United States Code

16 U.S.C. § 478a

Townsites

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Bills that would change it 5

  • HR 4284 Small Cemetery Conveyance Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 6148 Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 3186 Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 8108 Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land Act Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • S 4421 Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land Act Amends · introduced · 117th Congress

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-124.

When the Secretary of Agriculture determines that a tract of National Forest System land in Alaska or in the eleven contiguous Western States is located adjacent to or contiguous to an established community, and that transfer of such land would serve indigenous community objectives that outweigh the public objectives and values which would be served by maintaining such tract in Federal ownership, he may, upon application, set aside and designate as a townsite an area of not to exceed six hundred and forty acres of National Forest System land for any one application. After public notice, and satisfactory showing of need therefor by any county, city, or other local governmental subdivision, the Secretary may offer such area for sale to a governmental subdivision at a price not less than the fair market value thereof: Provided, however, That the Secretary may condition conveyances of townsites upon the enactment, maintenance, and enforcement of a valid ordinance which assures any land so conveyed will be controlled by the governmental subdivision so that use of the area will not interfere with the protection, management, and development of adjacent or contiguous National Forest System lands.
Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗