Introduced in Senate

[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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   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.

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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