Amodei pushes bill to speed public land transfers
Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei announced Wednesday the re-introduction of his "Small Lands Tracts Conveyance Act" (H.R. 1633) to accelerate the process for transferring small parcels of federal land to local communities.
In western states, straightforward, non-controversial public land sales to decrease the vast federal inventory and promote local control can take more than a decade to complete. While Amodei believes there should be scrutiny for any sale, he cites the bureaucratic regulatory maze and slow legislative process as the main culprits in dragging out the transfers.
"Why should it take more than 10 years for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to transfer the lands they do not need or want to local stakeholders who do?" said Amodei. "What's needed is an efficient process that promotes community-directed uses and reasonable economic development. In Nevada, where the federal government controls more than 85% of the land, these administrative and legislative delays are a wet blanket on our economy and our conservation efforts."
The bill defines a "small tract" as 160 acres or less and would limit the transfer process for such lands to 18 months by establishing firm deadlines for the BLM and USFS to meet. It would exclude lands with established federal protection for cultural, biological, or endangered species issues.
Revenue collected from sales would be equally distributed to states where the federal government owns more than 33 percent of total land ownership, which is currently 13 states. The state where a transaction takes place would receive 50 percent of the proceeds, and states meeting the aforementioned condition would receive an equal distribution of the remaining 50 percent.
State governments would only be permitted to use funds to purchase additional federal lands consistent with land use management under Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) or to comply with mandates under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For instance, in Nevada, this additional funding could be used for sage hen or desert tortoise mitigation.
"This bill is a win-win-win. It would save the taxpayers, BLM and the USFS the expense of managing an excessive portfolio of federal lands. It would generate revenue for local government. And most importantly, it would give states like Nevada the freedom to determine how best to use our own lands, whether it's for economic development, agriculture, recreation, or conservation," said Amodei.
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