Title: ●Weeks Act Reviews
Beginning in FY2021, we are implementing the Biden Administration's America the Beautiful initiative using Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) funding. While GAOA provides funding to acquire land, we use a number of laws that authorize our ability to purchase. One of these is the Weeks Act, which Regions 8 and 9 rely on heavily. USDA Regulations currently require the Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment to approve all Weeks Act land acquisitions over $250,000. This requirement, dating to 1988, is no longer needed. Eliminating the requirement for USDA approval and delegating all approvals for Weeks Act purchases to the Chief of the Forest Service would still fulfill its purpose and would significantly streamline implementation of the Administration's America the Beautiful initiative. This is evident by the number of Weeks Act projects the Under Secretary has approved in the last year. From Oct. 1, 2020 to August 25, 2021, the Under Secretary approved 25 separate decision memos for Weeks Act projects exceeding $250,000. However, USDA has been purchasing lands under this authority since 1911, so the purchases are routine transactions; purchases are fully vetted at all levels of the Forest Service; and purchases are routinely non-controversial. Delegating authority to the Chief to approve all Weeks Act purchases would be consistent with the Chief's authority under all other purchase authorities. Because Weeks Act purchases add land to National Forests, they help achieve the President's goal of conserving 30% of lands and waters in the US by 2030 (also known as the America the Beautiful" initiative). Removing Under Secretary review would streamline the implementation of the America the Beautiful initiative.
CFR Citation: 7 CFR 2.20(a)(2)(iii), 7 CFR 2.60(a)(3)
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Government Levels Affected: Undetermined