WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced legislation to help address housing needs and provide new opportunities for growth in rural communities. The Forest Service Flexible Partnerships Act of 2017 would allow local entities to collaborate with the Forest Service to use existing, underutilized facilities or land to address local needs. In return, the Forest Service would be authorized to receive in-kind forms of compensation, such as facility improvements and restoration, to address the growing maintenance backlog, or the shared use of renovated facilities for staff housing or equipment storage.

“The Forest Service is an important partner to counties and towns across Colorado,” Bennet said. “This legislation builds on this relationship by enabling the Forest Service to work with local entities to invest in and help solve challenges in rural communities. At the same time, it will provide tools for the Forest Service to more efficiently and effectively manage federal property.”

Currently, the Forest Service is unable to lease administrative sites, such as housing and storage buildings, or vacant parcels outside of forest boundaries, even if they are unneeded or only partially used. Many such developed sites are sitting vacant or underutilized in mountain communities across the West, including many resort communities where available land is scarce or prohibitively expensive. This measure would expand upon authorities provided by the Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act (FSFREA), which expired in 2016, to provide greater flexibility for the Forest Service to lease sites in exchange for construction, maintenance, or the shared use of the renovated facilities. Throughout the process, the Forest Service would be required to consult with local and state officials to identify and propose sites eligible for leasing.

The development of new federal-local partnerships across National Forests in Colorado and elsewhere, will provide opportunities for growth in rural communities and support Forest Service management objectives that will better serve the public.