Skip to main content

Program To Transfer Land Between the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service Has Stalled

RCED-85-21 Published: Dec 27, 1984. Publicly Released: Dec 27, 1984.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

GAO reviewed the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) and the Forest Service's implemention of the Jurisdictional Land Transfer Program, which was established in 1980 to identify and evaluate opportunities to transfer the two agencies' land management responsibilities and develop proposed legislation to effect such transfers.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Agriculture The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior should resolve the disagreement over the size and scope of potential land transfers so that the Jurisdictional Land Transfer Program can be resumed and legislative proposals can be made.
Closed – Implemented
The Forest Service and BLM have decided to do a one-shot interchange. They have agreed on its size, scope, and post-implementation boundaries. Maps have been drawn and public hearings were held. Legislative packages were submitted to Congress.
Department of the Interior The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior should resolve the disagreement over the size and scope of potential land transfers so that the Jurisdictional Land Transfer Program can be resumed and legislative proposals can be made.
Closed – Implemented
The Forest Service and BLM have decided to do a one-shot interchange. They have agreed on its size, scope, and post-implementation boundaries. Maps have been drawn and public hearings were held. Legislative packages were submitted to Congress.
Department of Agriculture Once the Jurisdictional Land Transfer Program has been resumed, the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior should direct the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director, BLM, to instruct their field staffs to adhere to the program guidelines.
Closed – Not Implemented
Legislation to restart the interchange was introduced to the House and Senate in March and April 1986, but Congress failed to act on the legislation before it adjourned in October 1986. The agencies have directed field staff to follow program guidelines.
Department of the Interior Once the Jurisdictional Land Transfer Program has been resumed, the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior should direct the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director, BLM, to instruct their field staffs to adhere to the program guidelines.
Closed – Not Implemented
Legislation to restart the interchange was introduced in the House and Senate in March 1986, but Congress failed to act on the legislation before it adjourned in October 1986. The agencies have directed field staff to follow guidelines.
Department of Agriculture Once the program has been resumed, the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior should direct the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director, BLM, to monitor the program's progress to make sure that the guidelines are followed.
Closed – Not Implemented
The agencies issued guidelines to monitor program progress and to ensure that field staff follow program guidelines; however, Congress failed to act on legislation before it adjourned in October 1986.
Department of the Interior Once the program has been resumed, the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior should direct the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director, BLM, to monitor the program's progress to make sure that the guidelines are followed.
Closed – Not Implemented
The agencies issued guidelines to monitor program progress and to ensure that field staff follow program guidelines; however, Congress failed to act on the legislation before it adjourned in October 1986.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Cost controlFederal agency reorganizationForest managementInteragency relationsLand managementLand transfersMonitoringPlanningProgram evaluationPublic lands