Land Use Policy and Planning Assistance Act

(LATEST SUMMARY)

Land Use Policy and Planning Assistance Act - =Title I: Findings, Policy, and Purpose= - Sets forth the findings of Congress and states the policy and purpose of this Act.

=Title II: Programs of Assistance to the States= - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make annual grants to each State to assist each State in developing and administering a State land use program meeting the requirements set forth in this Act.

Provides that, as a condition to the continued eligibility of any State for grants after a period of three complete fiscal years following the enactment of this Act and before the end of the fifth fiscal year following the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall have determined that the State has developed an adequate statewide land use planning process. Sets forth the requirements of such process. Provides that, in the determination of an adequate statewide land use process of any State, the Secretary shall confirm that the State has an eligible State land use planning agency established by the Governor of such State or by law. Provides that, as a condition of the continued eligibility of any State for grants after a period of five complete fiscal years following the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall determine that the State has developed an adequate State land use program.

Provides that such program shall include methods of implementation for: (1) assuring that use and development of land in areas of critical environmental concern within the State is not inconsistent with the State land use program; (2) assuring that the use of land in areas within the State which are or may be impacted by key facilities, including the site location and the location of major improvement and major access features of key facilities, is not inconsistent with the State land use program; (3) assuring that any large-scale subdivisions and other proposed large-scale development within the State of more than local significance in its impact upon the environment is not inconsistent with the State land use program; (4) assuring that any source of air, water, noise, or other pollution in the areas or from the uses or activities listed in this part shall not be located where it would result in a violation of any pollution standard or implementation plan; (5) periodically revising and updating the State land use program to meet changing conditions; (6) assuring dissemination of information to appropriate officials or representatives of local governments and members of the public and their participation in the development of and subsequent revisions in the State land use program and in the formulation of State guidelines, rules, and regulations for the development and administration of the State land use program; and (7) conducting a coordinated management program for the land and water resources of any coastal zone within the State in accordance with existing or then applicable Federal or State law.

Provides that such methods of implementation shall include either one or a combination of the two following general techniques: (1) implementation by local governments pursuant to criteria and standards established by the State, such implementation to be subject to State administrative review with State authority to disapprove such implementation wherever it fails to meet such criteria and guidelines; and (2) direct State land use planning and regulation.

Authorizes the State to coordinate State and local land use planning, policies, and programs concerning the study of land use in, to conduct land use planning for, or to implement land use policies in, interstate areas.

Directs the Advissory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to conduct a review of federally established or authorized interstate agencies.

=Title III: Administration of Land Use Policy= - Establishes in the Department of the Interior an Office of Land Use Policy Administration. Provides that the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the office, shall: (1) maintain a continuing study of the land resources of the United States and their use; (2) cooperate with the States in the development of standard methods and classifications for the collection of land use data and in the establishment of effective procedures for the exchange and dissemination of land use data; (3) develop and maintain a Federal Land Use Information and Data Center; (4) make the information maintained at the Data Center available to Federal, regional, State, and local agencies conducting or concerned with land use planning and management and to the public; and (5) administer the grant-in-aid program established under the provisions of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Board on Land Use Policy to assist the Secretary in carrying out this Act.

Creates procedures for Federal review and determination of grant eligibility. Describes the procedures to be followed concerning the study, recommendation, and congressional consideration of land use policies.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education to assist in establishing or carrying out comprehensive research on and training in land use planning and management.

=Title IV: Federal-State Coordination and Cooperation in the Planning and Management of Federal and Adjacent Non-Federal Lands= - States that all agencies of the Federal Government charged with responsibility for the management of Federal lands shall consider State land use programs prepared pursuant to this Act and attempt to coordinate the State and Federal programs.

Provides that the Secretary, at his discretion or upon the request of the Governor of any State involved, shall establish an Ad Hoc Federal-State Joint Committee or Committees to review specific problems arising from the management of Federal lands and adjacent non-Federal lands. States that, upon receipt of the recommendations of such committee, the Secretary shall take any appropriate action to minimize such conflict.

Directs the Secretary to report biennially to the President and Congress concerning the coordination of the management of Federal land and adjacent non-Federal lands.

=Title V: Land Use Programs for Reservations and Other Tribal Lands= - Authorizes the Secretary to make annual grants to any Indian tribe to assist such tribe in developing and administering a land use program for reservation and other tribal lands of such tribe.

Establishes requirements which must be met prior to the making of such grants.

=Title VI: General= - Defines the terms used in this Act - Directs the Secretary, with the assistance of the Office and the Board, to report biennially to the President and the Congress on land resources, uses of land, and current and emerging problems of land use.

Requires each recipient of a grant pursuant to this Act to make reports and evaluations in such form, at such times, and containing such information concerning the status, disposition, and application of Federal funds and the operation of the statewide land use planning process or State land use program as the Secretary may require by regulations published in the Federal Register, and to keep and make available such records as may be required by the Secretary for the verification of such reports and evaluations.

Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act.