PRIA Logo™
119-s-2440119th CongressWALLET

A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]

In Committee

Summary

Transfers about 311 acres of National Forest surface land in Franklin County, Mississippi to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance. This bill would sell the Forest Service surface estate to a state instrumentality while keeping public access and reserving key federal rights.

Show full summary
  • Scenic Rivers Development Alliance and the State: The Alliance must pay cash equal to fair market value and cover appraisal, survey, and closing costs. It must agree to fund Okhissa Lake dam upkeep and follow federal and state dam safety rules.
  • Local public and recreation users: The conveyance preserves a perpetual, nonexclusive road right-of-way for public and administrative access to Okhissa Lake and includes a covenant that prevents subdivision into residential lots.
  • Federal land management and finances: The United States retains subsurface rights and a right of re-entry for misuse. Sale proceeds are deposited into the Sisk Act fund to be used for National Forest land acquisition.
  • Environment and contamination: The Secretary would not be required to complete National Environmental Policy Act reviews or other environmental laws for the conveyance but must meet CERCLA disclosure requirements; the Alliance could be liable for cleanup if re-entry occurs.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Convey forest parcels to local alliance

This bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey two National Forest parcels in Franklin County, Mississippi. The parcels are about 137.7 acres and about 173 acres, shown on maps dated September 16, 2024. The sale would happen no later than 180 days after a required appraisal and a written agreement. The Scenic Rivers Development Alliance would pay cash equal to fair market value and pay appraisal, survey, and closing costs. The United States would keep subsurface mineral rights and reserve road and trail easements, including a 30-foot right-of-way for Forest Service Road 149A. The Alliance would agree to maintain and assume liability for the Okhissa Lake dam and follow federal and state dam safety laws. Sale proceeds would go into the Sisk Act fund and remain available until spent to buy National Forest land. The Secretary would need to meet CERCLA disclosure rules but would not be required to clean up contamination and would not have to complete NEPA or other environmental reviews for this conveyance.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]

MS • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation