Each unit’s Facilities Master Plan contains recommendations on the future use of all buildings and other facilities. Each excess facility will be recommended for permanent disposal (decommissioning) or retention and development for an alternate use. Each of these two basic choices includes several alternatives.
Alternate Use
A facility may be renovated for another use if it is no longer needed for its original use but space is needed at the site for another purpose. The Forest Service has a long history of changing the use of its structures. Some of these changes have worked well and others have not. Facility engineers and regional design professionals can help determine renovations that will be necessary to provide a safe, effective, and attractive facility for the new use.
Collocation with another agency may be a viable option. An agreement allows another entity to use the portion of a building the Forest Service does not need.
Retention as a historic trust under a partnership agreement may be a suitable use for an historic facility.
If the Forest Service is likely to need the facility in the future, the Facilities Master Plan may recommend retaining the facility for alternate use by another entity.
In rare instances, a facility may be suitable for use as a recreational cabin rental under the fee demo authority.
Decommissioning
If the Facilities Master Plan recommends disposing of an excess facility, the disposal options will depend on the facility's location, historic significance, value, deferred maintenance needs, and other factors. Coordinate closely with real property, personal property, and lands staffs to determine the most advantageous disposal method that is legal. The disposal process is complicated, but regional property and lands staffs have the expertise to make it happen.
Exchanging land and/or buildings allows the Forest Service to receive land and improvements of equal value in exchange for the excess facilities.
Transferring land outside the Department of Agriculture can only be accomplished through special legislation or through the General Services Administration (GSA). Washington office approval is needed before excessing land through the GSA.
Transferring buildings without land within the Department of Agriculture can be accomplished by regional offices. Transferring buildings outside the Department of Agriculture can be accomplished through GSA procedures and is coordinated through the regional office.
Donating land is not allowed without special legislation.
Authority to donate buildings is very limited.
Sale of land and/or buildings may be accomplished under several different authorities.
Demolition should be considered only for facilities that have no remaining value.
Abandonment of government improvements is not allowed on Government-owned land, but may be allowed on land that is not owned by the Government.