The House is scheduled to consider H.R. 1002 on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. H.R. 1002 was introduced on February 11, 2009, by Rep. Shuler (D-NC) and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, which held a mark-up and reported the bill July 29.

H.R. 1002 would modify the boundaries of the Pisgah National Forest in McDowell County, North Carolina to include 301 acres of new land, 213 acres of which are already managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The bill allows the USDA to acquire private land within the extended boundary with the consent of the private owner.

According to Committee Report 111-250, the Forest Service is interested in expanding the Pisgah National Forest to improve access to the Catawba Falls. In 1990, the Forest Service purchased 239 acres of land to federally preserve land adjacent to the falls. Recently, an additional 88 acres of private land adjacent to the forest has become available to the Forest Service for purchase. The Foothills Conservancy, which purchased the land, wants to sell it to the Forest Services to expand parking and the trailhead area.

According to CBO, H.R. 1002 would cost an estimated $700,000 in FY 2010 for the Forest Service to purchase the additional 88 acres of land.