[House Report 115-353] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]115th Congress } { Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session } { 115-353 ====================================================================== KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST LAND CONVEYANCE ACT _______ October 19, 2017.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Conaway, from the Committee on Agriculture, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 2941] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 2941) to provide for the conveyance of certain National Forest System land within Kisatchie National Forest in the State of Louisiana, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. Brief Explanation The Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act conveys certain National Forest System land within the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. Purpose and Need for Legislation The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) currently owns tracts of land in Louisiana that are inter-mixed with private land and heavily impacted by residences. These tracts have lost their natural qualities and are isolated from the core lands of Kisatchie National Forest. This fragmentation and urbanization leaves the land incompatible with National Forest management. The Committee believes managing these tracts for public benefit and use is a poor use of taxpayer money. In disposing of the occupied lots with some minor acreage of adjacent federal land, the USFS eliminates administrative and boundary maintenance costs. USFS would then be able to use the proceeds to identify and purchase land with recreational qualities that is more conducive to National Forest management. H.R. 2941, the Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act, will allow the sale of these isolated parcels (2 in total; 50.08 acres; as identified as desired disposal by the USFS). The proceeds from the sale of these parcels will be made available for the acquisition of lands and interests in land in the Kisatchie National Forest. Kisatchie National Forest is rich in renewable wildlife resources, and supporting wilderness habitat is vital to their sustainability. H.R. 2941 allows Kisatchie National Forest to consolidate ownership of natural lands and continues the strong tradition of the National Forest Service acting as stewards for the environment. Section-by-Section Analysis of Legislation H.R. 2941 THE KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST LAND CONVEYANCE ACT Section 1. Short title Section 1 of the bill designates the title of the bill as the ``Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act''. Section 2. Findings Section 2 includes Congressional findings. Section 3. Definitions Section 3 provides the relevant definitions for the Act. Section 4. Authorization of conveyances, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Section 4 authorizes the Secretary to convey land within the Kisatchie National Forest. Subsection (b) requires the Secretary to convey a portion of the land to Collins Camp Properties. Subsection (c) allows the Secretary to configure the land to maximize marketability or achieve management objectives. The subsection further allows the Secretary to establish terms and conditions for the conveyance. Subsection (d) requires cash consideration in an amount equal to the fair market value. Subsection (e) establishes the process by which fair market value is determined. Subsection (f) requires the Secretary to meet disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, but not to remediate or abate the substances. Section 5. Proceeds from the sale of the land Section 5 requires the Secretary to deposit proceeds from the sale of the land into the Sisk Act's fund. Section 6. Administration Subsection (a) of section 6 requires Collins Camp Properties to pay reasonable appraisal costs, and costs of any required administrative and environmental analysis. Subsection (b) requires that an offer by Collins Camp Properties include a written statement from each holder of a Forest Service special use authorization agreeing to relinquish the special use authorization upon conveyance of the land. If any holder of a special use authorization fails to provide such written statement, the Secretary shall require Collins Camp Properties to administer the special use authorization until such authorization expires. Committee Consideration I. HEARINGS No hearings were held by the Committee on H.R. 2941, Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act. II. FULL COMMITTEE The Committee on Agriculture met, pursuant to notice, with a quorum present, on October 4, 2017, to consider H.R. 2941, Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act. H.R. 2941 was placed before the Committee for consideration. Without objection, a first reading of the bill was waived and it was open for amendment at any point. Chairman Conaway and Mr. Peterson were recognized for statements. There being no amendments, Mr. Peterson was recognized to offer a motion that the bill H.R. 2941 be reported favorably to the House with recommendation that it do pass. The motion was subsequently approved by voice vote. At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Conaway advised Members that pursuant to the rules of the House of Representatives Members had until October 6, 2017, to file any supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views with the Committee. Without objection, staff was given permission to make any necessary clerical, technical or conforming changes to reflect the intent of the Committee. Chairman Conaway thanked all the Members and adjourned the meeting. Committee Votes In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, H.R. 2941 was reported by voice vote with a majority quorum present. There was no request for a recorded vote. Committee Oversight Findings Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture's oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. Budget Act Compliance (Sections 308, 402, and 423) The provisions of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (relating to estimates of new budget authority, new spending authority, new credit authority, or increased or decreased revenues or tax expenditures) are not considered applicable. The estimate and comparison required to be prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and sections 402 and 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 submitted to the Committee prior to the filing of this report are as follows: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, October 17, 2017. Hon. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2941, the Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave. Sincerely, Keith Hall, Director. Enclosure. H.R. 2941--Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act H.R. 2941 would authorize the Forest Service to sell up to 80 acres of federal land (including roughly 20 acres of submerged land) located in northern Louisiana. Camp Collins Properties would have the right of first purchase to 50 acres of the affected lands, which contain more than 30 recreational residences. Based on the value of similar lands in the area, CBO estimates that the Forest Service would sell between 50 and 80 acres of land at an average value of a little less than $4,000 an acre. That sale would increase offsetting receipts, which are treated as reductions in direct spending, by less than $300,000. Under current law, the affected lands are expected to generate offsetting receipts totaling about $30,000 a year from fees paid by owners of recreational residences. Thus, CBO estimates that selling those lands also would reduce offsetting receipts by the same amount, about $300,000, over the next 10 years. Because enacting the bill would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that the net change in direct spending would not be significant over the 2018-2027 period. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues. CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would not significantly increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. H.R. 2941 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeff LaFave. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. Performance Goals and Objectives H.R. 2941 does not authorize funding, therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is inapplicable. Committee Cost Estimate Pursuant to clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee report incorporates the cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to sections 402 and 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Advisory Committee Statement No advisory committee within the meaning of section 5(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act was created by this legislation. Applicability to the Legislative Branch The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1). Federal Mandates Statement The Committee adopted as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (Public Law 104-4). Earmark Statement Required by Clause 9 of Rule XXI of the Rules of House of Representatives H.R. 2941 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House Representatives. Duplication of Federal Programs This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings The Committee does not believe that the legislation directs an executive branch official to conduct any specific rule making proceedings within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551. [all]