Skip to main content

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

RCED-85-16 Published: Nov 06, 1984. Publicly Released: Nov 06, 1984.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

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.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Chief of the Forest Service to modify Service instructions on the integrated plans to require forest supervisors to review the need for the 6 million acres identified for further study. To the extent possible, these reviews should be done as part of the process of preparing the initial integrated forest and resource management plans.
Closed – Implemented
The Forest Service Manual states that Forest Service plans which are revised to integrate planning for wilderness and other special areas shall consider desired land ownership patterns and ways of achieving them, including disposal of unsuitable areas.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Chief of the Forest Service to develop a list of land tracts that should be made available for sale and report the results to Congress for its use in considering whether to grant the Secretary additional sales authority for Forest Service land.
Closed – Implemented
The Forest Service Manual states that Forest Service plans which are revised to integrate planning for wilderness and other special areas shall consider desired land ownership patterns and ways of achieving them, including disposal of unsuitable areas.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Agency missionsCost controlEnvironmental policiesForest managementPlanningReal estate salesWildlife managementLand useAsset managementFederal property