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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§505a Interchange of lands between Department of Agriculture and military departments of Department of Defense; report to Congress

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 2— - NATIONAL FORESTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION › § 505a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of a military department can trade land between National Forest System units and military land that lie inside or next to a forest’s outer border. They must follow the rules in chapters 1 to 11 of Title 40 and in division C of Subtitle I of Title 41, except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711. They may make the swap without paying money if they decide it will improve land management and make the best use of the land for allowed purposes. A trade does not take effect until 45 days after the secretaries send Congress a notice of their intent, counting only days when Congress is in regular or special session.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §505a

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of Agriculture with respect to National Forest System lands and the Secretary of a military department with respect to lands under the control of the military department which lie within or adjacent to the exterior boundaries of a unit of the National Forest System are authorized, subject to any applicable provisions of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41, to interchange such lands, or any part thereof, without reimbursement or transfer of funds whenever they shall determine that such interchange will facilitate land management and will provide maximum use thereof for authorized purposes: Provided, That no such interchange of lands shall become effective until forty-five days (counting only days occurring during any regular or special session of the Congress) after the submission to the Congress by the respective Secretaries of notice of intention to make the interchange.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification In text, “chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41” substituted for “the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, which Act enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–409 substituted “National Forest System lands” for “national forest lands” and “a unit of the National Forest System” for “a national forest”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 505a

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73