Summary of S. 700 (2025) — Conveyance of Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona

Overview

S. 700, introduced in the Senate on February 25, 2025, would require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a specific parcel of National Forest System land in Arizona to Gila County, Arizona, to be used exclusively for serving and supporting veterans. The conveyance would be a gift (no consideration) and would be by quitclaim deed, subject to various protections and conditions.

Purpose and Intent

• To transfer ownership of the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site area from the federal government to Gila County.
• To ensure the land is used to serve and support veterans, aligning the property with veterans’ services needs in the county.
• To formalize the conveyance process with a defined map, survey, and legal description, while limiting liability for the United States.

Key Provisions

Definitions

• County: Gila County, Arizona.
• Map: “Pleasant Valley Admin Site Proposal,” dated September 23, 2021.
• Secretary: Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service).

Conveyance Trigger and Scope

• If Gila County submits a written conveyance request within 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must convey to the County all right, title, and interest of the United States in the described property.

Property Description

• Approximately 232.9 acres of National Forest System land located in the Tonto National Forest, depicted as the “Gila County Area” on the map.
• The exact acreage and legal description to be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
• The Secretary may correct minor map errors. A copy of the map must be available for public inspection.

Conveyance Mechanics and Protections

• Conveyance subject to valid existing rights.
• Conveyance made without consideration.
• Conveyance by quitclaim deed.
• Additional terms and conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate to protect U.S. interests.

Costs and Compliance

• Gila County must pay all costs associated with the conveyance, including:
  • Survey costs (if necessary).
  • Environmental analyses or resource surveys required by federal law.
  • Analyses required to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA, 54 U.S.C. Division A, Subtitle III).

Environmental and Legal Covenant Provisions

• The Secretary is not required to provide any covenant or warranty for the land (per CERCLA section 120(h)(3)(A) as amended).

Use and Reversion

• The land must be used only for serving and supporting veterans of the Armed Forces.
• If the land is used in a manner inconsistent with veterans’ support, all rights to the land revert to the United States (at the Secretary’s discretion).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Effective trigger: enactment of the bill (the 180-day window for the county to submit a request).
• Map corrections and survey work coordinated through the Forest Service.
• Reversion and use restrictions activated by ongoing land-use compliance.

Legislative Status and Sponsorship

• Status: Introduced in the Senate; referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on February 25, 2025.
• Sponsors: Primary — Mark Kelly; Co-sponsor — Ruben Gallego.
• Related bill: HR 837 (companion).

Who Is Affected

• Gila County, Arizona: potential recipient and ongoing primary beneficiary for veterans-related use.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture / Forest Service: manages conveyance process, survey, and any required analyses.
• Veterans and veteran-related services in the county: potential beneficiaries of the site for program delivery and support.

Potential Impacts

• Enables a local governmental entity to assume ownership and direct management of a site historically within federal lands.
• Provides a dedicated site for veterans’ services, subject to restrictions and cost-sharing for necessary analyses.
• Shifts land-management responsibilities from federal to local government, with a reversion clause if used improperly.

Note: A companion bill, HR 837, mirrors similar provisions.