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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§410aaa–77 California State School lands

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER LIX–Y— - CALIFORNIA DESERT LANDS PARKS, PRESERVE, AND OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE RECREATION AREAS › Part Part D— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 410aaa–77

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must try in good faith to make a land swap with the California State Lands Commission. The swap trades certain federal lands on a specified list for California State School lands that lie inside the new wilderness areas, national monuments, off‑highway vehicle recreation areas, or park units created by the Act. The Secretary must, to the maximum extent possible, complete a swap within 10 years after October 31, 1994. Within six months after October 31, 1994, the Secretary must send a list to the Commission and to two Congressional committees. The list must name the State School lands inside the new areas and federal lands in California that are suitable for exchange (including three priority types: mineral-bearing federal lands not under lease, unused Bureau of Reclamation claims, and other lands identified under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act), plus any other surplus federal lands. The Secretary must keep the list and update Congress each year until all the State School lands are acquired. Until then, federal lands in California cannot be sold or given away without first giving the Commission six months to say if it wants to consider an exchange. If the Commission wants to proceed, the Secretary must try to finish the exchange quickly and can take temporary administrative control needed to complete it. Once all State School lands are acquired or the Commission stops being interested, the lands go back to the original agency for disposal under other laws. The rules do not apply to property disposed of under the Defense Base Closure laws.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §410aaa–77

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary shall negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement with the California State Lands Commission (referred to in this section as the “Commission”) to exchange Federal lands or interests therein on the list referred to in subsection (b)(2) for California State School lands or interests therein which are located within the boundaries of one or more of the wilderness areas, national monuments, off-highway vehicle recreation areas, or park system units designated by this Act (hereinafter in this section referred to as “State School lands.”).
(2)To the maximum extent practicable, not later than 10 years after October 31, 1994, the Secretary shall reach a land exchange agreement consistent with the requirements of section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 [43 U.S.C. 1716].
(b)Within six months after October 31, 1994, the Secretary shall send to the Commission and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives a list of the following:
(1)State School lands or interests therein (including mineral interests) which are located within the boundaries of the wilderness areas, national monuments, off-highway vehicle recreation areas, or park system units designated by this Act.
(2)Lands within the State of California under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that the Secretary determines to be suitable for disposal for exchange, identified in the following priority—
(A)lands with mineral interests, including geothermal, which have the potential for commercial development but which are not currently under mineral lease or producing Federal mineral revenues;
(B)Federal claims in California managed by the Bureau of Reclamation that the Secretary determines are not needed for any Bureau of Reclamation project; and
(C)any public lands in California that the Secretary, pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 [43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.], has determined to be suitable for disposal through exchange.
(3)Any other Federal land, or interest therein, within the State of California, which is or becomes surplus to the needs of the Federal Government. The Secretary may exclude, in the Secretary’s discretion, lands located within, or contiguous to, the exterior boundaries of lands held in trust for a federally recognized Indian tribe located in the State of California.
(4)The Secretary shall maintain such list and shall annually transmit such list to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives until all of the State School lands identified in paragraph (1) have been acquired.
(c)(1)Effective upon October 31, 1994, and until all State School lands identified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section are acquired, no Federal lands or interests therein within the State of California may be disposed of from Federal ownership unless—
(A)the Secretary is notified of the availability of such lands or interest therein;
(B)the Secretary has notified the Commission of the availability of such lands or interests therein for exchange; and
(C)the Commission has not notified the Secretary within six months that it wishes to consider entering into an exchange for such lands or interests therein.
(2)If the Commission notifies the Secretary that it wishes to consider an exchange for such lands or interests therein, the Secretary shall attempt to conclude such exchange in accordance with the provisions of this section as quickly as possible.
(3)If an agreement is reached and executed with the Commission, then upon notice to the head of the agency having administrative jurisdiction over such lands or interests therein, the Secretary shall be vested with administrative jurisdiction over such land or interests therein for the purpose of concluding such exchange.
(4)Upon the acquisition of all State School lands or upon notice by the Commission to the Secretary that it no longer has an interest in such lands or interests therein, such lands or interests shall be released to the agency that originally had jurisdiction over such lands or interests for disposal in accordance with the laws otherwise applicable to such lands or interests.
(d)The provisions of this section shall not apply to the disposal of property under title II of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act (Public Law 100–526; 102 Stat. 2627; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note) or the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–510; 104 Stat. 1808; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (b)(1), is defined in section 3 of Pub. L. 103–433, which is set out as a Definitions note under section 410aaa of this title. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(C), is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, which is classified principally to chapter 35 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1701 of Title 43 and Tables. The Defense Authorization

Amendments

and Base Closure and Realignment Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 100–526, Oct. 24, 1988, 102 Stat. 2623. Title II of the Act is set out as a note under section 2687 of Title 10, Armed Forces. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1988 Amendment note set out under section 2687 of Title 10 and Tables. The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (d), is part A of title XXIX of div. B of Pub. L. 101–510, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1808, which amended section 2687 of Title 10 and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 2687 of Title 10.

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–9, § 1456(1), designated first sentence as par. (1) and second sentence as par. (2), inserted par. headings, substituted “The Secretary shall negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement with the California State Lands Commission (referred to in this section as the ‘Commission’)” for “Upon request of the California State Lands Commission (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘Commission’), the Secretary shall enter into negotiations for an agreement” in par. (1) and “To the maximum extent practicable, not later than 10 years after October 31, 1994, the Secretary shall” for “The Secretary shall negotiate in good faith to” in par. (2), and inserted “, national monuments, off-highway vehicle recreation areas,” after “more of the wilderness areas” in par. (1). Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–9, § 1456(2), inserted “, national monuments, off-highway vehicle recreation areas,” after “wilderness areas”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 410aaa–77

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73