The bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey two tracts of National Forest System land in Franklin County, Mississippi, totaling roughly 311 acres, to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance (an instrumentality of Mississippi). Conveyance would occur after a written request within 180 days of enactment and only if the Secretary finds it in the public interest, with the land conveyed by quitclaim deed through various sale methods.
The sale would be conducted at fair market value, paid in cash, and proceeds would go into the Sisk Act fund for future land acquisitions. The agreement carries conditions on existing rights, road and trail reservations, mineral rights, and a right of re-entry for possible future non-public use, alongside covenants to protect the United States’ interests.
The Alliance would cover certain costs, and the bill explicitly waives NEPA requirements for this conveyance, while requiring hazard-disclosure for contaminants without a mandate to remediate.
At a Glance
What It Does
Authorizes a targeted land conveyance of two Franklin County tracts (about 137.7 acres and about 173 acres) from the National Forest System to the Alliance, via quitclaim deed following an appraisal-driven process or competitive sale.
Who It Affects
Directly affects the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance and the U.S. Forest Service; indirectly affects local recreation users and nearby communities who rely on Okhissa Lake access and public roads/ trails, as well as future land acquisitions funded by Sisk Act proceeds.
Why It Matters
Sets up a model for monetizing and reallocating federal forest land to a state-level alliance for rural development and recreation, with a clear mechanism for value realization and control of land near public assets like Okhissa Lake, while shifting ongoing maintenance responsibilities to the Alliance.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill targets two parcels of National Forest System land in Franklin County, Mississippi, for conveyance to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance (SRDA). The Alliance would trigger conveyance by submitting a written request within 180 days of enactment, and the Secretary of Agriculture would determine if the transfer serves the public interest.
The land would be conveyed by quitclaim deed, or sold via competitive auction, at a price equal to the land’s fair market value, paid in cash. The combined parcels amount to about 311 acres, described by specific sections and metes-and-bounds referenced on maps prepared for the Alliance.
The exact acreage will be confirmed by a survey. Proceeds from the sale would go to the Sisk Act fund, to be used for acquiring land and interests in land for the National Forest System in the future.
The conveyance would be subject to existing rights, and the Secretary could attach terms as needed to protect United States interests.
The bill imposes a series of terms and conditions. The Alliance would be responsible for paying appraisal costs and other closing costs, and it would be obligated to cover the upkeep and maintenance of the Okhissa Lake Dam and related facilities, while assuming liability for compliance with dam safety laws.
There are reservations for a 30-foot road right-of-way for ingress and egress over a Forest Service road (and other rights the Secretary deems necessary to ensure public access). The United States would retain mineral and other subsurface rights, and there would be a right of re-entry if the land is conveyed to a nonpublic entity or used for purposes other than public recreation and wildlife habitat.
A restrictive covenant against subdividing the conveyed land into residential lots is included, along with other terms to protect federal interests. The bill also provides that environmental analyses under NEPA or other environmental laws are not required for the conveyance, but requires disclosure of hazardous substances and related liability to abate or clean up hazardous substances if present.
Finally, the proceeds would be deposited into the Sisk Act fund and remain available until expended for future land acquisitions.In short, the bill creates a targeted transfer of land tied to a local alliance, balances a mix of public access and private stewardship, and transfers ongoing dam maintenance responsibilities to the Alliance while preserving funding mechanisms for future federal land acquisitions.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill triggers conveyance by 180 days after enactment upon a written Alliance request.
Two tracts totaling about 311 acres will be conveyed: ~137.7 acres and ~173 acres in Franklin County, MS.
Proceeds from the sale go to the Sisk Act fund for future National Forest System land acquisitions.
The Alliance must cover appraisal, survey, and closing costs and maintain the Okhissa Lake Dam and related facilities.
The conveyance is exempt from NEPA and includes extensive rights and restrictions (roads, mineral rights, re-entry, covenant against subdivision).
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Definitions and Conveyance Trigger
The bill defines the Alliance ( Scenic Rivers Development Alliance) and the Secretary of Agriculture. It then sets a trigger: if the Alliance submits a written request within 180 days after enactment and the Secretary determines conveyance is in the public interest, the Secretary shall convey the National Forest System land to the Alliance by quitclaim deed, including potential public or private (auction) sale methods.
Land to Be Conveyed — Descriptions
Conveyed land comprises two tracts in Franklin County, MS: about 137.7 acres on sections 5-6 and 31 of T5N, R4E, plus about 173 acres in sections 5-8 of the same township-range. The parcels are depicted on specific maps prepared for the Alliance and dated 2024, with exact acreage to be confirmed by a government survey.
Consideration and Valuation
Conveyance proceeds must be cash, equal to the fair market value as determined by an appraisal conducted under Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and approved by the Secretary, or by competitive sale if conveyed by another method. FMV drives the sale price; the appraisal/sale framework ensures value is equivalent to land use and Federal interests.
Terms and Conditions
Conveyance is subject to valid existing rights and other protections the Secretary deems appropriate. The Alliance may need to cover costs and maintain Okhissa Lake Dam (and related facilities). The agreement also reserves a 30-foot road right-of-way for ingress/egress and retains rights-of-way as needed to retain public access to Okhissa Lake and adjacent land. Mineral and subsurface rights remain with the United States. A right of re-entry is reserved if the land is later conveyed to a nonpublic entity or used for non-public recreation or wildlife habitat, with the Alliance bearing cleanup liabilities.
Proceeds, Costs, and Guidance on Environment
Proceeds from the conveyance go into the Sisk Act fund for future land acquisitions. The Alliance is responsible for appraisal, closing, and related costs. The bill explicitly states the Secretary is not required to comply with NEPA or other environmental laws for this conveyance. Hazardous substances disclosures are required under CERCLA 120(h); however, there is no mandate to remediate contaminants.
Environmental and Hazardous Materials Provisions
While NEPA review is not required, the Secretary must disclose hazardous substances and assume liability for abatement and cleanup if contamination exists, subject to the prescribed conditions. The text also limits environmental remediation obligations, shifting potential risks to post-sale agreements and covenants.
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Explore Infrastructure in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Scenic Rivers Development Alliance gains land ownership and a formal role in maintaining Okhissa Lake facilities, aligning rural development with recreation goals.
- The U.S. Forest Service/U.S. government receives a cash FMV for the land and maintains authority over mineral rights and federal protections while reducing direct federal land management burdens.
- Recreational users and local communities near Okhissa Lake benefit from continued public access and maintained recreation infrastructure tied to the dam and adjacent lands.
- The State of Mississippi, through its instrumentality the Alliance, gains capability for rural economic development tied to forest lands and public recreation.
Who Bears the Cost
- Alliance pays appraisal, survey, and closing costs.
- Alliance bears ongoing maintenance costs for Okhissa Lake Dam and compliance with dam safety requirements.
- Potential liability for environmental risks post-conveyance, including any required abatement under the re-entry and covenants.
- Public rights-of-way and road access could impose ongoing maintenance and governance costs on the Alliance or local entities (as the mechanism dictates).
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether transferring federal land and related dam upkeep to a non-federal alliance serves long-term public interests without reducing federal environmental oversight or creating implementation challenges for dam safety and land use.
The bill creates a targeted, value-driven disposition of federal forest land to a state-level alliance under a framework that prioritizes local stewardship and public recreation. It deliberately waives NEPA for this particular conveyance, shifting environmental oversight to post-sale disclosures and covenants rather than upfront analysis.
The arrangement also segments responsibility for dam maintenance to the Alliance, with a re-entry clause that preserves federal control if the land is misused or subdivided. This combination—local control, limited environmental review, and a long-term maintenance burden on a non-federal entity—poses a tension between facilitating rural development and preserving federal land stewardship.
Core tension: balancing the quick, local transfer of land and associated infrastructure against ensuring long-term public recreation, environmental safeguards, and federal stewardship remains in tension, especially given the absence of NEPA review and the risk transfer to a non-federal entity.
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