One section for each of the four major federal land management agencies—the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service in the Department of the Interior—history; organizational structure; management responsibilities; procedures for land acquisition, disposal, and designation, where relevant; and statutory authorities. Background

The federal government owns and manages approximately 650 million acres of land in the United States—about 29% of the total land base of 2.27 billion acres. Current Federal Land Management

Four agencies administer 617.5 million acres (95%) of the roughly 650 million acres of federal land. The FWS administers 90.8 million acres (14%) and has secondary jurisdiction on another 1.6 million acres and easements or leases on 4.0 million acres. Revenues from Activities on Federal Lands

The federal land management agencies are among the relatively few federal agencies that generate revenues for the U.S. Treasury. Agency Appropriations

			Annual Appropriations

Funding for all four of the federal land management agencies is contained in the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. National forests also provide livestock grazing and recreation. They contain diverse resources, including fuels and minerals; timber; forage; wild horses and burros; fish and wildlife habitat; recreation sites; wilderness areas; cultural sites; and other natural heritage assets. Among other important provisions, the law provides that:
the national interest will be best realized if the public lands and their resources are periodically and systematically inventoried and their present and future use is projected through a land use planning process coordinated with other Federal and State planning efforts ...
management be on the basis of multiple use and sustained yield unless otherwise specified by law ...
the United States receive fair market value of the use of the public lands and their resources unless otherwise provided for by statute ...
the public lands be managed in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in their natural condition; that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals; and that will provide for outdoor recreation and human occupancy and use ... Thus, FLPMA established the BLM as a multiple-use, sustained-yield agency. The agency is responsible for approximately 700 million acres of federal subsurface minerals, and supervises the mineral operations on about 56 million acres of Indian trust lands. There are three approaches to developing federal mineral resources. State and local governments get priority to acquire lands under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. It is dedicated primarily to the conservation of animals and plants. Other units have been created by executive order. Management

			Mandate

As stated above, the basic NPS mission is twofold: (1) to conserve, preserve, protect, and interpret the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the nation for the public and (2) to provide for their enjoyment by the public. Land Ownership99

			Designation

Most units of the National Park System have been created by Acts of Congress. Special Systems on Federal Lands

There are currently three special management systems that include lands from more than one federal land management agency: the National Wilderness Preservation System, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and the National Trails System. Management

Wilderness areas generally are managed to protect and preserve their natural conditions. Major Acronyms Used in This Report
ANILCA: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
ANWR: Alaska National Wildlife Refuge
BLM: Bureau of Land Management
DOD: Department of Defense
DOI: Department of the Interior
ESA: Endangered Species Act
EIS: Environmental Impact Statement
FLPMA: Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
FS: Forest Service
FWS: Fish and Wildlife Service
LWCF: Land and Water Conservation Fund
MBCF: Migratory Bird Conservation Fund
NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
NFMA: National Forest Management Act of 1976
NFS: National Forest System
NHA: National Heritage Area
NPS: National Park Service
NWRS: National Wildlife Refuge System
O&C: Oregon and California (grant lands)
PILT: Payments in Lieu of Taxes (Act and Program)
PRIA: Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978
RPA: Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
WCAs: Wildlife Coordination Areas
WPAs: Waterfowl Production Areas
Appendix B.
The federal government owns about 650 million acres (29%) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Four agencies administer 617.5 million acres of the federal land: the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service, all in the Department of the Interior. Most of these lands are in the West, including Alaska. They generate revenues for the U.S. Treasury, some of which are shared with states and localities. The agencies receive funding through the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations laws, as well as in various trust funds and special accounts.
The lands administered by the four agencies are managed for a variety of purposes, primarily related to preservation, recreation, and development of natural resources. Yet each of these agencies has distinct responsibilities for the lands and resources it administers. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 255.8 million acres and is responsible for 700 million acres of subsurface mineral resources. The BLM has a multiple-use, sustained-yield mandate that supports a variety of uses and programs, including energy development, recreation, grazing and wild horses and burros, and conservation. The Forest Service (FS) manages 192.8 million acres also for multiple uses and sustained yields of various products and services, including timber harvesting, recreation, grazing, watershed protection, and fish and wildlife habitats. Most of the lands are designated national forests, but there are national grasslands and other designations. Wildfire protection is an increasingly important activity for both agencies. The BLM and FS have several authorities to acquire and dispose of lands.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) manages 90.8 million acres of federal land, primarily to conserve and protect animals and plants. The National Wildlife Refuge System includes wildlife refuges, waterfowl production areas, and wildlife coordination units. Units can be created by an act of Congress or executive order, and the FWS also may acquire lands for migratory birds. The National Park Service (NPS) manages 78.1 million acres of federal land to conserve lands and resources and make them available for public use. Activities that harvest or remove resources generally are prohibited. The National Park System has diverse units ranging from historical structures to cultural and natural areas. Units are created by an act of Congress, but the President may proclaim national monuments.
There also are three special management systems that include lands from more than one agency. The National Wilderness Preservation System consists of 107.6 million acres of protected wilderness areas designated by Congress. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System contains 11,944 miles of wild, scenic, and recreational rivers, primarily designated by Congress and managed to preserve their free-flowing condition. The National Trails System contains four classes of trails managed to provide recreation and access to outdoor areas and historic resources.