I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1434 
To authorize the sale of certain National Forest System land in the State 
of Georgia. 
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. 
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 ‘‘Chattahoochee-Oconee 
National Forest Land Adjustment Act’’. 
SEC. 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 
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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. 
SEC. 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 Sys-
tem 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 Chat-
tahoochee National Forests, U.S. Congressional Dis-
tricts 8, 9, 10 & 14’’ and dated September 24, 2013. 
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(2) MAPS.—The maps described in paragraph 
(1) shall be on file and available for public inspec-
tion in the Office of the Forest Supervisor, Chat-
tahoochee-Oconee National Forest, until such time 
as the land is sold or exchanged. 
(3) MODIFICATION OF BOUNDARIES.—The Sec-
retary may modify the boundaries of the land de-
scribed 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 re-
serve any rights-of-way or other rights or interests 
in land sold or exchanged under this Act that the 
Secretary considers necessary for management pur-
poses 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— 
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(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 Sec-
retary. 
(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, includ-
ing competitive sale by auction, bid, or otherwise, in 
accordance with such terms, conditions, and proce-
dures as the Secretary determines are in the best in-
terest 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 
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(B) reject any offer that the Secretary de-
termines is not adequate or not in the public in-
terest. 
(g) BROKERS.—The Secretary may— 
(1) use brokers or other third parties in the dis-
position of the land authorized by this Act; and 
(2) from the proceeds of a sale, pay reasonable 
commissions or fees. 
SEC. 4. TREATMENT OF PROCEEDS. 
(a) DEPOSIT.—Subject to section 3(g)(2), the Sec-
retary shall deposit the proceeds of a sale or cash equali-
zations payments authorized by this Act in the fund estab-
lished 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 appro-
priation, 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 sub-
section (a) to be used to acquire land without the written 
consent of the owner of the land. 
Æ 
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