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1994 SESSION

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HB 373 Reversion to the Commonwealth of title to lands owned by the U.S.

Introduced by: I. Vincent Behm, Jr. | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY:

Reversion to the Commonwealth of title to lands owned by the United States. Prevents title to federally owned property from reverting to state ownership by operation of law if environmental hazards on the property have not been remedied. The Superfund law prohibits the federal government from conveying property contaminated with hazardous substances to anyone without cleaning up the property and requires that the deed contain covenants to take further necessary remedial action. Existing state law provides that nonuse and other circumstances will cause an immediate reversion of federal lands to the state. By preventing title from passing to the Commonwealth without the execution and delivery of a proper transfer instrument by the federal government, this bill seeks to ensure that the protections in the Superfund law are not circumvented. The bill also provides that if the BRAC Commission (Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission) identifies a Virginia base for closure, the Commonwealth shall have the right to enter upon such lands for inspection, and to report its findings to the Governor and the appropriate federal agencies.


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