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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 2301. Findings
Congress finds that -
(1) the Bureau of Land Management has authority under the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et
seq.) to sell land identified for disposal under its land use
planning;
(2) the Bureau of Land Management has authority under that Act
to exchange Federal land for non-Federal land if the exchange
would be in the public interest;
(3) through land use planning under that Act, the Bureau of
Land Management has identified certain tracts of public land for
disposal;
(4) the Federal land management agencies of the Departments of
the Interior and Agriculture have authority under existing law to
acquire land consistent with the mission of each agency;
(5) the sale or exchange of land identified for disposal and
the acquisition of certain non-Federal land from willing
landowners would -
(A) allow for the reconfiguration of land ownership patterns
to better facilitate resource management;
(B) contribute to administrative efficiency within Federal
land management units; and
(C) allow for increased effectiveness of the allocation of
fiscal and human resources within the Federal land management
agencies;
(6) a more expeditious process for disposal and acquisition of
land, established to facilitate a more effective configuration of
land ownership patterns, would benefit the public interest;
(7) many private individuals own land within the boundaries of
Federal land management units and desire to sell the land to the
Federal Government;
(8) such land lies within national parks, national monuments,
national wildlife refuges, national forests, and other areas
designated for special management;
(9) Federal land management agencies are facing increased
workloads from rapidly growing public demand for the use of
public land, making it difficult for Federal managers to address
problems created by the existence of inholdings in many areas;
(10) in many cases, inholders and the Federal Government would
mutually benefit from Federal acquisition of the land on a
priority basis;
(11) proceeds generated from the disposal of public land may be
properly dedicated to the acquisition of inholdings and other
land that will improve the resource management ability of the
Federal land management agencies and adjoining landowners;
(12) using proceeds generated from the disposal of public land
to purchase inholdings and other such land from willing sellers
would enhance the ability of the Federal land management agencies
to -
(A) work cooperatively with private landowners and State and
local governments; and
(B) promote consolidation of the ownership of public and
private land in a manner that would allow for better overall
resource management;
(13) in certain locations, the sale of public land that has
been identified for disposal is the best way for the public to
receive fair market value for the land; and
(14) to allow for the least disruption of existing land and
resource management programs, the Bureau of Land Management may
use non-Federal entities to prepare appraisal documents for
agency review and approval consistent with applicable provisions
of the Uniform Standards for Federal Land Acquisition.
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