Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Land Adjustment Act
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell or exchange any or all interest of the United States in 30 tracts of National Forest System land in Georgia totaling approximately 3,841 acres.
USDA may reserve any rights-of-way or other rights or interests in land sold or exchanged under this bill that is considered necessary for management purposes or to protect the public interest.
USDA may not sell or exchange land under this bill for less than market value, as determined by an appraisal or through a competitive bid.
The bill requires proceeds to be used for the acquisition of land for national forest purposes in Georgia.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1434 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1434
To authorize the sale of certain National Forest System land in the
State of Georgia.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 8, 2017
Mr. Collins of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Allen,
Mr. Loudermilk, and Mr. Ferguson) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the sale of certain National Forest System land in the
State of Georgia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Land Adjustment Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DEFINITION.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) certain National Forest System land in the State of
Georgia consists of isolated tracts that are inefficient to
manage or have lost their principal value for National Forest
purposes;
(2) the disposal of that land would be in the public
interest; and
(3) proceeds from the sale of land authorized by this Act
would be used best by the Forest Service to purchase land for
National Forest purposes in the State of Georgia.
(b) Definition of Secretary.--In this Act, the term ``Secretary''
means the Secretary of Agriculture.
SEC. 3. LAND CONVEYANCE AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized, under such terms and
conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, to sell or exchange any or
all rights, title, and interest of the United States in the National
Forest System land described in subsection (b).
(b) Land Authorized for Disposal.--
(1) In general.--The National Forest System land subject to
sale or exchange under this Act are 30 tracts of land totaling
approximately 3,841 acres, which are generally depicted on 2
maps entitled ``Priority Land Adjustments, State of Georgia,
U.S. Forest Service-Southern Region, Oconee and Chattahoochee
National Forests, U.S. Congressional Districts 8, 9, 10 & 14''
and dated September 24, 2013.
(2) Maps.--The maps described in paragraph (1) shall be on
file and available for public inspection in the Office of the
Forest Supervisor, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, until
such time as the land is sold or exchanged.
(3) Modification of boundaries.--The Secretary may modify
the boundaries of the land described in paragraph (1) based on
land management considerations.
(c) Form of Conveyance.--
(1) Quitclaim deed.--The Secretary shall convey land sold
under this Act by quitclaim deed.
(2) Reservations.--The Secretary may reserve any rights-of-
way or other rights or interests in land sold or exchanged
under this Act that the Secretary considers necessary for
management purposes or to protect the public interest.
(d) Valuation.--
(1) Market value.--The Secretary may not sell or exchange
land under this Act for less than market value, as determined
by appraisal or through competitive bid.
(2) Appraisal requirements.--Any appraisal shall be--
(A) consistent with the Uniform Appraisal Standards
for Federal Land Acquisitions or the Uniform Standards
of Professional Appraisal Practice; and
(B) subject to the approval of the Secretary.
(e) Consideration.--
(1) Cash.--Consideration for a sale of land or equalization
of an exchange shall be paid in cash.
(2) Exchange.--Notwithstanding section 206(b) of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1716(b)), the Secretary may accept a cash equalization payment
in excess of 25 percent of the value of any land exchanged.
(f) Method of Sale.--
(1) Options.--The Secretary may sell land under subsection
(a) at public or private sale, including competitive sale by
auction, bid, or otherwise, in accordance with such terms,
conditions, and procedures as the Secretary determines are in
the best interest of the United States.
(2) Solicitations.--The Secretary may--
(A) make public or private solicitations for the
sale or exchange of land authorized by this Act; and
(B) reject any offer that the Secretary determines
is not adequate or not in the public interest.
(g) Brokers.--The Secretary may--
(1) use brokers or other third parties in the disposition
of the land authorized by this Act; and
(2) from the proceeds of a sale, pay reasonable commissions
or fees.
SEC. 4. TREATMENT OF PROCEEDS.
(a) Deposit.--Subject to section 3(g)(2), the Secretary shall
deposit the proceeds of a sale or cash equalizations payments
authorized by this Act in the fund established under Public Law 90-171
(commonly known as the ``Sisk Act'') (16 U.S.C. 484a).
(b) Availability.--Subject to subsection (c), amounts deposited
under subsection (a) shall be available to the Secretary until
expended, without further appropriation, for the acquisition of land
for National Forest purposes in the State of Georgia.
(c) Private Property Protection.--Nothing in this Act authorizes
the use of funds deposited under subsection (a) to be used to acquire
land without the written consent of the owner of the land.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
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