Authorization for Lease of Forest Service Sites
Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8623, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4853, provided that:
“(a) Definitions.—In this section:
“(1) Administrative site.—
“(A) In general.—The term ‘administrative site’ means—
“(i)
any facility or improvement, including curtilage, that was acquired or is used specifically for purposes of administration of the National Forest System;
“(ii) any Federal land that—
“(I)
is associated with a facility or improvement described in clause (i) that was acquired or is used specifically for purposes of administration of Forest Service activities; and
“(II)
underlies or abuts the facility or improvement; and
“(iii)
for each fiscal year, not more than 10 isolated, undeveloped parcels of not more than 40 acres each.
“(B) Exclusions.—The term ‘administrative site’ does not include—
“(i)
any land within a unit of the National Forest System that is exclusively designated for natural area or recreational purposes;
“(ii) any land within—
“(I)
a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System;
“(II)
a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; or
“(III)
a National Monument; or
“(iii) any Federal land that the Secretary [of Agriculture] determines—
“(I)
is needed for resource management purposes or to provide access to other land or water; or
“(II)
would be in the public interest not to lease.
“(2) Facility or improvement.—The term ‘facility or improvement’ includes—
“(A)
a forest headquarters;
“(C)
a research station or laboratory;
“(G)
a fire-retardant mixing station;
“(H)
a fire-lookout station;
“(K)
a telecommunication facility; and
“(L)
any other administrative installation for conducting Forest Service activities.
“(3) Market analysis.—
The term ‘market analysis’ means the identification and study of the market for a particular economic good or service.
“(b) Authorization.—
The
Secretary may lease an administrative site that is under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary in accordance with this section.
“(c) Identification of Eligible Sites.—
A regional forester, in consultation with forest supervisors in the region, may submit to the
Secretary a recommendation for administrative sites in the region that the regional forester considers eligible for leasing under this section.
“(d) Consultation With Local Government and Public Notice.—Before making an administrative site available for lease under this section, the Secretary shall—
“(1)
consult with government officials of the community and of the State in which the administrative site is located; and
“(2)
provide public notice of the proposed lease.
“(e) Lease Requirements.—
“(1) Size.—
An administrative site or compound of administrative sites under a single lease under this section may not exceed 40 acres.
“(2) Configuration of administrative sites.—
“(A) In general.—To facilitate the lease of an administrative site under this section, the Secretary may configure the administrative site—
“(i)
to maximize the marketability of the administrative site; and
“(ii)
to achieve management objectives.
“(B) Separate treatment of facility or improvement.—
A facility or improvement on an administrative site to be leased under this section may be severed from the land and leased under a separate lease under this section.
“(3) Consideration.—
“(A) In general.—
A person to which a lease of an administrative site is made under this section shall provide to the
Secretary consideration described in subparagraph (B) in an amount that is not less than the market value of the administrative site, as determined in accordance with subparagraph (C).
“(B) Form of consideration.—The consideration referred to in subparagraph (A) may be—
“(ii) in-kind, including—
“(I)
the construction of new facilities or improvements, the title to which shall be transferred by the lessee to the
Secretary;
“(II)
the maintenance, repair, improvement, or restoration of existing facilities or improvements; and
“(III)
other services relating to activities that occur on the administrative site, as determined by the
Secretary; or
“(iii)
any combination of the consideration described in clauses (i) and (ii).
“(C) Determination of market value.—
“(i) In general.—The Secretary shall determine the market value of an administrative site to be leased under this section—
“(I) by conducting an appraisal in accordance with—
“(aa)
the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions established in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (
42 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.); and
“(bb)
the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice; or
“(II)
by competitive lease.
“(ii) In-kind consideration.—
The
Secretary shall determine the market value of any in-kind consideration under subparagraph (B)(ii).
“(4) Conditions.—
The lease of an administrative site under this section shall be subject to such conditions, including bonding, as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
“(5) Right of first refusal.—
Subject to terms and conditions that the
Secretary determines to be necessary, the
Secretary shall offer to lease an administrative site to the municipality or county in which the administrative site is located before seeking to lease the administrative site to any other person.
“(f) Relation to Other Laws.—
“(1) Federal property disposal.—
Chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code, shall not apply to the lease of an administrative site under this section.
“(2) Lead-based paint and asbestos abatement.—
“(A) In general.—
Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to the mitigation or abatement of lead-based paint or asbestos-containing building materials, the
Secretary shall not be required to mitigate or abate lead-based paint or asbestos-containing building materials with respect to an administrative site to be leased under this section.
“(B) Procedures.—With respect to an administrative site to be leased under this section that has lead-based paint or asbestos-containing building materials, the Secretary shall—
“(i)
provide notice to the person to which the administrative site will be leased of the presence of the lead-based paint or asbestos-containing building material; and
“(ii)
obtain written assurance from that person that the person will comply with applicable Federal, State, and local laws relating to the management of lead-based paint and asbestos-containing building materials.
“(3) Environmental review.—The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall apply to the lease of an administrative site under this section, except that, in any environmental review or analysis required under that Act for the lease of an administrative site under this section, the Secretary shall be required only—
“(A)
to analyze the most reasonably foreseeable use of the administrative site, as determined through a market analysis;
“(B)
to determine whether to include any conditions under subsection (e)(4); and
“(4) Compliance with local laws.—
A person that leases an administrative site under this section shall comply with all applicable State and local zoning laws, building codes, and permit requirements for any construction activities that occur on the administrative site.
“(g) Prohibition.—
No agency of the Federal Government shall make any cash payments to a leaseholder relating to the use or occupancy of any administrative site or facility that has been improved under this section.
“(h) Congressional Notifications.—
“(1) Anticipated use of authority.—As part of the annual budget justification documents provided to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Secretary shall include—
“(A)
a list of the anticipated leases to be made, including the anticipated revenue that may be obtained, under this section;
“(B)
a description of the intended use of any revenue obtained under a lease under this section, including a list of any projects that cost more than $500,000; and
“(C)
a description of accomplishments during previous years using the authority of the
Secretary under this section.
“(2) Changes to lease list.—
If the
Secretary desires to lease an administrative site under this section that is not included on a list provided under paragraph (1)(A), the
Secretary shall submit to the congressional committees described in paragraph (3) a notice of the proposed lease, including the anticipated revenue that may be obtained from the lease.
“(3) Use of authority.—
Not less frequently than once each year, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate a report describing each lease made by the
Secretary under this section during the period covered by the report.
“(i) Expiration of Authority.—
“(1) In general.—
The authority of the
Secretary to make a lease of an administrative site under this section expires on
October 1, 2023.
“(2) Effect on lease agreement.—
Paragraph (1) shall not affect the authority of the
Secretary to carry out this section in the case of any lease agreement that was entered into by the
Secretary before
October 1, 2023.”
[For definition of “National Forest System” as used in section 8623 of Pub. L. 115–334, set out above, see section 8601 of Pub. L. 115–334, set out below.]
Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement
Pub. L. 109–54, title V, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 559, as amended by Pub. L. 111–8, div. E, title IV, § 422, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 748; Pub. L. 112–74, div. E, title IV, § 421, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1045; Pub. L. 115–141, div. G, title IV, § 423, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 692; Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8504, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4847; Pub. L. 116–6, div. E, title IV, § 422, Feb. 15, 2019, 133 Stat. 263, provided that:
“SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.“In this title:
“(1) Administrative site.—The term ‘administrative site’ means—
“(A)
any facility or improvement, including curtilage, that was acquired or is used specifically for purposes of administration of the National Forest System;
“(B)
any Federal land associated with a facility or improvement described in subparagraph (A) that was acquired or is used specifically for purposes of administration of Forest Service activities and underlies or abuts the facility or improvement; or
“(C)
not more than 10 isolated, undeveloped parcels per fiscal year of not more than 40 acres each that were acquired or used for purposes of administration of Forest Service activities, but are not being so utilized, such as vacant lots outside of the proclaimed boundary of a unit of the National Forest System.
“(2) Facility or improvement.—The term ‘facility or improvement’ includes—
“(A)
a forest headquarters;
“(C)
a research station or laboratory;
“(G)
a fire-retardant mixing station;
“(H)
a fire-lookout station;
“(K)
a telecommunication facility; and
“(L)
other administrative installations for conducting Forest Service activities.
“(3) Market analysis.—
The term ‘market analysis’ means the identification and study of the real estate market for a particular economic good or service.
“SEC. 503. AUTHORIZATION FOR CONVEYANCE OF FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE SITES.
“(a) Conveyances Authorized.—
In the manner provided by this title, the
Secretary may convey an administrative site, or an interest in an administrative site, that is under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary.
“(b) Means of Conveyance.—The conveyance of an administrative site under this title may be made—
“(4)
by a combination of sale and exchange; or
“(5)
by such other means as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
“(c) Size of Conveyance.—
An administrative site or compound of administrative sites disposed of in a single conveyance under this title may not exceed 40 acres.
“(d) Certain Lands Excluded.—The following Federal land may not be conveyed under this title:
“(1)
Any land within a unit of the National Forest System that is exclusively designated for natural area or recreational purposes.
“(2)
Any land included within the National Wilderness Preservation System, the Wild and Scenic River System, or a National Monument.
“(3) Any land that the Secretary determines—
“(A)
is needed for resource management purposes or to provide access to other land or water;
“(B)
is surrounded by National Forest System land or other publicly owned land, if conveyance would not be in the public interest due to the creation of a non-Federal inholding that would preclude the efficient management of the surrounding land; or
“(C)
would be in the public interest to retain.
“(e) Congressional Notifications.—
“(1) Notice of anticipated use of authority.—As part of the annual budget justification documents provided to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Secretary shall include—
“(A)
a list of the anticipated conveyances to be made, including the anticipated revenue that may be obtained, using the authority provided by this title or other conveyance authorities available to the
Secretary;
“(B)
a discussion of the intended purposes of any new revenue obtained using this authority or other conveyance authorities available to the
Secretary, and a list of any individual projects that exceed $500,000; and
“(C)
a presentation of accomplishments of previous years using this authority or other conveyance authorities available to the
Secretary.
“(2) Notice of changes to conveyance list.—
If the
Secretary proposes to convey an administrative site under this title or using other conveyance authorities available to the
Secretary and the administrative site is not included on a list provided under paragraph (1)(A), the
Secretary shall submit to the congressional committees specified in paragraph (3) written notice of the proposed conveyance, including the anticipated revenue that may be obtained from the conveyance.
“(3) Notice of use of authority.—
At least once a year, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Resources [now Committee on Natural Resources] of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate a report containing a description of all conveyances of National Forest System land made by the
Secretary under this title or other conveyance authorities during the period covered by the report.
“(f) Duration of Authority.—
The authority of the
Secretary to initiate the conveyance of an administrative site under this title expires on
September 30, 2019.
“(g) Repeal of Pilot Conveyance Authority.—
Effective
September 30, 2006, section 329 of the
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 (
16 U.S.C. 580d note;
Public Law 107–63), is repealed. Notwithstanding the repeal of such section, the
Secretary may complete the conveyance under such section of any administrative site whose conveyance was initiated under such section before that date.
“SEC. 504. CONVEYANCE REQUIREMENTS.
“(a) Configuration of Administrative Sites.—
“(1) Configuration.—To facilitate the conveyance of an administrative site under this title, the Secretary may configure the administrative site—
“(A)
to maximize the marketability of the administrative site; and
“(B)
to achieve management objectives.
“(2) Separate treatment of facility or improvement.—
A facility or improvement on an administrative site to be conveyed under this title may be severed from the land and disposed of in a separate conveyance.
“(3) Terms, conditions, and reservations.—
The conveyance of an administrative site under this title shall be subject to such terms, conditions, and reservations as the
Secretary determines to be necessary to protect the public interest[.]
“(b) Consideration.—
“(1) Consideration required.—
A person or entity acquiring an administrative site under this title shall provide to the
Secretary consideration in an amount that is at least equal to the market value of the administrative site.
“(2) Form of consideration.—
“(A) Sale.—
Consideration for an administrative site conveyed by sale under this title shall be paid in cash on conveyance of the administrative site.
“(B) Exchange.—If the administrative site is conveyed by exchange, the consideration shall be provided in the form of a conveyance to the Secretary of land or improvements that are equal in market value to the conveyed administrative site. If the market values are not equal, the market values may be equalized by—
“(i)
the
Secretary making a cash payment to the person or entity acquiring the administrative site; or
“(ii)
the person or entity acquiring the administrative site making a cash equalization payment to the
Secretary.
“(c) Determination of Market Value.—The Secretary shall determine the market value of an administrative site to be conveyed under this title or of non-Federal land or improvements to be provided as consideration in exchange for an administrative site—
“(1) by conducting an appraisal that is performed in accordance with—
“(A)
the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, established in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (
42 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.); and
“(B)
the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice; or
“(2)
by competitive sale.
“(d) Relation to Other Laws.—
“(1) Federal property disposal.—
Chapter 5 of subtitle I of title 40, United States Code, shall not apply to the conveyance of an administrative site under this title.
“(2) Land exchanges.—
Section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act [of 1976] (
43 U.S.C. 1716) shall not apply to the conveyance of an administrative site under this title carried out by means of an exchange or combination of sale and exchange.
“(3) Lead-based paint and asbestos abatement.—Notwithstanding any provision of law relating to the mitigation or abatement of lead-based paint or asbestos-containing building materials, the Secretary is not required to mitigate or abate lead-based paint or asbestos-containing building materials with respect to an administrative site to be conveyed under this title. However, if the administrative site has lead-based paint or asbestos-containing building materials, the Secretary shall—
“(A)
provide notice to the person or entity acquiring the administrative site of the presence of the lead-based paint or asbestos-containing building material; and
“(B)
obtain written assurance from the person or entity acquiring the administrative site that the person or entity will comply with applicable Federal, State, and local laws relating to the management of the lead-based paint and asbestos-containing building materials.
“(4) Environmental review.—The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall apply to the conveyance of administrative sites under this title, except that, in any environmental review or analysis required under such Act for the conveyance of an administrative site under this title, the Secretary is only required to—
“(A)
analyze the most reasonably foreseeable use of the administrative site, as determined through a market analysis;
“(B)
determine whether to include terms, conditions, and reservations under subsection (a)(3); and
“(e) Rejection of Offers.—The Secretary shall reject any offer made for the acquisition of an administrative site under this title if the Secretary determines that the offer is—
“(1)
not adequate to cover the market value of the administrative site; or
“(2)
not otherwise in the public interest.
“(f) Consultation and Public Notice.—
As appropriate, the
Secretary is encouraged to work with the Administrator of the
General Services Administration with respect to the conveyance of administrative sites under this title. Before making an administrative site available for conveyance under this title, the
Secretary shall consult with local governmental officials of the community in which the administrative site is located and provide public notice of the proposed conveyance.
“SEC. 505. DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS RECEIVED FROM ADMINISTRATIVE SITE CONVEYANCES.
“(b) Use.—Amounts deposited under paragraph (1) shall be available to the Secretary, until expended and without further appropriation, to pay any necessary and incidental costs incurred by the Secretary in connection with—
“(1)
the acquisition, improvement, maintenance, reconstruction, or construction of a facility or improvement for the National Forest System; and
“(2)
the conveyance of administrative sites under this title, including costs described in subsection (c).
“(c) Brokerage Services.—
The
Secretary may use the proceeds from the conveyance of an administrative site under this title to pay reasonable commissions or fees for brokerage services obtained in connection with the conveyance if the
Secretary determines that the services are in the public interest. The
Secretary shall provide public notice of any brokerage services contract entered into in connection with a conveyance under this title.”
[Pub. L. 117–328, div. G, title IV, § 418, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 4825, provided that:
“
Section 503(f) of Public Law 109–54 (
16 U.S.C. 580d note) [set out above] shall be applied by substituting ‘
September 30, 2023’ for ‘
September 30, 2019’.”
]
[Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:
[Pub. L. 117–103, div. G, title IV, § 418, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 414.]
[Pub. L. 116–260, div. G, title IV, § 420, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1540.]
[Pub. L. 116–94, div. D, title IV, § 420, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2747.]
[Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8504, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4847, which directed amendment of section 503(f) of Pub. L. 109–54, set out above, by substituting “2023” for “2016”, could not be executed because of the intervening amendment by Pub. L. 115–141.]
Conveyance of Excess Forest Service Structures
Pub. L. 107–63, title III, § 329, Nov. 5, 2001, 115 Stat. 471, as amended by Pub. L. 108–7, div. F, title III, § 325, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 275; Pub. L. 108–108, title III, § 322, Nov. 10, 2003, 117 Stat. 1307; Pub. L. 108–447, div. E, title III, § 322, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3098, which gave the Secretary of Agriculture temporary and limited authority to convey excess structures located on National Forest System lands and to use the proceeds from those conveyances for certain maintenance and rehabilitation activities, was repealed, effective Sept. 30, 2006, by Pub. L. 109–54, title V, § 503(g), Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 561, which also provided that the Secretary could complete any conveyance initiated before the effective date of the repeal.
