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Conveys about 232.9 acres of National Forest System land in the Tonto National Forest to Gila County, Arizona, at no purchase cost if the County requests it within 180 days of enactment. The transfer is by quitclaim deed and is subject to a satisfactory survey, existing rights, environmental and historic preservation reviews (paid for by the County), and terms the Secretary of Agriculture requires. The land must be used to serve and support veterans; the federal government may reclaim title if the use is inconsistent. The Secretary may correct minor map errors and is not required to provide certain CERCLA warranties.
The bill transfers a 232.9-acre parcel to Gila County at no purchase price to support local veterans services and local control, but it shifts cleanup, compliance, and financial costs to the county while reducing federally managed public land and limiting broader community uses.
Veterans in the Pleasant Valley area are likely to gain local facilities or services because the 232.9-acre parcel must be used to serve and support veterans.
Gila County (and local taxpayers) can acquire the land without a purchase price, saving local acquisition funds and lowering upfront capital needs for building veterans services.
Local control allows Gila County to develop facilities responsive to community needs in Pleasant Valley, potentially improving service delivery and alignment with local priorities.
Gila County may inherit environmental or historic‑resource liabilities (including potential CERCLA-related cleanup risks) because the Secretary is not required to provide CERCLA covenants or warranties for the conveyed land.
Transferring 232.9 acres out of the National Forest System reduces federally managed public land, which could limit public access, recreation, and conservation protections for the area.
Gila County must pay all survey, environmental, and National Historic Preservation Act compliance costs, imposing potentially significant upfront expenses on local budgets.
Introduced February 25, 2025 by Mark Edward Kelly · Last progress February 25, 2025