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Title 54 — National Park Service and Related ProgramsRelease 119-73not60

§102901 Conveyance of Property and Interests in Property in System Units or Related Areas

Title 54 › Subtitle Subtitle I— National Park System › Chapter 1029— LAND TRANSFERS › § 102901

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may sell or lease federal land or interests the government owns inside a System unit or related area, but not land inside national parks or national monuments of scientific significance. Sales and leases must follow rules the Secretary makes. Property must be sold to the highest bidder and for at least its fair market value as the Secretary decides. If the Secretary tries to sell within 2 years after buying the land, the last recorded owner has 30 days after written notice to say they want to buy it. If that owner asks in time, the Secretary must sell to them if they pay or agree to pay the highest bid price. The Secretary can also trade federal property for non-federal property in the same State. Timberland under a sustained yield program cannot be traded. A State, local government, or interested party can ask for a public hearing before a trade. Exchanged properties must be about equal in value, or the difference must be made up with cash from funds for land acquisition or paid to the Secretary as needed. Money from sales goes into the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Full Legal Text

Title 54, §102901

National Park Service and Related Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)With respect to any property acquired by the Secretary within a System unit or related area, except property within national parks or within national monuments of scientific significance, the Secretary may convey a freehold or leasehold interest in the property, subject to such terms and conditions as will ensure the use of the property in a manner that is, in the judgment of the Secretary, consistent with the purpose for which the System unit or related area was authorized by Congress. The Secretary shall convey the interest to the highest bidder, in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. The conveyance shall be at not less than the fair market value of the interest, as determined by the Secretary, except that if the conveyance is proposed within 2 years after the property to be conveyed is acquired by the Secretary, the Secretary shall allow the last owner of record of the property 30 days following the date on which the owner is notified by the Secretary in writing that the property is to be conveyed within which to notify the Secretary that the owner wishes to acquire the interest. On receiving the timely request, the Secretary shall convey the interest to the person, in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, on payment or agreement to pay an amount equal to the highest bid price.
(b)(1)The Secretary may accept title to any non-Federal property or interest in property within a System unit or related area under the Secretary’s administration in exchange for any Federally-owned property or interest under the Secretary’s jurisdiction that the Secretary determines is suitable for exchange or other disposal and that is located in the same State as the non-Federal property to be acquired.
(2)Timberland subject to harvest under a sustained yield program shall not be exchanged under paragraph (1).
(3)On request of a State or a political subdivision thereof, or of a party in interest, prior to an exchange under this subsection the Secretary shall hold a public hearing in the area where the properties to be exchanged are located.
(4)The values of the properties exchanged—
(A)shall be approximately equal; or
(B)if they are not approximately equal, shall be equalized by the payment of cash to the grantor from funds appropriated for the acquisition of land for the area, or to the Secretary, as the circumstances require.
(c)The proceeds received from any conveyance under this section shall be credited to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 102901(a), (b)16 U.S.C. 460l–22(a), (b).Pub. L. 90–401, § 5(a), (b), July 15, 1968, 82 Stat. 356. 102901(c)16 U.S.C. 460l–22(d).Pub. L. 90–401, § 5(d), July 15, 1968, 82 Stat. 356; Pub. L. 98–506, § 2, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2338.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

54 U.S.C. § 102901

Title 54 — National Park Service and Related Programs

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60