National Forest Small Tracts Act Amendments Act of 2015

1/11/2023, 1:28 PM

Congressional Summary of HR 1214

National Forest Small Tracts Act Amendments Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Amends the Small Tracts Act (the Act) to permit the sale, exchange, or interchange under such Act of National Forest System (NFS) lands the sale or exchange of which is not practicable under any other authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) which have a value determined to be not more than $500,000.

Includes as those lands permitted to be sold, exchanged, or interchanged under the Act:

  • parcels of 40 acres or less which are determined to be physically isolated, to be inaccessible, or to have lost their National Forest character;
  • parcels of 10 acres or less which are not eligible for conveyance under such Act, but which are encroached upon by permanent habitable improvements for which there is no evidence that the encroachment was intentional or negligent; and
  • parcels used as a cemetery, a landfill, or a sewage treatment plant under a special use authorization issued by the USDA.

Allows the sale, exchange, or interchange of a cemetery that is expected to reach capacity within 10 years to include, in the USDA's sole discretion, up to 1 additional acre abutting the permit area to facilitate the expansion of that cemetery.

Requires any proceeds under this Act to be deposited in the special fund established under the Sisk Act and made available for:

  • the acquisition of land or interests in land for administrative sites for the NFS in the state from which the amounts were derived;
  • the acquisition of land or interests in land for inclusion in the NFS in that state, including those which enhance opportunities for recreational access;
  • the performance of deferred maintenance on administrative sites for the NFS in that state or other deferred maintenance activities in that state which enhance opportunities for recreational access; and
  • the reimbursement of the USDA for costs incurred in preparing a competitive sale conducted under the authority of the Act.

Current Status of Bill HR 1214

Bill HR 1214 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since March 3, 2015. Bill HR 1214 was introduced during Congress 114 and was introduced to the House on March 3, 2015.  Bill HR 1214's most recent activity was Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. as of September 17, 2015

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 1214

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
3
Democrat Cosponsors
1
Republican Cosponsors
2
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 1214

Primary Policy Focus

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Potential Impact Areas

Cemeteries and funeralsForests, forestry, treesGovernment trust fundsLand transfersOutdoor recreationSolid waste and recycling

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 1214

National Forest Small Tracts Act Amendments Act of 2015To amend the Small Tracts Act to expand the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange small parcels of National Forest System land to enhance the management of the National Forest System, to resolve minor encroachments, and for other purposes.National Forest Small Tracts Act Amendments Act of 2015National Forest Small Tracts Act Amendments Act of 2015National Forest Small Tracts Act Amendments Act of 2015
Start holding our government accountable!

Comments