Crossett Experimental Forest Transfer

Full Title:
Crossett Experimental Forest Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Crossett Experimental Forest, the R.R. Reynolds Research Natural Area, and associated facilities to the State of Arkansas if the State requests the conveyance within 180 days of the bill becoming law. The conveyance would transfer all U.S. right, title, and interest by quitclaim deed, without payment, and would be subject to valid existing rights and other terms the Secretary considers necessary. The State may pay for minor map or boundary corrections by mutual agreement with the Secretary.

As a condition of the conveyance, the State must designate the land as the "Crossett State Forest" and manage it under Arkansas State forest rules, so long as those rules do not conflict with the bill. The State must use the land for forest research, education, and demonstration consistent with the forest's historic research mission and coordinate access with the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. The State must pay costs related to the conveyance, including surveys and administrative costs. If the Secretary finds the State is not meeting the management or use requirements, the Secretary will give written notice and the State has 180 days to correct the issue; if not corrected, the land or affected portion may revert to the United States. The bill states that the conveyance is not a "major Federal action" under section 102(2)(C) of NEPA and that section 306108 of title 54 (regarding effects on historic property) does not apply to the conveyance.

What it means for you#

  • If Arkansas asks for the land within 180 days, ownership can move from the Forest Service to the State under the rules in the bill.
  • The land must become the Crossett State Forest and be kept for research, education, and demonstrations tied to its historic mission.
  • The State must coordinate research and education access with local University of Arkansas partners named in the bill.
  • The State pays the costs of the conveyance; if the State fails to follow the use or management terms and does not fix the problem after notice, the land can revert to the United States.
  • The bill says the conveyance is not treated as a major federal action under NEPA and skips a specified historic-property review provision for this transfer.

Expenses#

  • The bill requires the State to pay any costs related to the conveyance, including surveys and administrative costs.
  • No publicly available information on broader federal or state budgetary estimates or long-term costs beyond what the bill specifies.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.