Heinrich Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Reauthorize The Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) led a group of western Senators, including Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Dean Heller (R-NV), in introducing a bill to reauthorize the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA). FLTFA allows the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service in the western United States to use the proceeds from sales of certain federally designated areas to protect lands of exceptional conservation value. “FLTFA is an excellent model of public land management that achieves conservation and responsible access goals while spurring economic development,” said Heinrich. “In New Mexico, we’ve seen how well FLTFA works. These funds have been used to protect land at Aztec Ruins National Monument, the Elk Springs, and La Cienega BLM Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. Because of FLTFA, these areas will be protected for future generation of New Mexicans.” Since 2000, FLTFA has allowed the preservation of important sites across the western United States without the use of taxpayer money. The program has also assisted in better land management practices by disposing of isolated or difficult to manage parcels identified by the public land management agencies themselves...press release