Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Land Adjustment Act of 2015

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 of 2015 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 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 (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) (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 The Secretary shall deposit the proceeds of a sale authorized by this Act in the fund established under Public Law 90–171 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. September 20, 2016 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Land Adjustment Act of 2015 (Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to may sell or exchange any or all interest of the United States in 30 tracts of National Forest System land in Georgia totaling approximately 3,841 acres. USDA may modify the boundaries of such lands based on land management considerations. USDA shall convey by quitclaim deed land sold or exchanged under this bill. USDA may reserve any rights-of-way or other rights or interests in land sold or exchanged under this bill that are considered necessary for management purposes or to protect the public interest. USDA may not sell or exchange land under this bill for less than market value, as determined by an appraisal or through a competitive bid. Any such appraisal shall be: consistent with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions or the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, and subject to USDA's approval. The consideration for sales of lands or equalization of exchanges under this bill shall be paid in cash. USDA may accept a cash equalization payment that exceeds 25% of the value of any of the land to be exchanged under this bill. USDA may sell lands under this bill at public or private sale, including competitive sale by auction, bid, or otherwise, according to such terms, conditions, and procedures that are in the best interest of the United States. USDA may: make public or private solicitations for the sale or exchange of land authorized by this bill, and reject any offer that is determined as not being adequate or not in the public interest. USDA may: use brokers or other third parties in disposing of the lands authorized by this bill; and from the proceeds of such a sale, pay reasonable commissions or fees. (Sec. 4) USDA shall deposit the proceeds of a sale authorized by this bill in the fund established under the Sisk Act. Amounts deposited into such fund shall be made available to USDA for the acquisition of land for national forest purposes in Georgia. Nothing in this bill authorizes the use of the amounts deposited into such fund for the acquisition of land without the written consent of the owner of that land.