Bill > S1983

This bill, titled the Fernley Economic Self-Determination Act, directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation, to transfer approximately 9,407 acres of federal land within the City of Fernley, Nevada, to the city itself. This transfer will be done via a quitclaim deed, meaning the United States is transferring whatever ownership interest it has without making any guarantees about the title. The conveyance is subject to existing rights and must occur within 180 days of the city making an offer to purchase the land, which will be identified on a specific map. The fair market value of the land will be determined through an appraisal process that adheres to national standards, and the city will be responsible for paying the fair market value and covering the associated transaction costs, such as appraisals and surveys. Importantly, the bill exempts this land transfer from certain land use planning requirements and from being considered a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act, meaning it won't require a full environmental impact study. The Bureau of Reclamation may retain easements or rights-of-way for the operation of the Truckee Canal or the Newlands Project. Upon conveyance, the United States will be released from any liability related to hazardous substances or mining-related features on the land that existed before the transfer, and the land will be withdrawn from future public land, mining, and mineral leasing laws.