---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 617"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "617"
heading: "Exportation of unprocessed timber from Federal lands"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/617"
units:
  - "Chapter 4 — Protection of Timber, and Depredations"
---

# §617. Exportation of unprocessed timber from Federal lands

- (a) **Limitation of quantity available for export—** For each of the calendar years 1969 through 1973, inclusive, not more than 350 million board feet, in the aggregate, of [unprocessed timber](/usc/16/620e.md?p=9-A) may be sold for export from the United States from [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) located west of the 100th meridian.
- (b) **Surplus quantities and species available for export; public hearing; administrative finding—** After public hearing and a finding by the appropriate [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the department administering [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) that specific quantities and species of [unprocessed timber](/usc/16/620e.md?p=9-A) are surplus to the needs of domestic users and processors, such quantities and species may be designated by the said [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) as available for export from the United States in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to that quantity stated in [subsection (a)](#a).
- (c) **Rules and regulations; prevention of substitution of Federal for non-Federal timber—** The [Secretaries](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the departments administering lands referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) may issue rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this section, including the prevention of substitution of timber restricted from export by this section for exported non-Federal timber.
- (d) **Limitations inapplicable to sales of prescribed minimum value—** In issuing rules and regulations pursuant to [subsection (c)](#c), the appropriate [Secretaries](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may include therein provisions authorizing the said [Secretaries](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in their discretion, to exclude from the limitations imposed by this section sales having an appraised value of less than $2,000.

## Source credit

(Apr. 12, 1926, ch. 117, § 2, as added Pub. L. 90–554, pt. IV, § 401, Oct. 8, 1968, 82 Stat. 966; amended Pub. L. 91–609, title IX, § 921, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1817.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–609 extended date for application of limitation provision from 1971 to 1973 calendar year.