[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 277 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 277

To release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests 
         in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 28, 2025

 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Hagerty) introduced the following 
      bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                  Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests 
         in Chester County, Tennessee, 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. CHESTER COUNTY REVERSIONARY AND MINERAL INTERESTS RELEASE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) within the parcel of State forest land located in 
        Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee, a recent survey by the 
        State determined that Bethel Baptist Church is encroaching on 
        State-owned land in Chickasaw State Forest by approximately 19 
        inches;
            (2) the parcel described in paragraph (1) was conveyed to 
        the State by the Department of Agriculture, which retained a 
        reversionary interest in the land; and
            (3) it is necessary to release the interests of the United 
        States in and to that land to resolve the encroachment issue 
        described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
        Tennessee.
            (3) State forest land.--The term ``State forest land'' 
        means the approximately 0.62-acre parcel of land in Chickasaw 
        State Forest that is identified as ``State Forest Land'' on the 
        map prepared by the Forest Service entitled ``State Forest Land 
        Detail Map'' and dated December 13, 2019.
    (c) Release of Reversionary Interest.--
            (1) Release.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall release, 
                without consideration, the reversionary interest 
                described in paragraph (2).
                    (B) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any requirement 
                for a grant of land under section 32(c) of The 
                Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011(c)) or 
                any other provision of law, the release under 
                subparagraph (A) shall occur without any appraisal, 
                other report, or environmental or similar review being 
                undertaken.
            (2) Description of reversionary interest.--The reversionary 
        interest referred to in paragraph (1)(A) is the reversionary 
        interest of the United States in and to the State forest land 
        that--
                    (A) takes effect if the State forest land ceases to 
                be used for public purposes; and
                    (B) was created by the deed--
                            (i) granting from the United States to the 
                        State the State forest land;
                            (ii) dated August 12, 1955; and
                            (iii) registered on pages 588 through 591 
                        of book 48 of the record of deeds for Chester 
                        County, Tennessee.
            (3) Payment of costs.--As a condition of the release under 
        paragraph (1), the State shall pay to the United States any 
        administrative costs incurred by the United States in carrying 
        out the release.
    (d) Conveyance of Mineral Rights.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any requirement for the 
        conveyance of Federal mineral interests under section 209 of 
        the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
        1719), part 2720 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
        successor regulations), or any other provision of law, the 
        Secretary shall convey to the State, by quitclaim deed, without 
        warranty, and without consideration, the mineral interest in 
        the State forest land owned by the United States.
            (2) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, the conveyance under paragraph (1) shall occur--
                    (A) without any exploratory program as to the 
                character of the mineral deposits in the land;
                    (B) without any findings as to known mineral values 
                and mineral development of the land; and
                    (C) without any appraisal, other report, or 
                environmental or similar review being undertaken by the 
                Secretary.
            (3) Payment of costs.--As a condition of the conveyance 
        under paragraph (1), the State shall pay to the United States 
        any administrative costs incurred by the United States in 
        carrying out the conveyance.
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