Wabeno Economic Development Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3937 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3937

 To provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in Chequamegon-
            Nicolet National Forest, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 2025

 Mr. Tiffany introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
 Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural
 Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in Chequamegon-
            Nicolet National Forest, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wabeno Economic Development Act''.

SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND IN THE
              CHEQUAMEGON-NICOLET NATIONAL FOREST TO TONY'S WABENO
              REDI-MIX, LLC.

    (a) Conveyance Required.--If, during the 180-day period beginning
on the date of Federal approval of the appraisal under subsection (d),
Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC submits to the Secretary an offer to
acquire the property described in subsection (b) for market value, as
determined by such appraisal, the Secretary shall, not later than 180
days after receiving such offer, convey to Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC
all right, title, and interest of the United States, including mineral
rights, in and to the property described in subsection (b).
    (b) Description of Property.--
            (1) In general.--The property referred to in subsection (a)
        is the parcel of real property, including all land and
        improvements, generally depicted as ``Federal Parcel to be
        Conveyed'' on the Map, consisting of approximately 14 acres of
        National Forest System land located in the Chequamegon-Nicolet
        National Forest in Wisconsin.
            (2) Map.--
                    (A) Minor errors.--The Secretary may correct minor
                errors in the Map.
                    (B) Availability.--A copy of the Map shall be on
                file and available for public inspection in the
                appropriate office of the Forest Service.
            (3) Survey.--The exact acreage and legal description of the
        National Forest System land to be conveyed under subsection (a)
        shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary.
    (c) Terms and Conditions of the Conveyance.--
            (1) Requirements.--The conveyance under subsection (a)
        shall be--
                    (A) subject to valid existing rights;
                    (B) made by quitclaim deed; and
                    (C) subject to such other terms and conditions as
                the Secretary considers to be appropriate to protect
                the interests of the United States.
            (2) Costs.--As a condition of the conveyance under
        subsection (a), Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC shall pay to the
        Secretary--
                    (A) an amount equal to the market value of the land
                to be conveyed under subsection (a), as determined by
                the appraisal under subsection (d); and
                    (B) all costs associated with the conveyance,
                including the cost of--
                            (i) a survey, if necessary, under
                        subsection (b)(3);
                            (ii) conducting the appraisal under
                        subsection (d); and
                            (iii) any environmental analysis or
                        resource survey required under Federal law.
    (d) Appraisal.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 300 days after the date of
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an
        appraisal to determine the market value of the land to be
        conveyed under subsection (a).
            (2) Standards.--The appraisal under paragraph (1) shall be
        conducted in accordance with--
                    (A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal
                Land Acquisitions; and
                    (B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal
                Practice.
    (e) Hazardous Materials.--Notwithstanding the requirements of
section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)), with
respect to the conveyance under subsection (a), the Secretary--
            (1) shall only be required to meet disclosure requirements
        for hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants under
        section 120(h); and
            (2) shall not otherwise be required to remediate or abate
        the hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants disclosed
        pursuant to paragraph (1).
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled
        ``Conveyance of Federal Parcel Chequamegon-Nicolet National
        Forest'' and dated September 27, 2023.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.

SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF FEDERAL PERMITTING PROCESSES FOR STONE,
              SAND, AND GRAVEL DEVELOPMENT ON FEDERAL LANDS.

    (a) Review.--The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with
the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, industry stakeholders,
and State permitting authorities, shall conduct a comprehensive review
of the Federal permitting processes for the development of stone, sand,
and gravel on Federal lands.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the
entities referred to in subsection (a), shall submit to the Committee
on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and make publicly
available on the website of the Department of the Interior a report
that includes--
            (1) a detailed description of the current Federal
        permitting process for stone, sand, and gravel development,
        including average timelines from initial application to final
        approval;
            (2) an analysis identifying potential inefficiencies and
        duplicative steps in such permitting process and the impact of
        such inefficiencies and duplicative steps on project timelines;
            (3) the Secretary's recommendations for legislative or
        administrative actions to streamline such permitting process;
        and
            (4) a summary of the economic impacts associated with
        current permitting timelines under such permitting process,
        specifically focusing on the stone, sand, and gravel sectors.
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