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H.R. 1434House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Land Adjustment Act

Sponsored by Doug CollinsRep. Doug Collins (R-GA)
Introduced March 8, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:33 PM UTC

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Land Adjustment Act lets the U.S. Department of Agriculture sell or exchange about 3,841 acres of National Forest land in Georgia that are isolated and hard to manage. The land consists of 30 separate tracts. Money from the sale must be used to buy other forest land in Georgia, keeping the forest system focused on its core purposes.

Key Provisions

  • Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange the identified 30 tracts (about 3,841 acres) of National Forest land in Georgia.
  • Allows the Secretary to adjust the exact boundaries of those tracts for management reasons.
  • Requires sales or exchanges to be at market value, determined by appraisal or competitive bidding, and to be paid in cash.
  • Permits the Secretary to reserve rights‑of‑way or other interests needed for management after the sale.
  • Allows sales through public or private methods, including auctions, and the use of brokers, with reasonable fees paid from the proceeds.
  • Directs that proceeds be deposited in the Sisk Act fund and used—without further appropriation—to purchase other forest land in Georgia, but only with the consent of any private landowner involved.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

March 23, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 8, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

March 8, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

March 23, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 8, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1434

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 8, 2017

Mr. Collins of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Allen, Mr. Loudermilk, and Mr. Ferguson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To authorize the sale of certain National Forest System land in the State of Georgia.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Land Adjustment Act .

2.

Findings and definition

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that—

(1)

certain National Forest System land in the State of Georgia consists of isolated tracts that are inefficient to manage or have lost their principal value for National Forest purposes;

(2)

the disposal of that land would be in the public interest; and

(3)

proceeds from the sale of land authorized by this Act would be used best by the Forest Service to purchase land for National Forest purposes in the State of Georgia.

(b)

Definition of Secretary

In this Act, the term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

3.

Land conveyance authority

(a)

In general

The Secretary is authorized, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, to sell or exchange any or all rights, title, and interest of the United States in the National Forest System land described in subsection (b).

(b)

Land authorized for disposal

(1)

In general

The National Forest System land subject to sale or exchange under this Act are 30 tracts of land totaling approximately 3,841 acres, which are generally depicted on 2 maps entitled Priority Land Adjustments, State of Georgia, U.S. Forest Service–Southern Region, Oconee and Chattahoochee National Forests, U.S. Congressional Districts 8, 9, 10 & 14 and dated September 24, 2013.

(2)

Maps

The maps described in paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Forest Supervisor, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, until such time as the land is sold or exchanged.

(3)

Modification of boundaries

The Secretary may modify the boundaries of the land described in paragraph (1) based on land management considerations.

(c)

Form of conveyance

(1)

Quitclaim deed

The Secretary shall convey land sold under this Act by quitclaim deed.

(2)

Reservations

The Secretary may reserve any rights-of-way or other rights or interests in land sold or exchanged under this Act that the Secretary considers necessary for management purposes or to protect the public interest.

(d)

Valuation

(1)

Market value

The Secretary may not sell or exchange land under this Act for less than market value, as determined by appraisal or through competitive bid.

(2)

Appraisal requirements

Any appraisal shall be—

(A)

consistent with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions or the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice; and

(B)

subject to the approval of the Secretary.

(e)

Consideration

(1)

Cash

Consideration for a sale of land or equalization of an exchange shall be paid in cash.

(2)

Exchange

Notwithstanding section 206(b) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(b)), the Secretary may accept a cash equalization payment in excess of 25 percent of the value of any land exchanged.

(f)

Method of sale

(1)

Options

The Secretary may sell land under subsection (a) at public or private sale, including competitive sale by auction, bid, or otherwise, in accordance with such terms, conditions, and procedures as the Secretary determines are in the best interest of the United States.

(2)

Solicitations

The Secretary may—

(A)

make public or private solicitations for the sale or exchange of land authorized by this Act; and

(B)

reject any offer that the Secretary determines is not adequate or not in the public interest.

(g)

Brokers

The Secretary may—

(1)

use brokers or other third parties in the disposition of the land authorized by this Act; and

(2)

from the proceeds of a sale, pay reasonable commissions or fees.

4.

Treatment of proceeds

(a)

Deposit

Subject to section 3(g)(2), the Secretary shall deposit the proceeds of a sale or cash equalizations payments authorized by this Act in the fund established under Public Law 90–171 (commonly known as the Sisk Act) (16 U.S.C. 484a).

(b)

Availability

Subject to subsection (c), amounts deposited under subsection (a) shall be available to the Secretary until expended, without further appropriation, for the acquisition of land for National Forest purposes in the State of Georgia.

(c)

Private property protection

Nothing in this Act authorizes the use of funds deposited under subsection (a) to be used to acquire land without the written consent of the owner of the land.