H.R. 10136

I
  119TH CONGRESS
  2D SESSION
  H. R. 10136
  To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Crossett Experimental
  Forest to the State of Arkansas, and for other purposes.
  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  AUGUST 20, 2026
  Mr. WESTERMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
  Committee on Natural Resources
  A BILL
  To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the
  Crossett Experimental Forest to the State of Arkansas,
  and for other purposes.
1Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
  2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3   SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Crossett Experimental
  5 Forest Act of 2026’’.
6   SEC. 2. CONVEYANCE OF THE CROSSETT EXPERIMENTAL
7FOREST.
8(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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1(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
2the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the
3Chief of the Forest Service.
4(2) STATE.—The terms ‘‘State’’ means the
5State of Arkansas.
6(3) FOREST.—The term ‘‘Forest’’ means the
7Crossett Experimental Forest, the R.R. Reynolds
8Research Natural Area, and associated facilities,
9generally depicted as ‘‘USDA Forest Service’’ on the
10map  entitled  ‘‘Crossett  Experimental  Forest’’,
11version 1, and dated May 1, 2026.
12(b) CONVEYANCE REQUIRED.—Subject to this sec-
  13 tion, if the State submits to the Secretary a written re-
  14 quest for conveyance of the Forest not later than 180 days
  15 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
  16 shall convey to the State all right, title, and interest of
  17 the United States in and to the Forest.
18(c) TERMS  AND        CONDITIONS.—The conveyance
  19 under subsection (b) shall be—
20(1) subject to valid existing rights;
21(2) made without consideration;
22(3) made by quitclaim deed;
23(4) subject to the requirements under sub-
24section (f); and
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1(5) subject to such other terms and conditions
2as the Secretary considers to be appropriate to pro-
3tect the interests of the United States.
4(d) COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.—Any costs relating to
  5 the conveyance under subsection (b), including costs for
  6 surveys and other administrative costs, shall be paid by
  7 the State.
8(e) MAP CORRECTIONS.—The Secretary and the
  9 State may, by mutual agreement—
10(1) make minor boundary adjustments to the
11Forest to be conveyed under subsection (b); and
12(2) correct any minor errors in the map, an
13acreage estimate, or the description of the Forest.
14(f) USE OF CONVEYED LAND.—
15(1) STATE FOREST DESIGNATION.—As a condi-
16tion of conveyance, the State, upon conveyance, shall
17designate the Forest as the ‘‘Crossett State Forest’’
18and manage and maintain the Forest under such
19designation and in accordance with all laws and reg-
20ulations applicable to Arkansas State forests, to the
21extent that such laws and regulations do not conflict
22with the requirements of this section.
23(2) USE.—The State shall use the conveyed
24Forest—
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1(A) for forest research, education, and
2demonstration purposes in a manner consistent
3with the historic research mission of the Forest;
4and
5(B) in coordination with the University of
6Arkansas at Monticello and the University of
7Arkansas Division of Agriculture, including by
8providing such entities with reasonable research
9and education access to the Forest for research
10and educational purposes.
11(3) REVERSIONARY  INTEREST.—If  the Sec-
12retary determines that the State has failed to man-
13age and maintain the Forest in accordance with
14paragraph (1) or use the Forest in accordance with
15paragraph (2)—
16(A) the Secretary shall issue to the State
17written notice of the failure; and
18(B) if the State does not correct the failure
19within 180 days after receiving such written no-
20tice, all right, title, and interest in and to the
21Forest, or the portion of the Forest affected by
22the failure, may, at the discretion of the Sec-
23retary, revert to the United States.
24(g) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL LAW.—
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1(1) MAJOR FEDERAL ACTION.—A conveyance
2under subsection (b) shall not be considered a major
3Federal action for purposes of section 102(2)(C) of
4the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
5U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
6(2) EFFECT OF UNDERTAKING ON HISTORIC
7PROPERTY.—Section  306108 of title 54, United
8States Code, shall not apply with respect to a con-
9veyance under subsection (b).
  Æ
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