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June 18, 2010

Committee approves Boren ‘Fountainhead’ bill

— WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Natural Resources Committee agreed to U.S. Congressman Dan Boren’s bill, H.R. 1554 the Fountainhead Property Land Transfer Act, by a voice vote passing the measure out of the Committee, according to a media release. Once passed into law, the bill would transfer 18 acres of land within the Fountainhead Resort Property, currently owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, into trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

The entire Foutainhead property was purchased by the tribe through a foreclosure auction in 2005 and consists of 48 acres of fee land, 18 of which is the land owned by the Corps, an 188 room hotel, a recreational building, and some duplex cabins. After the tribe purchased the property, a survey determined that 18 acres was in fact owned by the Corps, and that particular piece of land included the recreational building. Even though the acreage falls within the jurisdiction of the Creek Nation already, the Corps of Engineers has no authority to sell land outright and Congressional action is necessary for the transfer.

“I am very pleased that this legislation received bipartisan approval today from the Natural Resources Committee,” Boren said in the release. “This is a great step forward for the continued renovation and development of the Foutainhead property.”

For years, the Creek Nation has been in discussion with the Corps and local community leaders regarding the benefits of this project. It will bring much needed jobs and tourism revenue to the surrounding communities, Boren said.

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