§521d Sale, exchange, or interchange of National Forest System land

Summary

The Secretary may sell, swap, or trade United States ownership of National Forest System lands described in section 521e when it is in the public interest. These transfers can be done by a quitclaim deed (a deed that transfers the government’s ownership). The Secretary can accept other land, land interests, cash, or a mix as payment. For sales or exchanges the payment must be at least equal in value (including mineral rights); for interchanges it must be about equal in value (including mineral rights). The Secretary must put terms in the deed to protect public interests, such as scenic, wildlife, and recreation values and public access, except for deeds to lands outside unit boundaries. Net money from sales or exchanges under paragraphs (4), (5), or (6) of section 521e must go into the fund in section 484a. That money can be used to buy land or land interests in the same State for administrative sites, to add to the National Forest System (including improving recreational access), or to repay costs of preparing a competitive sale.