H.R. 3115 would require the Forest Service to exchange, at the request of a private entity, 6,650 acres of federal lands in the Superior National Forest for 6,690 acres of private lands in that forest. Based on an analysis of information provided by the agency, CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would have no significant effect on the federal budget.
On January 9, 2017, the Forest Service issued a Final Record of Decision approving the land exchange required under the bill. CBO expects that, under current law, the land exchange would be completing in 2018, the same year we would expect it would occur under H.R. 3115. Because enacting the legislation would not affect the timing of the land exchange or the acreage conveyed, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would not affect direct spending.
Based on information regarding recent appraisals of the two parcels, CBO estimates that the value of the nonfederal land would exceed the value of the federal land by less than $500,000. If the exchange is consummated under current law, the Forest Service would be required to use appropriated funds to make an equalization payment to the private landowner. Under the bill, that requirement would be waived. Because CBO expects that the agency would use appropriated funds that would have been used to make the equalization to carry out other activities, we estimate that implementing the bill also would have no significant effect on spending subject to appropriation.
Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 3115 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
