Y 4.Ar 5/2a: 983-84/22 [H.A.S.C. No. 98-22] HEARING ON H.R. 1863 TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PARCELS OF INVESTIGATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE BILL NICHOLS, Alabama, Chairman ABRAHAM KAZEN, JR., Texas NICHOLAS MAVROULES, Massachusetts MARVIN LEATH, Texas RICHARD RAY, Georgia C. ROBIN BRITT, North Carolina LES ASPIN, Wisconsin LARRY J. HOPKINS, Kentucky JOHN F. LALLY, Counsel WILLIAM D. PRICE, Professional Staff Member H.R. 1863-TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PARCELS OF FEDERAL LAND IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO THE OWNERS OF RESIDENCES ON SUCH PARCELS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, INVESTIGATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, October 26, 1983. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice at 10 a.m., in room 2212, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Bill Nichols (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BILL NICHOLS, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ALABAMA, CHAIRMAN, INVESTIGATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE Mr. NICHOLS. The subcommittee will come to order. The subcommittee is meeting today to consider H.R. 1863, a bill to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of Federal land in the State of California to the owners of residences on such parcels. The lands involved in the bill are 10 lots located on Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 2 at Buena Vista Hills in Kern County, Calif. The problem dates back to the early 1920's when Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 2 was leased to the Murvale Oil Co., a subsidiary of Standard Oil of California. At that time, the Ford City townsite was established. The population of the city soon expanded past the original townsite boundaries. In an effort to create a buffer between the townsite and its working interest, Standard Oil Co. encouraged its employees to construct homes on the leased land. Free water and electricity were provided by the company and fencing was erected to separate these residences from the remainder of the townsite. In the intervening years, however, the fences came down and those homes were assumed to be a part of Ford City. It was not until the 1970's, when the Navy Department reassumed administration of the area, that it was discovered that these 10 homesites are located on federally owned land. To resolve the ownership of these lots in an equitable manner, H.R. 1863 would authorize the Secretary of Energy to convey the surface rights of the 10 lots to the current owners for the fair market value, as determined by the Secretary. Each conveyance would reserve the oil, gas, and mineral rights to the United States of America. |