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

摘要

In March 1983 the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service identified about 6 million acres of its 191 million acres for further study to determine if the land was needed or could be made available for sale. Service officials believe that if the land is further studied, substantially less than the 6 million acres would be offered for sale. However, the Service has limited sale authority and has decided not to study the land further for potential sale until its sale authority is expanded. The Congress has stated in legislation that it does not intend to grant additional sale authority until the Service specifically identifies unneeded land. GAO recommends that, to help resolve the impasse over direct sale authority, the Service modify its planning effort to review the need for the 6 million acres, develop a specific list of unneeded land, and submit the list to the Congress.