Amodei bill would expedite small federal land transfers to localities

The cumbersome process for transferring small parcels of federal land to local communities would be streamlined under legislation reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV).

Under the Small Tracts Conveyance Act, H.R. 1106, deadlines would be established for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to hold the transfer of small tracts of land to 18 months or less.

Parcels consisting of 160 acres or fewer would meet the definition of a “small tract” under the bill.

“This bill would save the taxpayers, the BLM, and the USFS the expense of managing an excessive portfolio of federal lands, while generating revenue for local governments,” Amodei said. “Most importantly, it would give states like Nevada the freedom to determine how best to use their own lands, whether it’s for economic development, agriculture, recreation, or conservation.”

Nevada has had many instances in which the legislative process has had to be used to meet land-transfer needs, Amodei said.

“This legislation has been introduced the past three congresses and seeks to address the issue of small conveyances of federal land where there are no environmental issues, exceptional resources or valid existing rights present,” Amodei said.

The legislation would exclude lands subject to federal protection for cultural, biological or endangered species issues.