S2440-119

What This Bill Does

This bill authorizes the transfer of approximately 310.7 acres of Homochitto National Forest land in Franklin County, Mississippi, to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance, a Mississippi state agency. The land includes the Okhissa Lake area and will be used for public recreation and wildlife habitat, promoting rural economic development in this area of Mississippi.

Who Benefits and How

The Scenic Rivers Development Alliance and Franklin County residents are the primary beneficiaries. The Alliance gains control of 310 acres for economic development purposes, while the general public retains access through permanent road and trail easements for recreation at Okhissa Lake. The U.S. Forest Service also benefits by receiving fair market value proceeds (deposited in the Sisk Act fund for future National Forest land purchases) while being exempted from environmental review requirements (NEPA) and hazardous waste cleanup obligations. Mineral extraction companies may indirectly benefit because the federal government retains all mineral and subsurface rights, which could later be leased.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Scenic Rivers Development Alliance faces significant ongoing obligations: they must pay fair market value for the land plus all appraisal, survey, and administrative costs; maintain the Okhissa Lake Dam and assume all dam safety liability; allow permanent public access; use the land only for public recreation and wildlife habitat (not private development); accept full responsibility for environmental contamination cleanup; and risk losing the land back to the federal government if these terms are violated. Real estate developers are excluded from purchasing this land, and the Alliance is prohibited from subdividing it into residential lots. Environmental groups may have mixed reactions—while strong protections prevent private development, federal public lands are still being transferred out of the National Forest System.

Key Provisions

• Transfers 310.7 acres of Homochitto National Forest land to Mississippi'''s Scenic Rivers Development Alliance for public recreation
• Requires Alliance to pay fair market value determined by federal appraisal standards
• Federal government retains all mineral, oil, gas, and subsurface rights
• Mandates permanent public access via 30-foot road easements and trail rights-of-way
• Requires Alliance to maintain Okhissa Lake Dam and assume all dam safety liability
• Prohibits subdivision into residential lots and restricts use to public recreation and wildlife habitat
• Gives federal government right to reclaim the land if sold to private entities or used for non-public purposes
• Exempts the transfer from NEPA environmental review requirements
• Alliance assumes all environmental liability and cleanup costs