Pub. L. 115-361 - Walnut Grove Land Exchange Act

115th Congress

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Walnut Grove Land Exchange Act”.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) The term “Church” means the Walnut Grove Church in Garland County, Arkansas.

(2) The term “Offered Tract” means all right, title, and interest of the Church in and to approximately 6.3 acres of non-Federal land identified as “Offered Tract 5742” on the Detail Map of the Walnut Grove Exchange, Ouachita National Forest map (printed date May 11, 2017).

(3) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(4) The term “Selected Tract” means all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to approximately 4 acres identified as “Selected Tract 5743” on the Detail Map of the Walnut Grove Exchange, Ouachita National Forest map (printed date May 11, 2017), subject to the reservation of a road easement by the Secretary.

SEC. 3. EXCHANGE OF LAND; EQUALIZATION OF VALUE.

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Act, not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, if the Church offers to convey the Offered Tract to the United States, the Secretary shall—

(a)(1) convey to the Church all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Selected Tract; and

(a)(2) accept from the Church a conveyance of all right, title, and interest of the Church in and to the Offered Tract.

(b) The exchange under subsection (a) shall be—

(b)(1) subject to valid existing rights;

(b)(2) conditioned on an equalization payment made by the Church in accordance with subsection (c); and

(b)(3) conditioned on the payment of the costs described in subsection (g).

(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the exchange under subsection (a) shall be for equal value or the values shall be equalized by a cash payment.

(c)(2) If the value of the Offered Tract exceeds the Selected Tract, an equalization payment shall not be required.

(d)(1) The value of the land to be exchanged under this Act shall be determined by appraisals conducted by one or more independent and qualified appraisers.

(d)(2) The Secretary shall complete an appraisal of the land to be exchanged under this Act in accordance with—

(d)(2)(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and

(d)(2)(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

(e) Title and valuation to the land to be exchanged under this Act shall be in a format acceptable to the Secretary and the Church.

(f)(1) As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize a map and legal descriptions of all land to be conveyed under this Act.

(f)(2) The Secretary may correct any minor errors in the map or in the legal descriptions.

(f)(3) The map and legal descriptions shall be on file and available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the United States Forest Service.

(g) As a condition of conveyance, any costs related to the conveyance under this section shall be paid by the Church.

Legislative History

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5923:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):

Sept. 12, considered and passed House.

Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.