H.R. 10432: Greeley Land Exchange Act

This bill would authorize a land swap between the City of Greeley, Colorado, and the U.S. Forest Service.

What land would be exchanged

The bill covers about 78 acres of federal land in the National Forest System and about 40 acres of city-owned land used by Greeley’s water utilities. The city’s water rights are not included in the exchange.

If Greeley offers to transfer its land to the federal government, the Forest Service would be required to complete the exchange within three years, unless both sides agree to a later date.

What the federal government would give up and keep

In return for the city land, the federal government would transfer the 78-acre federal parcel to Greeley. However, the United States would keep two permanent access rights over certain trails:

• A right for the public to continue nonmotorized access over the Seaman Reservoir Trail and the Wintersteen Trail, consistent with the level of public access in place when the bill is enacted.
• A right for the Forest Service and its agents to use those routes for administrative, emergency, inspection, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and resource-management purposes, using both motorized and nonmotorized access.

Conditions on the exchange

The exchange would only happen if several conditions are met:

• The city’s land must have its title approved by the Forest Service.
• Each parcel conveyed to the United States must pass a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment acceptable to the Secretary of Agriculture.
• The exchange must be based on appraised value and be adjusted so the values are equal.
• The exchange remains subject to any existing legal rights and any other terms the Secretary decides are appropriate.

How the value balance would work

The bill requires the lands to be exchanged at equal value. If the federal land is worth more than the city land:

• Greeley could convey additional city-owned land, up to 40 acres, if the Secretary agrees and if that land is suitable for national forest purposes.
• If there is still a difference after that, the city would have to make a cash equalization payment to the federal government.

If the city land turns out to be worth more than the federal land, the federal government would not make a cash payment to Greeley; instead, that extra value would be treated as a donation by the city.

Appraisals, surveys, and paperwork

The bill sets out how the land values and boundaries would be determined:

• An independent appraiser chosen by both sides would value the lands.
• The Forest Service must review and approve the appraisals.
• The Secretary must use Forest Service policy and standard federal appraisal rules.
• Exact boundaries and acreages would be set by surveys approved by the Secretary.
• The city would pay the costs of appraisals, surveys, title work, environmental reviews, legal fees, recording costs, and other closing expenses.

What happens to the land after the exchange

Any land the United States receives would generally become part of the Roosevelt National Forest and be managed under national forest rules. If any acquired land lies within the Cache la Poudre Wilderness, it would become part of that wilderness area and be managed under the Wilderness Act. If any acquired land lies within the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River boundary, it would become part of that river area and be managed under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Relevant Companies

None found