To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.
Summary
HB837 requires the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, to convey a specified parcel of National Forest System land in the Tonto National Forest to Gila County, Arizona, if the county submits a written request within 180 days of enactment. The parcel is the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site, described as approximately 232.9 acres, and the conveyance would transfer all federal right, title, and interest in the property by quitclaim deed, without consideration, subject to valid existing rights and any additional terms the Secretary deems necessary to protect federal interests.
The bill also places the costs of the conveyance on Gila County, including survey costs, environmental review, and any National Historic Preservation Act compliance. It expressly relieves the federal government of any covenant or warranty under CERCLA for the property, and it requires a survey to determine the exact acreage and legal description. The land must be used only to serve and support veterans of the Armed Forces, and if that use condition is violated, the land reverts to the United States at the Secretary’s discretion.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would change federal ownership of a specific Forest Service administrative site by directing a land transfer from the Department of Agriculture to Gila County. It would not broadly alter state law, but it would affect federal land management, county property ownership, and the legal status of the parcel within the Tonto National Forest. The bill also imposes use restrictions and a reversion condition, making the county’s title contingent on continued veteran-related use.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. The House passed the measure, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee later ordered it to be reported favorably with an amendment, indicating institutional support for the land conveyance. No vote breakdowns or hearing transcripts are provided, but the procedural history points to broad acceptance rather than controversy at the committee level.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the transfer of federal land without payment, the waiver of federal warranty or covenant protections for environmental liability, and the restriction that the property be used only for veterans’ services. The bill also leaves the Secretary discretion to impose additional protective conditions and to determine reversion if the use requirement is violated, which could raise questions about oversight and enforcement. Any concern about the conveyance would likely come from those wary of disposing of public land or of limiting future uses of the property.
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