H.R. 841: To amend title 54, United States Code, to prohibit the acquisition of land, water, or an interest in land or water from a private landowner using amounts made available under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

This bill proposes an amendment to title 54 of the United States Code, specifically concerning the use of funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The key component of the bill is a restriction on how states can use financial assistance from the Secretary of the Interior under this program.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition of Private Land Acquisition: The bill explicitly states that states receiving financial assistance from the LWCF cannot use these funds to acquire land, water, or any interests in land or water from private landowners. This means that any funds provided under the LWCF, which is typically used for conservation and outdoor recreation projects, would be barred from being employed to purchase properties from private individuals or entities.
• Conforming Amendment: It also includes a conforming amendment to ensure that the restrictions are clear and consistent in related sections of the law. This amendment reinforces the point that appropriations from the LWCF may not be used for acquisitions from private landowners.

The intended effect of this legislation is to limit the federal government’s role in purchasing private land through funding provided by the LWCF, thereby potentially prioritizing other forms of conservation and land management that do not involve private property transactions.

Implementation

If enacted, this bill would directly affect the manner in which states manage their conservation efforts funded by the LWCF. States would need to find alternative funding sources or strategies for acquiring land, water, or interests in these resources from private owners.

Rationale

The rationale behind the bill appears to be focused on restricting federal involvement in private land transactions, possibly to address concerns related to property rights or state control over land use decisions.

Potential Impact on Conservation Efforts

This restriction might influence the overall dynamics of land conservation efforts, pushing states to focus on other methods of land conservation that do not involve purchases from private landowners, such as:

• Conservation easements, where landowners agree to protect the natural values of their land without selling the property.
• Leases or partnerships with private landowners for conservation purposes.
• Utilizing state funds or grants not derived from the LWCF for land acquisition from private parties.

Relevant Companies

None found