Wabeno Economic Development Act
Officially: “Wabeno Economic Development Act” Read the full text
What it does
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1Short title
This section would let the Act be called the Wabeno Economic Development Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wabeno Economic Development Act .
2Conveyance of certain National Forest System land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest to Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC
This section would require the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to convey a specific parcel of federal land to Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC. The parcel is about 14 acres of National Forest System land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin, shown on a map titled 'Conveyance of Federal Parcel Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest' and dated September 27, 2023; the Secretary could correct minor errors on the map, and a copy would have to be kept available for the public to inspect at the appropriate Forest Service office, while the exact acreage and legal description would be set by a survey the Secretary finds satisfactory. Within 300 days after enactment, the Secretary would have to complete an appraisal of the land's market value, following the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. If, within the 180 days after that appraisal is federally approved, Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC submits an offer to buy the parcel at the appraised market value, the Secretary would have to convey all United States right, title, and interest in the land, including mineral rights, to the company within 180 days of receiving the offer. The conveyance would be subject to valid existing rights, would be made by quitclaim deed, and could carry other terms and conditions the Secretary considers needed to protect the interests of the United States. As a condition of the conveyance, the company would have to pay the Secretary the appraised market value of the land plus all costs of the conveyance, including the costs of any needed survey, the appraisal, and any environmental analysis or resource survey required under federal law. Despite the hazardous-substance cleanup requirements normally imposed by section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)), the Secretary would only have to meet that section's disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants on the land, and would not otherwise have to remediate or clean up any such hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants that are disclosed.
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2. Conveyance of certain National Forest System land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest to Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC (a) Conveyance required If, during the 180-day period beginning on the date of Federal approval of the appraisal under subsection (d), Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC submits to the Secretary an offer to acquire the property described in subsection (b) for market value, as determined by such appraisal, the Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after receiving such offer, convey to Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC all right, title, and interest of the United States, including mineral rights, in and to the property described in subsection (b). (b) Description of property (1) In general The property referred to in subsection (a) is the parcel of real property, including all land and improvements, generally depicted as Federal Parcel to be Conveyed on the Map, consisting of approximately 14 acres of National Forest System land located in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin. (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 office of the Forest Service. (3) Survey The exact acreage and legal description of the National Forest System land to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. (c) Terms and conditions of the conveyance (1) Requirements The conveyance under subsection (a) shall be— (A) subject to valid existing rights; (B) made by quitclaim deed; and (C) subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States. (2) Costs As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (a), Tony’s Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC shall pay to the Secretary— (A) an amount equal to the market value of the land to be conveyed under subsection (a), as determined by the appraisal under subsection (d); and (B) all costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of— (i) a survey, if necessary, under subsection (b)(3); (ii) conducting the appraisal under subsection (d); and (iii) any environmental analysis or resource survey required under Federal law. (d) Appraisal (1) In general Not later than 300 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an appraisal to determine the market value of the land to be conveyed under subsection (a). (2) Standards The appraisal under paragraph (1) shall be conducted in accordance with— (A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and (B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. (e) Hazardous materials Notwithstanding the requirements of section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9620(h) ), with respect to the conveyance under subsection (a), the Secretary— (1) shall only be required to meet disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants under section 120(h); and (2) shall not otherwise be required to remediate or abate the hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants disclosed pursuant to paragraph (1). (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Map The term Map means the map entitled Conveyance of Federal Parcel Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and dated September 27, 2023. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
3Comprehensive review of Federal permitting processes for stone, sand, and gravel development on Federal lands
This section would require the Secretary of the Interior, consulting with the heads of other relevant federal agencies, industry stakeholders, and state permitting authorities, to conduct a comprehensive review of the federal permitting processes for developing stone, sand, and gravel on federal lands. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with those same entities, would have to submit a report to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and also post it publicly on the Department of the Interior's website. The report would have to include a detailed description of the current federal permitting process for stone, sand, and gravel development, including average timelines from initial application to final approval; an analysis identifying potential inefficiencies and duplicative steps in that process and their impact on project timelines; the Secretary's recommendations for legislative or administrative actions to streamline the process; and a summary of the economic impacts of current permitting timelines, focused specifically on the stone, sand, and gravel sectors.
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3. Comprehensive review of Federal permitting processes for stone, sand, and gravel development on Federal lands (a) Review The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, industry stakeholders, and State permitting authorities, shall conduct a comprehensive review of the Federal permitting processes for the development of stone, sand, and gravel on Federal lands. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the entities referred to in subsection (a), shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and make publicly available on the website of the Department of the Interior a report that includes— (1) a detailed description of the current Federal permitting process for stone, sand, and gravel development, including average timelines from initial application to final approval; (2) an analysis identifying potential inefficiencies and duplicative steps in such permitting process and the impact of such inefficiencies and duplicative steps on project timelines; (3) the Secretary’s recommendations for legislative or administrative actions to streamline such permitting process; and (4) a summary of the economic impacts associated with current permitting timelines under such permitting process, specifically focusing on the stone, sand, and gravel sectors.
Where it is
In the House.