S. 1015Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.

Sponsored by Mark KellySen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
Introduced March 28, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 5:18 AM UTC

The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, to transfer roughly 233 acres of National Forest land known as the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona, if the county submits a written request within 180 days of the law’s enactment. The land must be used to provide recreational and related services for veterans, and the county must cover all costs associated with the transfer. If the county stops using the land for veteran services, the Secretary may take the land back.

Key Provisions

  • Defines "County" as Gila County, Arizona, and identifies the specific map that shows the land to be transferred.
  • Requires the county to submit a written request for conveyance within 180 days; the Secretary must then convey all U.S. title to the county.
  • Specifies the property as about 232.9 acres of National Forest System land in the Tonto National Forest.
  • Allows the Secretary to correct minor map errors and makes the map publicly available.
  • Mandates a survey, satisfactory to the Secretary, to determine the exact acreage and legal description.
  • Sets conveyance terms: subject to existing rights, made without payment, conveyed by quit‑claim deed, and subject to any additional conditions the Secretary deems appropriate.
  • Places all costs of the conveyance—including surveys and any required environmental or resource reviews—on the county.
  • States the Secretary is not required to provide any covenant or warranty for the land.
  • Limits use of the land to recreational and other services for veterans; if that use stops, the Secretary may revert the land to the United States.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 296.

December 20, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 28, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

March 28, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-285.

July 12, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

September 21, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-144.

December 20, 2023

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 296.

December 20, 2023

Bill Text

2 versions available

Reading Mode
Latest
Reported to SenateIssued December 20, 2023

II

Calendar No. 296

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1015

[Report No. 118–144]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 28, 2023

Mr. Kelly (for himself and Ms. Sinema) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

December 20, 2023

Reported by Mr. Manchin, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.

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 24, 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); and

(2)

any environmental analysis or resource survey required under Federal law.

(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 (c).

(g)

Reversion

If any land conveyed under subsection (b) ceases to be used for purposes of serving veterans of the Armed Forces, all right, title, and interest in and to the land shall revert to the United States.

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 24, 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.

(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); and

(2)

any analysis, review, or resource survey required under Federal law.

(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; reversion

(1)

Use of land

The land and improvements conveyed to the County under subsection (b) shall be used by the County only for the purpose of providing recreational and other services to veterans of the Armed Forces.

(2)

Reversion

If any land conveyed to the County under subsection (b) ceases to be used for the purposes described in paragraph (1), all right, title, and interest in and to the land may, at the discretion of the Secretary, revert to the United States.

December 20, 2023

Reported with an amendment