To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and for other purposes.
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Would require the Forest Service to transfer approximately 0.81 acres of federal land in Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County at no cost, provided the county uses the property for public purposes such as education and youth development.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, to convey all federal right, title, and interest in a parcel at 1069 Fourche Avenue in Perryville, Arkansas (parcel 850-10555-001, approximately 0.81 acres) to Perry County. The transfer would be made free of charge by quitclaim deed — meaning the federal government makes no warranty of title — and would be subject to valid existing rights. Perry County would have 180 days after enactment to submit a written request; a survey satisfactory to the Forest Service would determine the exact acreage.
The county would bear all costs of the transfer, including any required survey, environmental analysis, and review under the National Historic Preservation Act. The land must be used only for public purposes such as education and youth development. If it ceases to be used that way, the Forest Service may reclaim the property. The federal government would not be required to provide any environmental covenant or warranty for the land.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the Forest Service to convey approximately 0.81 acres at 1069 Fourche Avenue, Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County by quitclaim deed, free of charge.
- 2Would require Perry County to submit a written conveyance request within 180 days of enactment to trigger the transfer.
- 3Would require Perry County to pay all costs of the transfer, including survey, environmental analysis, and National Historic Preservation Act review.
- 4Would restrict the conveyed land to public purposes such as education and youth development, with reversion to the United States at the Forest Service's discretion if that use ceases.
- 5Would exempt the Forest Service from providing any environmental covenant or warranty for the property under CERCLA.
Who would be affected
Perry County, Arkansas, which would receive and be responsible for the land; the Forest Service, which administers the parcel and would oversee the transfer process; and community members and youth in Perryville who might ultimately benefit from whatever public-purpose facility the county operates on the property.
Why it matters
For Perry County, the transfer would provide a no-cost parcel of federal land for local public use, such as a youth or educational facility. The county absorbs all transaction costs and accepts the risk that the property carries no federal environmental warranty. If the county ever stops using the land for public purposes, ownership could revert to the federal government.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. § 9620(h)(3)(A)) (Sec. 1(e))
Waives the requirement for the Forest Service to provide an environmental covenant or warranty for the conveyed property.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for Perry County to submit a written conveyance request
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3187 would have no effect on the federal budget, with zero impact on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit over the 2026–2035 period.
H.R. 3187 would direct the Forest Service to transfer a currently unused federal office building and roughly one acre of land in Perry County, Arkansas, to the county at no charge, provided the county requests it and uses the property for educational and youth development services. Because the property generates no federal receipts and the county would cover all costs associated with the transfer, CBO estimates zero effect on direct spending (mandatory outlays), revenues, or the deficit for 2026 through 2035. CBO also found that the bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates.
How implementation would work
Within 180 days of enactment, Perry County must submit a written conveyance request to the Forest Service. The Forest Service then commissions or approves a survey to set the exact legal description. The county pays all associated costs — survey, environmental analysis, and any National Historic Preservation Act review — before or as a condition of the transfer. The deed is executed as a quitclaim with no federal warranty. The Forest Service retains discretionary authority to reclaim the land if the county stops using it for public purposes.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 295.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill directs the Forest Service to convey approximately one acre of land to Perry County, Arkansas, upon the request of the county. The county must use the land for public purposes, such as supporting education and youth development. If it ceases to be used for such purposes, then the property must, at the discretion of the Forest Service, revert to the United States.
The exact acreage of land to be conveyed must be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Forest Service.
The conveyance must be subject to valid existing rights, made without consideration, made by quitclaim deed, and subject to other terms and conditions that the Forest Service considers to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
As a condition of the conveyance, the county must pay costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of a survey, any environmental analysis or resources survey required under federal law, and any analysis required to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act.
The bill prohibits the Forest Service from having to provide any covenant or warranty for the property and improvements conveyed to the county.
Legislative subjects
Arkansas; Geography and mapping; Land transfers; Public Lands and Natural Resources
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-292