DOI: BLM: Land Tenure: Exchange

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Lands and Realty



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Exchanges

Land exchanges are a common-sense tool that enables the BLM and other landowners to improve land management, consolidate ownership and protect environmentally sensitive areas. By exchanging public land that is isolated and difficult to manage, the BLM is able to acquire other lands with importance for recreation, wildlife, fisheries, wetlands, habitat for threatened and endangered species, wilderness, open space, scenic, cultural and other resource conservation purposes. Land exchanges allow the BLM to reposition lands into more manageable units and to meet community expansion needs.

Using an open, transparent and comprehensive approach, the BLM is moving forward on priority land exchanges in conformance with the requirements of law. Land exchanges continue to be the BLM's preferred method of land ownership adjustment with State governments.

Land Tenure

Exchanges are only pursued with willing landowners. The lands to be exchanged must be of equal monetary value and located within the same State. Exchanges are generally preferred over purchases because Federal "purchase" funds are usually limited. Exchanges benefit the public by:

Placing public land in private ownership to serve local needs, and
Consolidating ownership of scattered tracts of land for more efficient and less costly management of resources.

Exchange Processing Steps

The time from a proponent's initial contact with the BLM until title to the Federal and non-Federal properties are exchanged generally ranges from 18 months to two years depending on the complexity of the exchange. The time period may be shorter or longer depending on the need to resolve title issues, mitigate impacts or resolve protests or appeals.

There are five phases associated with the processing of a land exchange:

Step 1, development of a land exchange proposal, requires about 90 days*. The BLM and potential exchange parties meet to discuss land exchange processing and non-Federal land title, as well as to informally share ideas about proposed land exchanges. This informal discussion and initial screening helps identify proposals that have fatal flaws, or those that would be otherwise unworkable.
Step 2, feasibility evaluation, requires about 160 days. The BLM prepares a report assessing the feasibility of the land exchange proposal, estimates processing costs, and completes required State Office and Washington Office reviews. At the end of this period, if the parties agree to proceed with the exchange proposal, a nonbinding agreement to initiate (ATI) is signed by the parties. This agreement outlines the property and interests to be transferred, assigns responsibility for various actions and costs, and sets a schedule for completing various actions.
Step 3, processing and documentation, requires about five months for completion if there are no critical issues. During this step, resource analysis occurs, title is checked, appraisals prepared and reviewed, and environmental issues identified and resolved. In addition, the public is invited to submit written comments or concerns regarding the proposed exchange. At the end of this period, the parties may reach an agreement on value.
Step 4, decision analysis and approval, requires about 130 days unless a protest or appeal is filed. This step involves development of the exchange decision documents, completion of State Office and Washington Office reviews, decision signing, and compliance with public notification requirements.
Step 5, title transfer, requires 30 to 45 days for receiving and reviewing the title evidence and land status, issuing the Federal patent and closing the transaction.

* Estimates shown are for an average 18 to 24 month land exchange process. Actual time may vary.

Additional information is accessible through our links page.

Prior to developing a land exchange proposal, please contact your nearest BLM Office to discuss the availability of lands as well as processing details.