeditious approval of this measure in order that the citizens of Rolla can get on with the business of economic development and job creation.
Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 701, a bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey lands to the city of Rolla, MO. H.R. 701 is nearly identical to H.R. 3426 that was introduced in the 103d Congress by Congressman Emerson. H.R. 3426 was passed by unanimous consent in the House after being discharged by the Agriculture Committee at the very end of the session. The Senate took no action on the bill before adjournment.
H.R. 701 authorizes the city of Rolla to pay fair market value for the lands described by the bill. The city may pay for the land in full within 6 months of conveyance or, at the option of the city, pay for land in annual payments over 20 years with no interest. If the 20-year option is taken, the payments must be put in a Sisk Act Fund where they will be available, subject to appropriation, until expended by the Secretary. The bill also releases the U.S. Forest Service from liability due to hazardous wastes found on the property that were not identified prior to conveyance and requires the preservation of historic resource on the property.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
H.R. 701
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, ROLLA RANGER DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATIVE SITE, ROLLA, MISSOURI.
(a) Conveyance Authorized.--Subject to the terms and conditions specified in this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may sell to the city of Rolla, Missouri (in this section referred to as the ``City''), all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the following: The property identified as the Rolla Ranger District Administrative Site of the Forest Service located in Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri, encompassing ten acres more or less, the conveyance of which by C.D. and Oma A. Hazlewood to the United States was recorded on May 6, 1936, in book 104, page 286 of the Record of Deeds of Phelps County, Missouri.
(b) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance under subsection (a), the City shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the property as determined by an appraisal acceptable to the Secretary and prepared in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition as published by the Department of Justice. Payment shall be due in full within six months after the date the conveyance is made or, at the option of the City, in twenty equal annual installments commencing on January 1 of the first year following the conveyance and annually thereafter until the total amount due has been paid.
(c) Deposit of Funds Received.--Funds received by the Secretary under subsection (b) as consideration for the conveyance shall be deposited into the special fund in the Treasury authorized by the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 484a, commonly known as the Sisk Act). Such funds shall be available, subject to appropriation, until expended by the Secretary.
(d) Release.--Subject to compliance with all Federal environmental laws prior to transfer, the City, upon conveyance of the property under subsection (a), shall agree in writing to hold the United States harmless from any and all claims relating to the property, including all claims resulting from hazardous materials on the conveyed lands.
(e) Reversion.--The conveyance under subsection (a) shall be made by quitclaim deed in fee simple subject to reversion to the United States and right of reentry upon such conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary in the deed of conveyance or in the event the City fails to comply with the compensation requirements specified in subsection (b).
(f) Conversion of Historic Resources.--In consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office of the State of Missouri, the Secretary shall ensure that the historic resources on the property to be conveyed are conserved by requiring, at the closing on the conveyance of the property, that the City convey an historic preservation easement to the State of Missouri assuring the right of the State to enter the property for historic preservation purposes. The historic preservation easement shall be negotiated between the State of Missouri and the City, and the conveyance of the easement shall be a condition to the conveyance authorized under subsection (a). The protection of the historic resources on the conveyed property shall be the responsibility of the State of Missouri and the City, and not that of the Secretary.
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute,
The Clerk read as follows:
Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. LAND CONVEYANCE, ROLLA RANGER DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATIVE SITE, ROLLA, MISSOURI.
(a) Conveyance Authorized.--Subject to the terms and conditions specified in this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may sell to the city of Rolla, Missouri (in this section referred to as the ``City''), all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the following:
The property identified as the Rolla Ranger District Administrative Site of the Forest Service located in Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri, encompassing ten acres more or less, the conveyance of which by C.D. and Oma A. Hazlewood to the United States was recorded on May 6, 1936, in book 104, page 286 of the Record of Deeds of Phelps County, Missouri.
(b) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance under subsection (a), the City shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the property as determined by an appraisal acceptable to the Secretary and prepared in accordance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition as published by the Department of Justice. Payment shall be due in full within six months after the date the conveyance is made or, at the option of the City, in twenty equal annual installments commencing on January 1 of the first year following the conveyance and annually thereafter until the total amount due has been paid.
(c) Deposit of Funds Received.--Funds received by the Secretary under subsection (b) as consideration for the conveyance shall be deposited into the special fund in the Treasury authorized by the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 484a, commonly known as the Sisk Act). Such funds shall be available, subject to appropriation, until expended by the Secretary.
(d) Release.--Subject to compliance with all Federal environmental laws prior to transfer, the City, upon conveyance of the property under subsection (a), shall agree in writing to hold the United States harmless from any and all claims relating to the property, including all claims resulting from hazardous materials on the conveyed lands.
(e) Right of Reentry.--The conveyance to the City under subsection (a) shall be made by quitclaim deed in fee simple, subject to the right of reentry to the United States if the Secretary determines that the City is not in compliance with the compensation requirements specified in subsection (b) or other condition prescribed by the Secretary in the deed of conveyance.
(f) Conservation of Historic Resources.--In consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office of the State of Missouri, the Secretary shall ensure that the historic resources on the property to be conveyed are conserved by requiring, at the closing on the conveyance of the property, that the City convey an historic preservation easement to the State of Missouri assuring the right of the State to enter the property for historic preservation purposes. The historic preservation easement shall be negotiated between the State of Missouri and the City, and the conveyance of the easement shall be a condition to the conveyance authorized under subsection (a). The protection of the historic resources on the conveyed property shall be the responsibility of the State of Missouri and the City, and not that of the Secretary.
Mr. EMERSON (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as read and printed in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection
Mr. SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
The Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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