We need your help to reauthorize FLTFA and reinstate the FLTFA account.

FLTFA map graphic

By co-sponsoring reauthorization legislation (S. 1787 and H.R. 3339) and reinstatement legislation (S. 3762), Members of Congress can restore this important conservation funding tool that uses a “land for land” approach to help federal agencies acquire critically important tracts of land from private willing sellers for fish and wildlife conservation, cultural and historic preservation and outdoor recreation in the West, through the disposal of non-strategic BLM lands that benefits local economies.

FACT SHEET. Download a one-page fact sheet with legislative updates.

BROCHURE & MAP. Learn more about FLTFA by reading our brochure and see a full list of FLTFA projects on this map.

GROUP LETTER. Over 60 groups support FLTFA reauthorization and reinstatement. Download the 8/5/2010 group support letter here.

Background

In 2000, Congress passed bipartisan legislation that authorized FLTFA for 10 years. Through its “land for land” approach, FLTFA is funded through sales of scattered BLM tracts authorized for disposal under the Federal Land Policy Management Act. The Departments of Interior and Agriculture allocate FLTFA funds to acquire priority lands from willing sellers within the boundaries of designated BLM areas, national forests, national parks and national wildlife refuges. BLM has sold 309 FLTFA parcels totaling 30,000 acres with a total value of over $113 million. During the same time period, agencies have acquired 28 parcels totaling 16,738 acres—along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Montana, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado, Hells Canyon Wilderness in Arizona, Zion National Park, Upper Snake/South Fork Snake River ACEC in Idaho and other sites. See the FLTFA brochure and map for an overview of the program and projects. FLTFA works in conjunction with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and often complements the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

Recent Updates: FLTFA Expiration and One-year Extension

When FLTFA expired on July 25, 2010, FLTFA’s Federal Land Disposal Account lost approximately $50 million including project funding and $13 million to administer the BLM’s land sale program. On July 27, 2010, Congress passed the emergency supplemental appropriations bill to extend FLTFA for one year. Because of the break in FLTFA’s authority, the BLM lost funds in the Federal Land Disposal Account to administer the land sales program and acquire new properties as authorized by Congress into July 2011.

Reinstating FLTFA Funding

Senate Bill – S. 3762. Status: Introduced. Senator Harry Reid and Senator John Ensign have introduced bipartisan legislation to reinstate approximately $50 million to the Federal Land Disposal Account to carry out the FLTFA program (S. 3762 – A bill to reinstate funds to the Federal Land Disposal Account). When FLTFA expired in July 2010, approximately $50 million in project funding and administrative funding was transferred to the Treasury. If Congress passes legislation to reinstate the FLTFA funds, the BLM and USFS would receive previously approved project funding to conserve lands in and around Lake Tahoe and other areas. BLM would also receive approximately $13 million in administrative funding to continue to FLTFA sales through appraisals, reviews and necessary clearances creating jobs in the near term and promoting ranching, farming and economic development through the sale of lands deemed eligible for disposal.

S. 3762

Reauthorization Legislation – S. 1787 and H.R. 3339

Senate Bill – S.1787. Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved the bill. Senator Bingaman (D-NM) introduced S.1787, to extend FLTFA until July 2020. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the bill in June 2010. S. 1787 strikes the date of enactment restriction on designated areas, which will allow FLTFA funds to go toward any designated area, regardless of when the area was established. With regard to land sales, S. 1787 updates the provision to include sales of federal land in land use plans in effect as of the date of enactment of the FLTFA reauthorization bill. As reported, S. 1787 preserves the Southern Nevada legislation, along with county legislation for Lincoln and White Pine Counties, Nevada, Owyhee County, Idaho, Washington County, Utah, and Douglas County, Washington. CBO scores the bill at $8 million.

House Bill – H.R. 3339. Status: Awaits markup in the Committee on Natural Resources. Representative Heinrich (D-NM) and Representative Lummis (R-WY) introduced H.R. 3339 to permanently reauthorize FLTFA and maintain the “land for land” principle. The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the bill in November 2009 and the bill awaits markup. Like the Senate bill, H.R. 3339 would strike the date of enactment restriction on designated areas, which will allow FLTFA funds to go toward any designated area, regardless of when the area was established. In terms of land sales, the bill also strikes the date of enactment provision, allowing sales from any land use plan to generate revenue for the FLTFA account, regardless of the date of the plan. The House bill differs from the Senate bill in that it is permanent, versus ten years in Senate, and the Senate bill updates the land sales date to the date of enactment.

Reauthorization Principles:

Maintain “land for land” principle that is in the current law
Make the authorization permanent
Allow for proceeds from the sale of lands identified in BLM land use plans that were completed after 2000 to be spent on land purchases and to allow the agencies to use FLTFA funds to acquire inholdings within any designated area, regardless of when the area was established.

In addition, we recommend that the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture delegate the approval process.