[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov] 118 STAT. 1364 Public Law 108-341 108th Congress An Act To transfer Federal lands between the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior. NOTE: Oct. 18, 2004 - [S. 1814] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, NOTE: Missouri. SECTION 1. PURPOSES AND DEFINITIONS. (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to transfer administrative jurisdiction of certain Federal lands in Missouri from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Agriculture for continued Federal operation of the Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center; and (2) to not change the Secretary of Labor's role or authority regarding this Job Corps Center. (b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act-- (1) ``Center'' means the Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in Stoddard County, Missouri, referenced in section 2(a) of this Act; (2) ``eligible employee'' means a person who, as of the date of enactment of this Act, is a full-time, part-time, or intermittent annual or per hour permanent Federal Government employee of the Fish and Wildlife Service at the Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, including the two fully funded Washington Office Job Corps support staff; (3) ``Environmental Authorities'' mean all applicable Federal, State and local laws (including regulations) and requirements related to protection of human health, natural resources, or the environment, including but not limited to: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.); the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901, et seq.); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.); the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.); the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.); the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601, et seq.); the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f, et seq.); and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); (4) ``U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service'' means the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as referenced at title 16, United States Code, section 742b(b); (5) ``Forest Service'' means the Department of Agriculture Forest Service as established by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the authority of title 16, United States Code, section 551; [[Page 1365]] 118 STAT. 1365 (6) ``Job Corps'' means the national Job Corps program established within the Department of Labor, as set forth in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law No. 105-220, Sec. Sec. 141-161, 112 Stat. 1006-1021 (1998) (codified at 29 U.S.C. 2881-2901); (7) ``National Forest System'' means that term as defined at title 16, United States Code, section 1609(a); and (8) ``National Wildlife Refuge System'' means that term as defined at title 16, United States Code, section 668dd. SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION. (a) Transfer of Center.--Administrative jurisdiction over the Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, comprising approximately 87 acres in Stoddard County, Missouri, as generally depicted on a map entitled ``Mingo National Wildlife Refuge'', dated September 17, 2002, to be precisely identified in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, is hereby transferred, without consideration, from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) Maps and Legal Descriptions.-- (1) The map referenced in this section shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief, Forest Service, Washington, DC, and in the office of the Chief of Realty, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, Virginia. (2) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall file a legal description and map of all of the lands comprising the Center and being transferred by section 2(a) of this Act with the Committee on Resources of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the United States Senate, and such description and map shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary of the Interior may make typographical corrections as necessary. (c) Applicable Laws.-- (1) Subject to section 3, the Center transferred pursuant to subsection (a) shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture and shall be subject to the laws and regulations applicable to the National Forest System. (2) This transfer shall not conflict or interfere with any laws and regulations applicable to Job Corps. SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSFER. (a) Reversion Requirement.-- (1) NOTE: Notification. Deadline. In the event that the Center is no longer used or administered for Job Corps purposes, as concurred to by the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Agriculture shall so notify the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of the Interior shall have 180 days from the date of such notice to exercise discretion to reassume jurisdiction over such lands. (2) NOTE: Federal Register, publication. Deadline. The reversionary provisions of subsection (a) shall be effected, without further action by the Congress, through a Letter of Transfer executed by the Chief, Forest Service, and the Director, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and with notice thereof published in the Federal Register within 60 days of the date of the Letter of Transfer. (b) Authorizations.-- [[Page 1366]] 118 STAT. 1366 (1) In general.--A permit or other authorization granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the Center that is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act will continue with the concurrence of the Forest Service. (2) Reissuance.--A permit or authorization described in paragraph (1) may be reissued or terminated under terms and conditions prescribed by the Forest Service. (3) Exercise of rights.--The Forest Service may exercise any of the rights of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contained in any permit or other authorization, including any right to amend, modify, and revoke the permit or authorization. (c) Contracts.-- (1) Existing contracts.--The Forest Service is authorized to undertake all rights and obligations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under contracts entered into by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the Center that is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. (2) Notice of novation.--The Forest Service shall promptly notify all contractors that it is assuming the obligations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under such contracts. (3) Disputes.--Any contract disputes under the Contracts Disputes Act (41 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) regarding the administration of the Center and arising prior to the date of enactment of this Act shall be the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (d) Memorandum of Agreement.-- (1) In general.--The Chief, Forest Service, and the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are authorized to enter into a memorandum of agreement concerning implementation of this Act, including procedures for-- (A) the orderly transfer of employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Forest Service; (B) the transfer of property, fixtures, and facilities; (C) the transfer of records; (D) the maintenance and use of roads and trails; and (E) other transfer issues. (e) Agreements With the Secretary of Labor.--In the operation of the Center, the Forest Service will undertake the rights and obligations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with respect to existing agreements with the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Public Law 105-220 (29 U.S.C. 2887, et seq.), and the Forest Service will be the responsible agency for any subsequent agreements or amendments to existing agreements. (f) Records.-- (1) Area management records.--The Forest Service shall have access to all records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pertaining to the management of the Center. (2) Personnel records.--The personnel records of eligible employees transferred pursuant to this Act, including the Official Personnel Folder, Employee Performance File, and other related files, shall be transferred to the Forest Service. (3) Land title records.--The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide to the Forest Service records pertaining to land titles, surveys, and other records pertaining to transferred real property and facilities. (g) Transfer of Personal Property.-- [[Page 1367]] 118 STAT. 1367 (1) In general.--All federally owned personal property present at the Center is hereby transferred without consideration to the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, except that with regard to personal property acquired by the Fish and Wildlife Service using funds provided by the Department of Labor under the Job Corps program, the Forest Service shall dispose of any such property in accordance with the procedures stated in section 7(e) of the 1989 Interagency Agreement for Administration of Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Program, as amended, between the Department of Labor and the Department of the Interior. (2) NOTE: Deadline. Inventory.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide the Forest Service with an inventory of all property and facilities at the Center. (3) Property included.--Property under this subsection includes, but is not limited to, buildings, office furniture and supplies, computers, office equipment, vehicles, tools, equipment, maintenance supplies, and publications. (4) Exclusion of property.--At the request of the authorized representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service may exclude movable property from transfer based on a showing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that the property is needed for the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, cannot be replaced in a cost-effective manner, and is not needed for management of the Center. SEC. 4. COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITIES. (a) Documentation of Existing Conditions.-- (1) NOTE: Deadline. In general.--Within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide the Forest Service and the Office of Job Corps, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, all reasonably ascertainable documentation and information that exists on the environmental condition of the land comprising the Center. (2) Additional documentation.--The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide the Forest Service and the Office of Job Corps, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, with any additional documentation and information regarding the environmental condition of the Center as such documentation and information becomes available. (b) Actions Required.-- (1) NOTE: Deadline. Assessment.--Within 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide the Forest Service and the Office of Job Corps, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, an assessment, consistent with ASTM Standard E1527, indicating what action, if any, is required on the Center under any Environmental Authorities. (2) Memorandum of agreement.--If the findings of the environmental assessment indicate that action is required under applicable Environmental Authorities with respect to any portion of the Center, the Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall enter into a memorandum of agreement that-- [[Page 1368]] 118 STAT. 1368 (A) provides for the performance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the required actions identified in the environmental assessment; and (B) includes a schedule for the timely completion of the required actions to be taken as agreed to by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service. (c) NOTE: Deadline. Documentation of Actions.--After a mutually agreeable amount of time following completion of the environmental assessment, but not exceeding 180 days from such completion, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall provide the Forest Service and the Office of Job Corps, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, with documentation demonstrating that all actions required under applicable Environmental Authorities have been taken that are necessary to protect human health and the environment with respect to any hazardous substance, pollutant, contaminant, hazardous waste, hazardous material, or petroleum product or derivative of a petroleum product on the Center. (d) Continuation of Responsibilities and Liabilities.-- (1) In general.--The transfer of the Center and the requirements of this section shall not in any way affect the responsibilities and liabilities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Center under any applicable Environmental Authorities. (2) Access.--At all times after the date of enactment of this Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its agents shall be accorded any access to the Center that may be reasonably required to carry out the responsibility or satisfy the liability referred to in paragraph (1). (3) No liability.--The Forest Service shall not be liable under any applicable Environmental Authorities for matters that are related directly or indirectly to activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Department of Labor on the Center occurring on or before the date of enactment of this Act, including liability for-- (A) costs or performance of response actions required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.) at or related to the Center; or (B) costs, penalties, fines, or performance of actions related to noncompliance with applicable Environmental Authorities at or related to the Center or related to the presence, release, or threat of release of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant, hazardous waste, hazardous material, or petroleum product or derivative of a petroleum product of any kind at or related to the Center, including contamination resulting from migration. (4) No effect on responsibilities or liabilities.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), nothing in this title affects, modifies, amends, repeals, alters, limits or otherwise changes, directly or indirectly, the responsibilities or liabilities under applicable Environmental Authorities with respect to the Forest Service after the date of enactment of this Act. (e) Other Federal Agencies.--Subject to the other provisions of this section, a Federal agency that carried or carries out operations at the Center resulting in the violation of an environmental authority shall be responsible for all costs associated with corrective actions and subsequent remediation. [[Page 1369]] 118 STAT. 1369 SEC. 5. PERSONNEL. (a) In General.-- (1) Employment.--Notwithstanding section 3503 of title 5, United States Code, the Forest Service will accept the transfer of eligible employees at their current pay and grade levels to administer the Center as of the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Transfer-Appointment in the Forest Service.--Eligible employees will transfer, without a break in Federal service and without competition, from the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, upon an agreed date by both agencies. (c) Employee Benefit Transition.--Employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who transfer to the Forest Service-- (1) shall retain all benefits and/or eligibility for benefits of Federal employment without interruption in coverage or reduction in coverage, including those pertaining to any retirement, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB), Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), leave, or other employee benefits; (2) shall retain their existing status with respect to the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS); (3) shall be entitled to carry over any leave time accumulated during their Federal Government employment; (4) shall retain their existing level of competitive employment status and tenure; and (5) shall retain their existing GM, GS, or WG grade level and pay. SEC. 6. IMPLEMENTATION COSTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. (a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Forest Service will cover their own costs in implementing this Act. (b) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. Approved October 18, 2004. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1814: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOUSE REPORTS: No. 108-716, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Resources). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 150 (2004): Apr. 20, considered and passed Senate. Oct. 4, considered and passed House.