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Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§505a Interchange of Lands Between Department of Agriculture and Military Departments of Department of Defense; Report to Congress

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

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary of Agriculture and a military department secretary to swap National Forest System land and military land that is inside or next to a National Forest unit without payment when they decide the swap will improve land management. Swaps must follow chapters 1–11 of Title 40 and Division C of Subtitle I of Title 41, except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, 4711, and take effect 45 days after notice to Congress, 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

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102