Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025
This bill requires the Forest Service to convey certain lands within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to Navajo County and Apache County, Arizona. The counties must use the land as cemeteries.
As a condition of each conveyance, the counties must pay all associated costs, including the costs of surveys and environmental analyses.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1829 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1829
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain lands within
the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 4, 2025
Mr. Crane introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain lands within
the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Apache County and Navajo County
Conveyance Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LAND WITHIN THE APACHE-SITGREAVES
NATIONAL FORESTS TO NAVAJO COUNTY, ARIZONA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means Navajo County,
Arizona.
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Pinedale Cemetery Expansion'' and dated May 23, 2022.
(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)(1) 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)(1).
(c) Property Described.--
(1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (b)
is--
(A) the parcel of real property, including all land
and improvements, generally depicted as ``Exist.
Cemetery'' on the map, consisting of approximately 2.5
acres of National Forest System land located in the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona; and
(B) the parcel of real property, including all land
and improvements, generally depicted as ``Proposed
Expansion'' on the map, consisting of approximately 2.5
acres of National Forest System land located in the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests 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--
(1) be subject to valid existing rights;
(2) be made without consideration;
(3) be made by quitclaim deed;
(4) not be subject to section 120(h) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C. 9620(h)); and
(5) be subject to any other terms and conditions as the
Secretary considers 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 and resource surveys
required by Federal law.
(f) Required Use as Cemetery.--The property conveyed to the County
under subsection (b) shall be used by the County as a cemetery.
(g) Reversion.--If the property conveyed under subsection (b) is
used in a manner that is inconsistent with the requirement of
subsection (f), all right, title, and interest in and to the property
shall revert to the United States.
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LAND WITHIN THE APACHE-SITGREAVES
NATIONAL FORESTS TO APACHE COUNTY, ARIZONA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) County.--The term ``County'' means Apache County,
Arizona.
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Exhibit, Alpine Cemetery Townsite'' and dated October, 2019.
(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)(1) not later than 365 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)(1).
(c) Property Described.--
(1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (b)
is--
(A) the parcel of real property, including all land
and improvements, generally depicted as the ``Existing
Alpine Cemetery'' on the map, consisting of
approximately 2.56 acres of National Forest System land
located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in
Arizona; and
(B) the parcel of real property, including all land
and improvements, generally depicted as the ``Proposed
Townsite Tract'' on the map, consisting of
approximately 8.06 acres of National Forest System land
located in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests 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--
(1) be subject to valid existing rights;
(2) be made without consideration;
(3) be made by quitclaim deed;
(4) not be subject to section 120(h) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C. 9620(h)); and
(5) be subject to any other terms and conditions as the
Secretary considers 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 and resource surveys
required by Federal law.
(f) Required Use as Cemetery.--The property conveyed to the County
under subsection (b) shall be used by the County as a cemetery.
(g) Reversion.--If the property conveyed under subsection (b) is
used in a manner that is inconsistent with the requirement of
subsection (f), all right, title, and interest in and to the property
shall revert to the United States.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1975-1976)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1829.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1975-1976)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1975-1976)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
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