Arizona gets 233 acres of federal forest—but county pays all cleanup costs

What it does

This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer approximately 233 acres of National Forest land in Arizona (the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site) to Gila County at no cost to the federal government. The county must request the transfer within 180 days, pay all survey and environmental analysis costs, and use the land exclusively to serve and support military veterans; if the land is used for any other purpose, it reverts to federal ownership.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole operative mechanism is a mandatory conveyance of federal forest land to a county government, with use restricted to veteran services. This is a straightforward property transfer, not a regulatory change, appropriation, or subsidy.

What the text implies

• Environmental liability shifts to county: federal government explicitly disclaims any covenant or warranty under CERCLA § 120(h)(3)(A), meaning Gila County assumes all environmental remediation costs if contamination is discovered post-transfer.
• Public land access may be restricted: 233 acres of Tonto National Forest land transitions from federal public stewardship to county control, potentially limiting public recreation or resource access.
• Cost burden on local taxpayers: county must pay all survey, environmental analysis, and National Historic Preservation Act compliance costs—a financial burden on Gila County residents for a facility serving a broader veteran population.
• Reversion clause creates title uncertainty: if the county fails to maintain veteran-services use, the land reverts to federal ownership, creating potential disputes over what constitutes compliant use.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Citizens in Gila County gain a dedicated facility for veteran services, a public benefit. However, the transfer removes 233 acres of National Forest from federal stewardship and public access, and shifts environmental compliance and survey costs to the county (ultimately local taxpayers), while the federal government retains no covenant or warranty for environmental conditions—creating potential long-term liability for the county and loss of public resource management.

Who stands to gain

• Gila County, Arizona (receives 233 acres of federal land at no acquisition cost)

Named in the bill

Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Gila County, Arizona, Tonto National Forest, Pleasant Valley Ranger District

Where it stands

• Jan 31, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jan 31, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources”
• Feb 5, 2025 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H480)”
• Feb 5, 2025 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill”
• Feb 4, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably”
• Sep 30, 2026 — Passed both chambers · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent”
• Oct 15, 2026 — Sent to president · Congress.gov: “Presented to President”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.