Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Exchange Act of 2016

Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Exchange Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), if the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority offers to convey to it certain nonfederal land, to convey certain federal land to the Trust Authority in exchange.

Before carrying out the land exchange, USDA shall complete any necessary land surveys and required pre-exchange clearances, mitigation activities, and approvals related to:

• threatened and endangered species,
• cultural and historic resources,
• wetland and floodplains, and
• hazardous materials.

USDA and the Trust Authority shall select an appraiser to conduct appraisals of the federal and nonfederal lands in accordance with nationally recognized standards.

The Trust Authority shall agree to pay, without compensation, all costs associated with the exchange.

Upon acquisition by USDA, the nonfederal land shall become part of Tongass National Forest, and shall be withdrawn from:

• entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
• location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
• disposition under the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.