Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73
§565b Transfer of fire lookout towers and other improvements for fire control to States, political subdivisions or agencies; reversion
Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 565b
Summary
The Secretary of Agriculture can give or sell fire lookout towers, related buildings, and nearby land outside national forests to states, local governments, or their agencies when the Forest Service no longer needs them but they help local fire protection. If the property is not used for that purpose within two years, or if it stops being used for two years within fifteen years, ownership goes back to the United States.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §565b
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, subject to such conditions as he may prescribe, to transfer, without reimbursement or at such prices and upon such terms as he may impose, to States and political subdivisions or agencies thereof fire lookout towers and other structures or improvements used by the Forest Service for fire prevention or suppression purposes, and the land used in connection therewith if such land is outside national forest boundaries, when they are no longer needed by the Forest Service for such purposes but are of value to the State or political subdivision or agency thereof in its fire protection system: Provided, That if any property so transferred is not put to use for the purpose for which it was transferred within two years from the date of transfer, or if, within fifteen years from the date of transfer, any such property should cease to be used for the purpose for which it was transferred for a period of two years, title thereto shall revert to and immediately revest in the United States.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 565b
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73