S-277-119
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 207.
Sponsored by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
What it does
This bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to release the federal government's reversionary interest in approximately 0.62 acres of state forest land in Chickasaw State Forest, Chester County, Tennessee, and to convey the federal mineral rights in that same parcel to the State of Tennessee. Both actions would occur without appraisal, environmental review, or payment — except that Tennessee would reimburse the federal government for any administrative costs incurred. The bill is intended to resolve a boundary encroachment of approximately 19 inches by Bethel Baptist Church onto state-owned land.
Who benefits
The State of Tennessee, which would gain full, unencumbered ownership of the 0.62-acre parcel and its mineral rights. Bethel Baptist Church, whose existing encroachment onto state land would become easier to resolve once the federal reversionary interest is cleared. Chester County residents who benefit from legal clarity on local land boundaries. State forest managers who would have cleaner title to administer Chickasaw State Forest without a federal reversionary claim hanging over the parcel.
Who is hurt
The federal government and, by extension, U.S. taxpayers would give up a reversionary interest and mineral rights without receiving compensation or conducting a valuation — meaning any future mineral value in the parcel would be permanently transferred to Tennessee at no cost. Environmental or public interest groups may object to the waiver of environmental review requirements. Future federal land managers would lose any ability to reclaim the parcel if it ceases to be used for public purposes.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that the encroachment issue — a mere 19-inch overlap between a church and state forest land — is a minor, localized boundary dispute that cannot be resolved without first clearing the federal reversionary interest. They contend that requiring a full appraisal, mineral survey, and environmental review for a 0.62-acre parcel would impose bureaucratic costs and delays wildly disproportionate to the scale of the problem, and that the land remains in public hands under Tennessee's stewardship regardless.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that waiving appraisal, environmental review, and mineral valuation requirements — even for a small parcel — sets a troubling precedent for bypassing standard federal land disposal safeguards. They contend that the mineral rights being conveyed without any assessment of their value means taxpayers could unknowingly be giving up economically significant subsurface resources, and that the proper remedy for a 19-inch encroachment is a boundary adjustment or easement, not a full federal interest transfer without due diligence.
Constitutional context
Congress has broad authority over federal property under the Property Clause (Art. IV, §3, cl. 2), which grants Congress the power to dispose of federal lands and property. No active constitutional tension is implicated here; this is a routine, narrowly scoped exercise of that disposal authority over a specific, named parcel.
Checks and balances
Congress retains authority over federal land disposal; the Secretary of Agriculture executes the transfer, but the bill removes the Secretary's discretion by mandating the release and conveyance without review. No ongoing federal check would remain over the parcel after transfer.
Historical precedent
Congress routinely passes narrowly scoped bills releasing federal reversionary interests or conveying small parcels of federal land to states or localities to resolve boundary disputes or administrative anomalies, though no single landmark statute governs this specific type of action.