Small Tracts Act would help Forest Service with land management

The National Forest Small Tracts Act Amendments of 2015, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), passed the House last week, partially opening the door for the U.S. Forest Service to sell smaller federal land parcels.

If signed into law, the legislation would allow for the sale or exchange of federal land parcels of less than 40 acres to resolve encroachment or trespass issues. It also would increase the cap on the value of land eligible to be sold from $150,000 to $500,000 and expand conveyance authority for certain small isolated parcels.

Amodel said the bill would enhance the Forest Service’s ability to better perform its land management responsibilities.

“This bill, which was drafted in coordination with the Forest Service’s Legislative Drafting Services, is a good example of what’s possible when the lines of communication are open between the Executive and Legislative branches,” Amodei said. “Like many issues surrounding public lands, this solution has been around for about a decade without opposition. I’m happy to be a part of getting it across the finish line. It helps local communities across the West resolve nagging land use issues without the need for a lands bill, and it helps the Forest Service to better perform its duties by reducing costs through the disposal of isolated parcels of federal land.”

The Forest Service told the Natural Resources Committee that the agency sold off only 20 acres in 2014; but  with the updates included in this legislation, it expects that number to increase to between 2,000 and 3,000 acres annually.