,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #afcc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #ah1 #bjac ,mr4 ,amodei introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the conveyance of small parcels of ,national ,forest ,system land and small parcels of public lands administered by the ,bureau of ,land ,management to private landowners1 ,state1 county1 and local governments1 or ,indian tribes whose lands share a boundary with the ,national ,forest ,system land or public lands1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,small ,lands ,tracts ,conveyance ,act4 #b4 ,special conveyance authority regarding small parcels of ,national ,forest ,system land and public lands 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,adjacent landholder ,the term adjacent landholder means any holder of non-,federal land 7including a holder that is a ,state1 county1 or local government or any agency thereof1 or an ,indian tribe7 that shares one or more boundaries with an eligible ,federal lands parcel and who makes a request to purchase an eligible ,federal lands parcel4 7#b7 ,director concerned ,the term ,director concerned means the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management for a ,state4 7#c7 ,eligible ,federal lands parcel ,the term eligible ,federal lands parcel means a parcel of ,national ,forest ,system land or the public lands that-- 7,a7 shares one or more boundaries with non-,federal land2 7,b7 is located within the boundaries of an incorporated or unincorporated area with a population of at least #ejj residents2 7,c7 is not subject to existing rights held by a non-,federal entity2 7,d7 does not contain an exceptional resource2 and 7,e7 is not habitat for an endangered species or a threatened species determined under section #d of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc74 7#d7 ,exceptional resource ,the term exceptional resource means a resource of scientific1 historic1 cultural1 or recreational value on a parcel of public lands that the ,director concerned or ,regional ,forester concerned determines1 on the record and after an opportunity for a hearing-- 7,a7 is documented by a ,federal1 ,state1 or local governmental authority2 and 7,b7 requires extraordinary conservation and protection to maintain the resource for the benefit of the public4 7#e7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian tribe has the meaning given that term in section #ajb of the ,federally ,recognized ,indian ,tribe ,list ,act of #aiid 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dgi;a74 7#f7 ,national forest system land 7,a7 ,in general ,the term ,national ,forest ,system land means land within the ,national ,forest ,system1 as defined in section #aa7;a7 of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afji7;a771 including the ,national ,grasslands and land utilization projects designated as ,national ,grasslands administered pursuant to the ,act of ,july #bb1 #aicg 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ajaj-ajab74 7,b7 ,exclusions ,the term does not include any land managed by the ,forest ,service that is included in a national monument1 an area of critical environmental concern1 a national conservation area1 a national riparian conservation area1 a national recreation area1 a national scenic area1 a research natural area1 a national outstanding natural area1 a national natural landmark1 a wilderness area1 a wilderness study area1 the national wild and scenic rivers system1 the national system of trails1 or land held in trust by the ,united ,states for the benefit of any ,indian tribe4 7#g7 ,public lands 7,a7 ,in general ,the term public lands has the meaning given that term in section #ajc7;e7 of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agjb7;e774 7,b7 ,exclusions ,the term does not include any land managed by the ,bureau of ,land ,management that is included in a national monument1 an area of critical environmental concern1 a national conservation area1 a national riparian conservation area1 a national recreation area1 a national scenic area1 a research natural area1 a national outstanding natural area1 a national natural landmark1 a wilderness area1 a wilderness study area1 the national wild and scenic rivers system1 the national system of trails1 or land held in trust by the ,united ,states for the benefit of any ,indian tribe4 7#h7 ,regional ,forester concerned ,the term ,regional ,forester concerned means the ,regional ,forester with jurisdiction over the ,national ,forest ,system land of a specific ,forest ,service ,region4 7b7 ,selection of parcels for conveyance 7#a7 ,two selection methods ,the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall select an eligible ,federal lands parcel for conveyance under this section-- 7,a7 in response to a request submitted by an adjacent landholder2 or 7,b7 upon the recommendation of the ,district ,office of the ,bureau of ,land ,management or unit of the ,national ,forest ,system exercising administration over the parcel4 7#b7 ,adjacent landholder request 7,a7 ,process required ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture and the ,secretary of the ,interior each shall create a process by which an adjacent landholder may request to purchase an eligible ,federal lands parcel4 7,b7 ,guidelines ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the process shall be consistent with other public purchase request processes used by the ,forest ,service and the ,bureau of ,land ,management to convey ,federal land under their respective statutory and regulatory authority4 7,c7 ,public accessibility ,the process shall be open to the public and available on the internet4 7,d7 ,deadline ,the process shall be available to the public within #ij days of the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7#c7 ,review of adjacent landholder request ,when an adjacent landholder submits a request under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 for conveyance of a parcel of ,national ,forest ,system land or public lands1 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall review the parcel and determine1 within #cj days after receipt of the request1 whether the parcel satisfies the definition of eligible ,federal lands parcel for conveyance4 7#d7 ,rejection of adjacent landholder request ,if the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned determines under paragraph 7#b7 that all or a portion of the parcel of ,national ,forest ,system land or public lands covered by an adjacent landholder request under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 fails to satisfy the definition of eligible ,federal lands parcel1 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall give the landowner-- 7,a7 a written explanation of the reasons for the rejection1 which specifies-- 7i7 which of the elements of the definition of eligible ,federal lands parcel the parcel fails to satisfy and how and why the parcel fails to satisfy that element2 7ii7 how the continued administration of the parcel by the ,bureau of ,land ,management or the ,forest ,service would impact the parcel and surrounding economy2 and 7iii7 why the ,federal ,government needs to maintain ownership of the parcel and would be the best land ownership steward of the parcel2 and 7,b7 an opportunity to appeal the rejection under subsection 7e74 7c7 ,parcel and acreage limitations 7#a7 ,acreage ,an eligible ,federal lands parcel conveyed under this section may not exceed #afj acres unless a request for additional acreage is approved by the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned4 7#b7 ,number of parcels ,an adjacent landholder may only acquire one eligible ,federal lands parcel under this section per year1 except that1 if the parcel is less than #afj acres in size1 the adjacent landholder may acquire additional eligible ,federal lands parcels during that year so long as the total acreage acquired does not exceed #afj acres unless a request for additional acreage is approved by the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned4 7d7 ,conveyance process 7#a7 ,public notice ,the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall provide public notice of the availability of an eligible ,federal lands parcel1 even in cases in which the parcel shares a boundary with only a single parcel of non-,federal land or with multiple parcels owned by the same adjacent landholder4 ,the notice shall state that the parcel satisfies the definition of eligible ,federal lands parcel for conveyance4 7#b7 ,single adjacent landholder ,if the eligible ,federal lands parcel shares a boundary with only a single parcel of non-,federal land or with multiple parcels owned by the same adjacent landholder1 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall carry out a negotiated sale of the eligible ,federal lands parcel with the adjacent landholder4 7#c7 ,multiple adjacent landholders ,if multiple parcels of non-,federal land1 owned by different adjacent landholders1 share a boundary with an eligible public lands parcel1 the sale of the eligible public lands parcel under this section shall be conducted using competitive bidding procedures established under section #bjc7;f7 of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agac7;f774 7#d7 ,rejection of offers ,the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned may reject any offer made under this subsection that does not offer the minimum consideration required by subsection 7f74 ,the adjacent landholder shall be given an opportunity to appeal the rejection under subsection 7e74 7#e7 ,compliance with local planning and zoning ,as a condition of the conveyance of an eligible public lands parcel under this section1 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall require the purchaser of the parcel to agree to comply with all local land use ordinances and any master zoning plan applicable to the parcel or the adjacent non-,federal land of the purchaser4 7#f7 ,form of conveyance ,when an eligible ,federal lands parcel is to be sold under this section1 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall convey1 by quitclaim deed1 all right1 title1 and interest1 including the mineral estate1 of the ,united ,states in and to the parcel4 7e7 ,appeals process 7#a7 ,availability of appeal ,if the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned rejects an adjacent landholder request under subsection 7b77#a77;,a7 for selection of a parcel of ,national ,forest ,system land or public lands for conveyance under this section or rejects an adjacent landholder offer for purchase of an eligible ,federal lands parcel under subsection 7d71 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall provide an appeals process for reconsideration of the rejection using the expedited ,forest ,service appeals process available under section #cbb7;d7 of ,public ,law #ajb-cha 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afab note74 7#b7 ,administering official ,for purposes of applying section #cbb7;d7 of ,public ,law #ajb-cha 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afab note71 references to the ,chief of the ,forest ,service or the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall be deemed to mean the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned4 7f7 ,consideration 7#a7 ,fair market value ,as consideration for the sale of an eligible ,federal lands parcel under this section1 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall require a cash payment in an amount that is equal to not less than the fair market value of the parcel1 including the mineral estate1 being conveyed by the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned4 7#b7 ,establishment ,the fair market value of an eligible ,federal lands parcel shall be established by an appraisal submitted by the adjacent landholder seeking to purchase the parcel1 unless the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned rejects such appraisal within #de days after submission4 ,in the case of the rejection of the appraisal1 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall cause another appraisal to be conducted1 within #cj days1 in accordance with the regulations regarding appraisals issued under section #bjf7;f7 of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agaf7;f774 7g7 ,treatment of proceeds 7#a7 ,establishment of fund ,the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall establish in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states a special fund to provide for the collection and distribution of funds under this subsection4 7#b7 ,collection ,funds collected from the conveyance of an eligible ,federal lands parcel under this section shall be deposited into the ,treasury fund created under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,distribution ,funds collected under this subsection shall be distributed annually to those ,states in which the ,federal ,government owns more than #cc percent of the land area of that ,state according to the calculation provided in paragraph 7#d74 7#d7 ,calculation of distribution ,from amounts collected and deposited under this section-- 7,a7 #ej percent of the amount collected from a conveyance shall be distributed to the ,state in which the conveyance took place2 and 7,b7 the remaining #ej percent shall be distributed equally between the remaining ,states identified under paragraph 7#c74 7#e7 ,limitation of use ,as a condition of receipt of funds under this subsection1 a ,state receiving such funds shall agree to use the funds only for the following purposes3 7,a7 ,purchase ,to purchase additional eligible ,federal lands parcels1 that are consistent with land use management under the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja74 7,b7 ,compliance ,to comply with a ,federal requirement under-- 7i7 ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq472 7ii7 ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq472 or 7iii7 ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474 7h7 ,payment of costs of conveyance 7#a7 ,payment of costs required ,the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall require the purchaser to cover the costs to be incurred1 or to reimburse the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned for costs incurred1 to carry out the conveyance1 including survey and appraisal costs1 costs for environmental documentation1 and any other administrative costs related to the conveyance4 7#b7 ,refund of excess ,if amounts are collected from the purchaser in advance of the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned incurring the actual costs1 and the amount collected exceeds the costs actually incurred by the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned to carry out the conveyance1 the ,director concerned or the ,regional ,forester concerned shall refund the excess amount to the purchaser4 7#c7 ,treatment of amounts received ,amounts received as reimbursement under paragraph 7#a7 shall be credited to the fund or account that was used to cover those costs in carrying out the conveyance4 ,amounts so credited shall be merged with amounts in such fund or account1 and shall be available for the same purposes1 and subject to the same conditions and limitations1 as amounts in such fund or account4 7i7 ,time for conveyance ,it is the intent of the ,congress that the conveyance of an eligible ,federal lands parcel under this section1 from selection of the parcel for conveyance through completion of the sale1 should take no more than #ah months4 7j7 ,categorical exclusion ,because the scope of a conveyance is limited and excluded from any exceptional resource1 a conveyance of an eligible ,federal lands parcel under this section is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474 7k7 ,additional authority ,the conveyance authority provided by this section is in addition to the sale authority provided by section #bjc of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agac7 or any other provision of law4