James Barcia: “I rise in support of H.R. 2670, a bill I sponsored, to provide for the release of reversionary interests held by the…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 2670, a bill I sponsored, to provide for the release of reversionary interests held by the United States in certain property located in Iosco County, MI. I want to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on Resource Conservation, Research and Forestry, chaired by the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Allard], and its ranking member, the gentleman from South Dakota [Mr. Johnson], for their willingness to help move this issue toward resolution. In 1960 land was provided to Iosco County for the construction of an airport. This land was provided through the Secretary of Agriculture under the authority of section 16 of the Federal Airport Act of 1946, and in conformity with Executive Order 10536 of June 9, 1954. Using survey lines that had been drawn at the time, one of my constituents, Mr. Otto Peppel, constructed a cabin on land based upon the old survey that he believed to be his own. A conflict in the lines of occupation with the legal boundary lines was discovered in a 1976 survey performed for airport expansion, showing that 1.9 acres that Mr. Peppel believed to be his were in fact the airport's. Efforts to eliminate the title conflict have been going on since that time, culminating in the request to me to introduce legislation to allow for the dismissal of the reverter clause in this property. Local authorities and Mr. Peppel have agreed to exchange a like amount of property so that the title can be cleared.”