---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 407f"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "407f"
heading: "Exchange of lands"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/407f"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter L — Carlsbad Caverns National Park"
---

# §407f. Exchange of lands

- (a) **State-owned lands; terms, conditions and reservations—** For the purpose of acquiring the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)-owned lands lying within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) described in [section 407e of this title](/usc/16/407e.md), consisting of 2,721.12 acres, and described as follows:

new mexico principal meridian, new mexico

Township 24 south, range 23 east: section 36.

Township 24 south, range 24 east: section 32.

Township 24 south, range 25 east: section 32.

Township 25 south, range 24 east: lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, south half north half, southwest quarter section 2.

Township 26 south, range 22 east: south half [section 2](/usc/16/2.md), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may, subject to such terms, conditions, and reservations as may be necessary or are in the public interest, including the reservation of surface rights-of-way across [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) situated in township 25 south, range 24 east, New Mexico principal meridian, for the construction of roads and utility lines between [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) headquarters and Rattlesnake Springs, exchange the following described 2,719.80 acres of public land of approximately equal value:

new mexico principal meridian, new mexico

Township 24 south, range 25 east: southeast quarter section 34.

Township 25 south, range 24 east: south half [section 1](/usc/16/1.md); west half [section 11](/usc/16/11.md); west half [section 14](/usc/16/14.md); [section 15](/usc/16/15.md); southeast quarter section 17.

Township 25 south, range 25 east: south half [section 5](/usc/16/5.md); lot 6, northeast quarter southwest quarter, southeast quarter section 6.

Township 26 south, range 22 east: west half west half [section 13](/usc/16/13.md); north half northeast quarter section 14.

- (b) **Private lands; terms, conditions and reservations—** For the purpose of acquiring the [private lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=6) or interests in lands lying within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) described in [section 407e of this title](/usc/16/407e.md), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may, subject to such terms, conditions, and reservations as may be necessary, exchange on an approximately equal value basis any of the following described lands:

new mexico principal meridian, new mexico

Township 25 south, range 24 east: southeast quarter [section 9](/usc/16/9.md); south half, northeast quarter section 10.

Township 26 south, range 22 east: south half, south half northeast quarter section 14.

- (c) **State-leased lands; compensation of lessee for improvements; appraisal—** Notwithstanding [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, when an exchange involves lands in [section 32](/usc/16/32.md), township 24 south, range 24 east, New Mexico principal meridian, which the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of New Mexico has leased, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may compensate a lessee for the reasonable value of his improvements to the lands. Reasonable value shall be determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior by obtaining an impartial appraisal.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 88–249, § 2, Dec. 30, 1963, 77 Stat. 818.)