---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460uu–43"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460uu–43"
heading: "State exchanges of lands and interests"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460uu-43"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter CVI — El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area"
  - "Part E — General Provisions"
---

# §460uu–43. State exchanges of lands and interests

- (a) Upon the request of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of New Mexico (hereinafter referred to as the “[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)”) and pursuant to the provisions of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall exchange [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) or interests in lands elsewhere in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of New Mexico, of approximately equal value and selected by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), acting through its Commissioner of [Public Lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7), for any lands or interests therein owned by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) (hereinafter referred to as “[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) lands”) located within the boundaries of the monument or the conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) which the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) wishes to exchange with the United States.
- (b) Within six months after December 31, 1987, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall notify the New Mexico Commissioner of [Public Lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) what [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) lands are within the monument or the conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). The notice shall contain a listing of all [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) or interest therein within the boundaries of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of New Mexico which have not been withdrawn from entry and which the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), pursuant to the provisions of sections [1712](/usc/43/1712.md) and [1716](/usc/43/1716.md) of title 43, has identified as appropriate for transfer to the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) in exchange for [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) lands. Such listing shall be updated at least annually. If the New Mexico Commissioner of [Public Lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) gives notice to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)’s desire to obtain [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) so listed, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall notify the Commissioner in writing as to whether the Department of the Interior considers the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) lands within the monument or conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) to be of approximately equal value to the listed lands or interests in lands the Commissioner has indicated the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) desires to obtain. It is the sense of the Congress that the exchange of lands and interests therein with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) pursuant to this section should be completed within two years after December 31, 1987.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–225, title V, § 503, Dec. 31, 1987, 101 Stat. 1544.)