Public Lands

Since its founding, Van Ness Feldman has assisted clients in the energy, mining, resource and real estate development, hospitality, commercial fishing, and other industries in their interactions with the U.S. government relating to use of and access to federal lands (including National Parks, National Forests, and other public lands). The firm has facilitated a number of major land exchanges and transfers on behalf of our clients, including those requiring special Congressional legislation, and is known for building and fostering strong partnerships between private sector entities (including federal land concessioners) and the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal land management agencies.

The firm also advises a number of Indian tribes and Alaska Native Corporations on these issues, and is intimately familiar with the unique issues presented in transactions involving the exchange of lands in Alaska.

Van Ness Feldman’s team of attorneys and policy professionals provide clients unparalleled counsel in the many federal laws, regulations, and formal and informal policies related to public lands, oceans, and parks including:

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
Archaeological Resources Protection Act
Coastal Zone Management Act
Concessions Management Improvement Act
Federal Land Exchange Facilitation Act of 1988
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act
National Environmental Policy Act
National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act
National Historic Preservation Act
National Park Service Organic Act
National Parks and Recreation Act
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
The Wilderness Act
Wild & Scenic Rivers Act

LAND EXCHANGES
Having been engaged in the practice of land and water resources law for over thirty years, Van Ness Feldman has extensive experience in representing private and other non-federal landowners in federal land exchange transactions.

Land exchanges, where the federal government “trades” or “swaps” public lands with corporations, individuals, states, or local governments, can be a valuable tool for landowners. They enable landowners to acquire lands with greater development or economic potential—for commercial, industrial, residential, and/or agricultural purposes—in return for lands that have less development or economic potential but that may offer public recreation, wildlife, or resource values warranting public acquisition. Land exchanges also are an important component of the federal government’s land management strategy, enabling federal agencies to improve resource management by consolidating federal land ownership, and to obtain property needed to protect endangered species, promote biological diversity, increase recreational opportunities, and/or preserve cultural resources.

Van Ness Feldman assists its private and other non-federal landowner clients in all aspects of federal land exchange transactions, including:
- Providing general strategic counsel
- Managing the appraisal process
- Negotiating with land conservation organizations and federal, state, and local government agencies
- Drafting and advocating legislation to authorize particular exchanges of lands
- Ensuring compliance with applicable governmental laws and regulations
- Structuring transactions including preparing transaction documents
- Coordinating multi-party closings