Land exchange between City of Greeley, Colorado, and the Forest Service

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

City

The term City means the city of Greeley, Colorado. (2)

Federal land

The term Federal land means the approximately 78 acres of National Forest System land administered by the Forest Service and generally depicted as USFS Property on the Map. (3)

Map

The term Map means the map titled Greeley Land Exchange Act and dated May 3, 2026. (4)

Non-Federal land

The term non-Federal land means— (A)the approximately 40 acres of land owned by the City and generally depicted as City of Greeley, Water Utilities Property on the Map; and (B)excludes all water rights owned by the City. (5)

Seaman reservoir trail

The term Seaman Reservoir Trail means— (A)the road labeled Seaman Reservoir Trl on the Map; and (B)as of the date of the enactment of this Act, referred to as Seaman Road #547 in the Forest Service database. (6)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (7)

Wintersteen trail

The term Wintersteen Trail means the unnumbered, non-system road generally depicted on the Map that branches from the Seaman Reservoir Road and provides access to the southwest corner of Seaman Reservoir. (b)

Exchange of land

Subject to subsection (c), if the City offers to convey to the United States all right, title, and interest of the City in and to the non-Federal land, excluding all water rights owned by the City, the Secretary shall, not later than 3 years after the date on which the Secretary receives the offer, or such later date as the Secretary and the City mutually agree, simultaneously— (1)convey to the City all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land and excepting and reserving to the United States— (A)a perpetual, non-exclusive easement for public nonmotorized access over the Seaman Reservoir Trail and the Wintersteen Trail to adjacent National Forest System land that is consistent with the nature and extent of public access in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (B)a perpetual, nonexclusive easement for motorized and nonmotorized access by the United States and its agents for administrative, emergency, inspection, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and resource-management purposes; and (2)accept from the City all right, title, and interest of the City in and to the non-Federal land, excluding all water rights owned by the City. (c)

Requirements

The exchange under subsection (b) shall be— (1)conditioned on title approval for the non-Federal land, excluding all water rights owned by the City, conveyed under subsection (d)(3) by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (e); (2)conditioned on equalization of value in accordance with subsection (d) if, under the appraisals conducted in accordance with this section, it is determined that the value of the Federal land exceeds the value of lands to be conveyed by the City; (3)conditioned on the satisfactory completion, for each parcel to be conveyed to the United States, of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment that is provided by the City and acceptable to the Secretary; (4)subject to valid existing rights; and (5)subject to any other terms and conditions, including reservations, covenants, restrictions, and easements, that the Secretary determines appropriate. (d)

Equal value and cash equalization

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the exchange under subsection (b) shall be for equal value, with any difference in value equalized by the conveyance of additional land under paragraph (3), a cash payment under paragraph (4), or a combination thereof. (2)

Waiver for surplus value of non-federal land

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the appraised value of the non-Federal land to be conveyed to the United States exceeds the appraised value of the Federal land, a cash equalization payment by the United States to the City is hereby waived and the amount of such waived payment shall be considered a donation by the City to the United States for all purposes of law. (3)

Optional additional acreage conveyance by city

(A)

In general

Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), if the appraised value of the Federal land exceeds the appraised value of the non-Federal land, the City may, subject to agreement by the Secretary, convey to the United States additional land owned by the City that the Secretary determines is suitable for addition to and administration as part of the National Forest System, for the purpose of equalizing appraised values, exclusive of any water rights. (B)

Acreage limit

The total acreage of additional land conveyed under subparagraph (A) may not exceed 40 acres. (C)

Appraisal; title

Any additional land conveyed under this paragraph shall be appraised in accordance with subsection (e), and be acceptable in title and condition to the Secretary. All water rights held by the City will be expressly reserved from conveyance. (4)

Cash equalization payment by city

In accordance with section 206(b) of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(b)), if the difference between the appraised value of the Federal land and the sum of the appraised value of the non-Federal land plus the appraised value of additional land conveyed to the United States under paragraph (3) is greater than zero, the City shall pay the Secretary a cash payment equal to such difference. (e)

Appraisals

(1)

In general

The value of the land to be exchanged under this section shall be determined by appraisals conducted by an independent and qualified appraiser mutually agreed to by the Secretary and the City. Each appraisal shall be reviewed and approved by the Secretary. (2)

Appraisal standards

The Secretary shall complete appraisals of the land to be exchanged under this section in accordance with Forest Service policy and— (A)the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and (B)the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. (f)

Format

Title to lands owned by the City and conveyed to the United States under this section shall be approved in accordance with section 3111 of title 40, United States Code. (g)

Management of acquired land

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), any lands or interests in lands acquired by the United States under this section shall become part of the Roosevelt National Forest and shall be managed in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to National Forest System. (2)

Cache la poudre wilderness

Any land or interest in land acquired by the United States under this section that is within the boundary of the Cache la Poudre Wilderness shall— (A)become part of the Cache la Poudre Wilderness; and (B)be managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and any other applicable law. (3)

Cache la poudre wild and scenic river

Any land or interest in land acquired by the United States under this section that is within the boundary of the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River shall— (A)become part of the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River; and (B)be managed in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) and any other applicable law. (h)

Survey

(1)

In general

The exact acreages and legal descriptions of the Federal land and the non-Federal land to be exchanged under subsection (b), and any additional lands conveyed under subsection (d)(3), and each easement reserved under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1) shall be determined by surveys satisfactory to the Secretary. (2)

Costs of survey

The City shall bear all costs associated with each survey under paragraph (1). (i)

Map and legal descriptions

(1)

In general

As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize the Map and the legal descriptions of all lands to be conveyed under this section, including any additional lands conveyed under subsection (d)(3) and the easements reserved under subsection (b)(1). (2)

Controlling document

With respect to lands to be conveyed under this section, if there is a discrepancy between a Map and a legal description, the Map shall control. (3)

Corrections

The Secretary and the City, by mutual agreement, may correct any minor errors in the Map, or the legal descriptions, including with respect to the boundaries of the Federal land and the non-Federal land. (4)

Map on file

The Map, and the legal descriptions of all lands to be conveyed under this section, including any additional lands conveyed under subsection (d)(3), shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service. (j)

Costs

As a condition for the exchange under subsection (b), the City shall pay all costs associated with the exchange, including costs for— (1)appraisals and appraisal review; (2)surveys and preparation of legal descriptions; (3)mineral examinations; (4)title searches, title insurance, and title-curative work; (5)attorneys fees and recording fees; (6)environmental assessments and resource surveys required under Federal law or regulation; and (7)escrow, recording, and other closing expenses. (k)

Applicable law

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, the Secretary shall carry out the exchange under this section in accordance with section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716) and subpart A of part 254 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations.