Western Lands Distribution and Regional Equalization Act of 1980

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Title I: Short Title; Findings and Declaration of Policy; Definitions - Western Lands Distribution and Regional Equalization Act of 1980 - States that the practice of retaining Federal ownership to territory within the borders of States located west of the one-hundredth meridian as a condition precedent to their admission into the Union has impinged on the sovereignty of such States in derogation of the tenth amendment to the Constitution. Declares that the United States shall hold all federally owned, unreserved, and unappropriated lands located within such States in trust for such States and shall transfer ownership and administration of such lands to such States when they have adopted legislation which provides a uniformity of State and Federal law relating to land administration, conservation, and use. Excludes from transfer, in implementing such policy: (1) all Federal lands within national parks, national monuments, and national wildlife and migratory bird sanctuaries established prior to July 25, 1980; (2) lands within Indian or military reservations; (3) lands necessary to the operation and access to shipyards, docks, security and defense establishments and other buildings …