Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced the opening of the public comment period for the U.S. Forest Service’s new leasing authority that will help address housing and other community needs in rural areas and mountain towns. Bennet first championed this effort by introducing the bipartisan Forest Service Flexible Partnerships Act, which was passed as a part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). 

“The Forest Service is an important partner in Colorado, and this new leasing authority should strengthen federal-local partnerships in our rural areas,” said Bennet. “The Forest Service’s new leasing authority provides another tool for rural communities to work with the agency on affordable housing and local infrastructure needs. We’re glad to see the Forest Service request public comment, so that we can ensure this new authority works for Colorado counties and municipalities. We encourage all stakeholders to participate.”

Prior to the 2018 Farm Bill, the Forest Service was unable to lease unused administrative sites, which are often vacant or underused parcels located outside of forest boundaries. Many of these sites are located in mountain communities across the West, where available land is scarce or prohibitively expensive. This new authority allows the Forest Service to lease unused administrative sites in exchange for construction, maintenance, or renovations, with the municipality and county receiving the right of first refusal to put together a project. This will allow for new federal-local partnerships to develop affordable housing and improve local infrastructure. Several communities on Colorado’s western slope are already working with the Forest Service in Colorado to design new, affordable housing projects under this authority. Once finalized, these regulations will enable the projects in development to move forward. The Forest Service is now seeking public input on the leasing authority directive, with the comment period running from June 3, 2020 to July 6, 2020.  

The form to submit comments electronically and more information on the directive are available HERE.