{"data":{"id":"us/36-cfr-254.31","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"36 CFR 254.31","heading":"Definitions.","body":"For the purpose of this subpart,\nAn applicant is a person who occupies or has improvements on National Forest System land under claim of title or color of title, or who owns land abutting or underlying a road right-of-way, or who owns land interspersed with or adjacent to mineral survey fractions.\nApproximately equal value is a comparative estimate of value of lands involved in an interchange where elements of value, such as physical characteristics and other amenities, are readily apparent and substantially similar.\nClaim of title is a claim of land as a person's own, based on any reasonable evidence which establishes the person's actual use of the land as though the person had full title thereto from the time the person obtained ownership of abutting land.\nColor of title arises from an instrument purporting to convey title to a tract of land.\nEncroachments are improvements occupied or used on National Forest System land under claim of title or color of title.\nExchange is a discretionary, voluntary transaction involving mutual transfers of land or interests in land between the Secretary of Agriculture acting by and through the Forest Service and a nonfederal entity.\nGood faith is honesty of intention and freedom from knowledge of circumstances which ought to put a prudent person upon inquiry.\nImprovements mean an addition to property costing labor or capital which affects its value. The term generally includes fixtures, structures and attendant facilities, or buildings.\nInterchange is a land transfer in which the Secretary and another person exchange lands or interests in lands of approximately equal value without a formal appraisal.\nMineral survey fractions are small parcels of National Forest System lands interspersed with or adjacent to lands transferred out of Federal ownership under the mining laws.\nPermanent Habitable Improvement means a dwelling, improvement, house, or other structure presently being used as a residence or domicile for a lasting or indefinite period of time.\nPerson includes any nonfederal entity such as a State or any political subdivision as well as any individual or business entity.\nSecretary refers to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.","path":["Title 36—Parks, Forests, and Public Property","CHAPTER II—FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE","PART 254—LANDOWNERSHIP ADJUSTMENTS","Subpart C—Conveyance of Small Tracts"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-36.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:25:44Z","sha256":"cb72cfb240b7592f48830916cfda373e36537a4609b19da7305edd3b2621405f","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/36-cfr-254.30","next":"us/36-cfr-254.32"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}