Forest Service's Program To Identify Unneeded Land for Potential Sale Is Stalled

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Forest Service's program to identify and dispose of unneeded land, including: (1) how the Service plans to implement an executive order which asked federal agencies to identify and dispose of such land; (2) its land management process; and (3) the problems and costs involved in selling the land.

GAO found that the Service is not determining which tracts of 6 million acres of forest land identified for study are unneeded because it has limited authority to sell national forest system land. However, Congress will not consider granting additional sale authority until the Service identifies and studies the unneeded lands. In addition, Service officials believe that once the land is studied, substantially less than 6 million acres would be offered for sale; however, the specific numbers will not be known until the land is further studied. Service officials estimate that about 10 percent of the land would be offered for sale after a study of resources and land use. The remaining acres would probably be retained because the land: (1) does not cost much to manage and has significant timber resources and animal forage; (2) contains important natural and cultural resources; and (3) is not readily marketable because of remoteness and the lack of natural resources. As of July 9, 1984, 118 of 124 anticipated forest land and management resources plans were still being developed but, by 1985, the 6 million acres could be reviewed. Users of national forest lands felt that the land identified for further study should remain as part of the Forest Service. Several expressed concern about sale terms and whether they would have the first opportunity to purchase unneeded lands.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Michael Gryszkowiec Team: General Accounting Office: Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division Phone: (202) 275-7756