Title 16 › CHAPTER 2 — NATIONAL FORESTS › SUBCHAPTER I — ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION › § 539l–1
If the Colorado State Land Board says it is willing to transfer land inside the Protection Area, the Secretary must quickly try to make a purchase or exchange deal with the Board. The Secretary must also negotiate with the owner of lands in the Jim Creek drainage inside the Protection Area to buy or exchange those lands, but the United States cannot take them without the owner’s consent. Landowners in the Jim Creek area keep their rights, including reasonable access (which can include motorized access) as agreed between the Forest Service and the owner and as allowed by law and rules. The Secretary must report to the House Committee on Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources about any agreements or the status of talks either when an agreement is reached or by one year after August 21, 2002, whichever comes first. The report must say how much money is available now to buy the lands and whether more funds are needed. Any lands the United States acquires after August 21, 2002 that fall inside James Peak Wilderness or the Protection Area will be added to and managed as part of those areas.
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Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 539l–1
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110