S 277119th CongressIntroduced

A bill to release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.

Introduced: Jan 28, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-Tennessee)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would resolve a land-ownership wrinkle in Chester County, Tennessee by (1) releasing a U.S. government reversionary interest in a 0.62-acre parcel of Chickasaw State Forest and (2) transferring the United States’ mineral rights in that same parcel to the State of Tennessee. The actions are tied to an encroachment issue involving Bethel Baptist Church on land described as State forest land. The release of the reversionary interest and the conveyance of mineral rights would occur without any appraisal, environmental review, or other studies, and the state would be responsible for any administrative costs incurred by the federal government. The conveyance would be by quitclaim deed (no warranties) and would be without consideration.

Key Points

1The bill targets a specific parcel in Chickasaw State Forest in Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee, cited as about 0.62 acres on a December 13, 2019 map. It notes an encroachment by Bethel Baptist Church of roughly 19 inches onto state land.
2Reversionary interest: The United States would release its reversionary interest in the parcel (the interest that would apply if the land ceased to be used for public purposes) without any appraisal, environmental review, or other land-grant formalities. The Tennessee state government would pay the U.S. administrative costs of the release.
3Mineral rights: The Secretary of Agriculture would convey the U.S. mineral interests in the parcel to the State of Tennessee by quitclaim deed, without warranty and without consideration. The conveyance would occur without exploration, findings of mineral value, appraisal, or environmental review, and the state would pay any federal administrative costs.
4Legal basis and scope: The action is limited to this specific parcel and related interests; it bypasses some standard procedures and reviews typically required for land and mineral transfers, as described in the bill.
5Administrative costs: The state must reimburse the federal government for its administrative costs associated with both the release of the reversionary interest and the conveyance of mineral rights.

Impact Areas

Primary: The State of Tennessee (Chester County, Henderson area) gains full control over the parcel’s land use and mineral rights, potentially resolving the encroachment issue and simplifying land management for this parcel within Chickasaw State Forest.Secondary: Bethel Baptist Church (as the encroaching party) and local residents who use or value the state forest land may be affected by changes in land control and any future mineral activity (though the bill restricts exploration procedures and findings in this conveyance).Additional impacts:- Federal side: The Department of Agriculture (and the Forest Service) would forego certain oversight authorities over this parcel in favor of state control; the U.S. would incur and bill for incidental administrative costs.- Environmental and regulatory: The bill waives typical appraisal and environmental review processes for both the release and the mineral-rights conveyance, which could raise concerns among stakeholders about undisclosed environmental or community impacts.- Precedent and policy: If enacted, this approach could influence similar encroachment resolutions or transfers involving other state forest lands, particularly where encroachment issues exist and mineral rights are a factor.Reversionary interest: A right retained by the federal government to take back ownership of land if it stops being used for its originally intended public purposes.Quitclaim deed: A type of deed that transfers whatever interest the grantor has with no warranties about title or ownership.Without consideration/appraisal/environmental review: Means the transfer occurs without the usual monetary payment, formal land appraisal, or required environmental assessments.

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