I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2615
To limit the acquisition by the United States of land located in a State
in which 25 percent or more of the land in that State is owned by
the United States, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 1, 1993
Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming (for himself, Mrs. VUCANOVICH, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr.
POMBO, Mr. CRANE, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. SMITH of Or-
egon, Mr. DELAY, Mr. STUMP, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HERGER, Mr. SKEEN,
and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To limit the acquisition by the United States of land located
in a State in which 25 percent or more of the land
in that State is owned by the United States, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No Net Loss of Private
Lands Act’’.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF LAND.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the United States may acquire an interest in
100 or more acres of land within a State described in sub-
section (c) only if, before any such acquisition, the United
States disposes of the surface estate to land in that State
in accordance with subsection (b).
(b) DISPOSITION OF SURFACE ESTATE.—The dis-
position of the surface estate in land by the United States
qualifies for the purposes of this section if—
(1) the value of the surface estate of the land
disposed of by the United States is approximately
equal to the value of the interest in land subject to
this section that is to be acquired by the United
States, as determined by the Secretary of the De-
partment concerned; and
(2) the Secretary of the Department concerned
certifies that the United States has disposed of land
for the purpose of this section.
(c) AFFECTED STATES.—A State is described in this
section if—
(1) it is one of the States of the United States;
and
(2) 25 percent or more of the land within that
State is owned by the United States.
(d) ACQUISITION.—For the purpose of this section,
the term ‘‘acquire’’ includes acquisition by donation, pur-
chase with donated or appropriated funds, exchange, de-
vise, and condemnation.
(e) APPLICABILITY.—This section does not apply
to—
(1) any land held in trust for the benefit of an
Indian tribe or individual or held by an Indian tribe
or individual subject to a restriction by the United
States against alienation;
(2) real property acquired pursuant to a fore-
closure under title 18, United States Code;
(3) real property acquired by any department,
agency, or independent establishment in its capacity
as a receiver, conserver, or liquidating agent which
is held by that department, agency, or independent
establishment in its capacity as a receiver, conserver,
or liquidating agent pending disposal;
(4) real property which is subject to seizure,
levy, or lien under the Internal Revenue Code of
1986; and
(5) real property that is securing a debt owed
to the United States.
The head of any department, agency, or instrumentality
of the United States may also waive the requirements of
this section with respect to the acquisition of land by that
department, agency, or instrumentality during any period
in which there is in effect a declaration of war or a na-
tional emergency declared by the President.
Æ