§521d Sale, Exchange, or Interchange of National Forest System Land

Summary

The Secretary may sell, trade, or swap National Forest System lands described in section 521e, including the mineral rights, when the Secretary thinks it serves the public. Payment can be other land, interests in land, cash, or any mix. For sales or exchanges the return must be at least equal in value, including minerals. For interchanges the return must be about equal in value, including minerals. Any quitclaim deed must include the terms the Secretary thinks are needed to protect public interests, like scenic, wildlife, and recreation values and public access. That rule does not apply to deeds for land outside a forest unit boundary. Net money from sales or exchanges under paragraphs (4), (5), or (6) of section 521e must go into the fund under section 484a. That money can be used, until spent, to buy land or land interests for administrative sites in the same State, to add land to the National Forest System in that State (including to improve recreational access), or to repay the Secretary for costs of preparing a competitive sale under section 521e.