[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 153 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 153

To establish certain requirements relating to the transfer or disposal 
of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 1999

  Mr. Hefley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish certain requirements relating to the transfer or disposal 
of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the Bureau of Land Management presently holds title to 
        1,800,000,000 acres of public land;
            (2) much of this land is marginal in value and left over 
        from the 19th century;
            (3) in many cases, the costs of maintaining and surveying 
        this land far exceed the actual value of these parcels;
            (4) the agency is presently facing a sizable budget backlog 
        which is hampering its ability to properly manage all of this 
        property;
            (5) under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
        1976, the Bureau is required to identify public lands suitable 
        for sale, exchange, or transfer; and
            (6) the transfer of some of these parcels could effect 
        budget savings and greater management efficiencies for the 
        Bureau.

SEC. 2. ACQUISITION OF LANDS BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Prohibition.--Except as provided by section 3, amounts 
appropriated or otherwise made available after the date of the 
enactment of this Act may not be obligated or expended by the Secretary 
of the Interior (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Secretary'') for the acquisition of any lands or interests therein 
which are to be administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
    (b) Acquisition with Donated Funds or Proceeds from the Sale of 
Certain Lands or by Exchange.--After the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary may only acquire lands or interests therein for 
administration by the Bureau of Land Management by exchange, donation, 
or from amounts made available from the Fund pursuant to section 3.

SEC. 3. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND SALE AND ACQUISITION FUND.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Bureau of Land 
Management Land Sale and Acquisition Fund (hereafter in this Act 
referred to as the ``Fund'').
    (b) Administration.--The Fund shall be administered by the 
Secretary.
    (c) Deposits into Fund.--There shall be deposited into the Fund--
            (1) all amounts received by the Secretary from the disposal 
        of any lands or interests therein administered by the Bureau of 
        Land Management; and
            (2) all amounts received by the United States by gift for 
        acquisition of lands to be administered by the Bureau of Land 
        Management.
    (d) Expenditures From Fund.--Amounts may be made available from the 
Fund for the acquisition of lands or interests therein to be 
administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

SEC. 4. INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED IN ANNUAL BUDGET REQUESTS 
              RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OR DISPOSAL OF PUBLIC LANDS.

    Annual budget requests submitted by the Secretary shall be 
accompanied by information as to whether the Bureau of Land Management, 
through preparation of land-use plans pursuant to the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976, has identified public lands which 
are suitable for transfer to other management or for disposal through 
exchange or otherwise, the transfer or disposal of which have been 
delayed because of incomplete surveys or other reasons. If enactment of 
additional legislation would be desirable in order to facilitate the 
transfer or disposal of public lands described in the request, the 
Secretary may include a proposal for such additional legislation in 
such request.
                                 <all>