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Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s CONVEY Act is advancing through the legislative process and received a hearing in the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) stated, “The CONVEY Act empowers local communities and jumpstarts rural economies through innovative solutions that reduce our federal footprint and cut bureaucratic red tape that is stifling economic growth. The economic potential of this land will allow Mesa County to attract job creators and foster an environment that encourages economic prosperity for Clifton. Witnesses at this important legislative hearing praised the CONVEY Act and urged Congress to quickly move it through the legislative process. I am grateful for Mesa County and the Bureau of Land Management’s work on this issue, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to finally get this done.”

Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis said, “Mesa County has been working diligently for many years to get this piece of property. The federal bureaucracy is laden with hoops to jump through, and we’ve been unable to acquire the acreage from the BLM. Clifton is an area of immeasurable value to us, and we want to see it grow and shine. With this property, we can promote economic development by incentivizing industry and business in the area. A huge shout out to Representative Boebert for helping us cut through the red tape.”

Colorado House Republican Assistant Minority Leader and Former Mesa County Commissioner Rose Pugliese stated, “I would like to express my deep gratitude to Congresswoman Boebert for her tireless efforts to cut through the bureaucratic red tape that has hindered Mesa County, Colorado’s  progress…For over five years, Mesa County has been diligently pursuing the acquisition of a parcel of land that the Bureau of Land Management has designated for disposal and no longer serves a purpose for the federal government. This land holds immense value for Mesa County as it presents a critical opportunity for economic development in Clifton, an area of the county that has struggled economically and is in desperate need of new opportunities.”

Bureau of Land Management Principal Deputy Director Nada Wolff Culver said, “The BLM generally supports the conveyance of public lands when such conveyances are in the public interest and consistent with publicly approved land use plans. As the Clifton Parcel has already been identified as potentially suitable for disposal should it return to public land status, the BLM supports H.R. 2997 and the direct sale of the parcel to Mesa County.”

Background:

Congresswoman Boebert invited Colorado House Republican Assistant Minority Leader and former Mesa County Commissioner Rose Pugliese to testify in support of the CONVEY Act. Her written testimony is available here.

Congresswoman Boebert also invited Bureau of Land Management Principal Deputy Director Nada Wolff Culver to testify in support of the CONVEY Act. Her written testimony is available here.

Congresswoman Boebert’s questioning at the subcommittee hearing can be viewed here

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has been leading the charge to finally get the Mesa County Clifton parcel purchase done. In November, 2022, Congresswoman Boebert led a congressional oversight effort requesting information from the Bureau of Land Management on where the Clifton parcel conveyance stood. In response, Bureau of Land Management State Director Doug Vilsack gave Congresswoman Boebert an update on the progress of the land conveyance. Congresswoman Boebert used this information to work with Mesa County and the Bureau of Land Management to author the CONVEY Act to help expedite this important economic development opportunity.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s office met with Bureau of Land Management State Director Doug Vilsack to discuss this issue. Additionally, Congresswoman Boebert went on a Mesa County field site visit with senior Bureau of Land Management officials to tour the Clifton parcel.

Congresswoman Boebert’s bill ensures that the funds from the sale of this land will be deposited into the Federal Land Disposal Account, established by the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, and retained by the Bureau of Land Management Colorado office, so these funds will actually be used in Colorado.

Colorado Congressmen Ken Buck (CO-04) and Doug Lamborn (CO-05) cosponsored Congresswoman Boebert’s CONVEY Act.

The full text of the COVEY Act is available here. A map of the 30.1-acre parcel that will be sold at fair market value as a result of the CONVEY Act is available here.

Additional Background Courtesy of House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands:

The federal government owns approximately 640 million acres, or 28 percent, of land in the United States. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the largest federal land management agency and manages 244 million acres of public lands, heavily concentrated (99 percent) in eleven Western continental states and Alaska. While the BLM is a large landowner, data suggests they struggle to manage the land they have. The BLM’s deferred maintenance backlog reached $4.7 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, up 335 percent from FY 2019. In states with large federal footprints, local communities often lack power in decision making over the land in their backyards. When non-federal government entities, such as a city or county, would like to expand, the large footprint of federal land ownership surrounding those communities often stifles development and growth.

The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to acquire and dispose of federal property. Congress granted BLM authority to acquire and dispose of land under several statutes, most notably in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). While the BLM can dispose of land administratively, this process can take several years. To speed up the process, Congress can enact legislation to direct the agency to complete a land conveyance. These expedited conveyances are a win-win, as growing rural communities can expand and develop and the federal government can focus its limited resources on managing more high-value lands.

The State of Colorado has over 24 million acres, or over 36 percent, of land owned by the federal government. Specifically, in Mesa County, the federal government owns over 72 percent of the land. The population of Mesa County was 158,363 in 2022. As the population continues to grow, the county is significantly limited in the land it has available to develop.

H.R. 2997, introduced by Congresswoman Boebert, would convey 31.1 acres from the BLM to Mesa County, Colorado. The land sits in a prime location along Interstate 70. The land would be used for economic development in Clifton, a town in central Mesa County and a suburb of Grand Junction. Once Mesa County is able to secure the land from the BLM, the County plans to establish an economic development board to solicit input from stakeholders and pursue development options that will “incentivi[ze] industry and business in the Clifton area.” Despite the fact that this parcel has been identified for disposal by the BLM (meaning the agency deemed it is no longer serving the public interest), this conveyance has been held up for over five years. This bill would expedite the process to convey the land out of federal ownership to provide economic growth to the local community.

Original source can be found here