Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 5652 (ih) To provide for reauthorization of small business loan and other programs, and for other purposes. [Introduced in House] ...H.R. 5652 (ih) To provide for reauthorization of small business loan and other programs, and for other purposes. [Introduced in House] ...
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5651
To convey certain Federal lands to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 8, 2000
Mr. Romero-Barcelo introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on
Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
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A BILL
To convey certain Federal lands to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 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. CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LANDS.
All right, title and interest of the United States in and to those
lands designated for transfer, or transferred, to the Secretary of the
Interior pursuant to section 1508 of title XV of Public Law 106-398
shall be conveyed, without consideration, to the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT OF CONVEYED LANDS.
(a) Cooperative Agreement.--
(1) Those areas conveyed to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
pursuant to section 1 shall be managed for conservation
purposes subject to a cooperative agreement between the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Secretary of the Interior.
(2) Areas adjacent to the areas conveyed to the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico pursuant to section 1 shall be
considered for inclusion under the cooperative agreement.
Adjacent areas to be included under the cooperative agreement
shall be mutually agreed to by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
and the Secretary of the Interior. This determination of
inclusion of lands shall be incorporated into the cooperative
agreement process as set forth in paragraph (1).
(3) The cooperative agreement referenced in this subsection
shall be implemented in cooperation with the Puerto Rico
Conservation Trust and other interested parties.
(b) Cooperative Agreement.--
(1) Purposes.--All lands subject to the cooperative
agreement required by subsection (a) shall be managed to
protect and preserve the natural resources of these lands in
perpetuity. Consistent with the provisions of this subsection,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Secretary of the
Interior shall comply with all applicable Federal environmental
laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic
Preservation Act.
(2) Timing.--The cooperative agreement shall be completed
not later than 120 days after the enactment of this Act. The
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall implement the terms and
conditions of the cooperative agreement, which can only be
amended by agreement of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the
Secretary of the Interior.
(c) Role of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.--Contingent on
funds being available specifically for the preservation and protection
of natural resources on the lands referred to in section 1, amounts
necessary to carry out the cooperative agreement may be made available
to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish and manage an
endowment for the management of lands conveyed to the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico and subject to the cooperative agreement. The proceeds from
investment of the endowment shall be available on an annual basis. The
Foundation shall strive to leverage annual proceeds with non-Federal
funds to the fullest extent possible.
SEC. 3. CONTINUED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RESPONSIBILITY.
Federal responsibility to fund and implement any necessary response
actions (including operation and maintenance) to address environmental
contamination resulting from the acts, omissions or presence of the
Department of Defense or which is present at the time of any conveyance
by the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the Interior pursuant
to title XV of Public Law 106-398 (including contamination subsequently
discovered) or which is present at the time of conveyance by the
Secretary of the Navy to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico pursuant to
this Act (including contamination subsequently discovered), shall be
the exclusive responsibility of the Secretary of Defense, and not the
responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior or the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, unless such contamination was caused or contributed to by
the Department of the Interior or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. With
respect to the conveyance implemented pursuant to section 1, the
Secretary of Defense shall have the responsibility, on behalf of the
United States, to comply with the requirements of section 120(h) of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act,
as amended. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Department of the
Interior shall provide the Department of Defense with access to the
property as may be required to carry out its obligations or to satisfy
the liability of the United States. Any response actions carried out by
the Secretary of Defense shall be conducted subject to and in
compliance with environmental laws, including but not limited to CERCLA
(42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), and undertaken in a manner consistent with
the conservation and natural resources uses and mission for the
property.
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