Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 43 : Section 869


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 869. Disposal of lands for public or recreational purposes

    (a) Application; conditions; classification; restoration if not
      applied for
      The Secretary of the Interior upon application filed by a duly
    qualified applicant under section 869-1 of this title may, in the
    manner prescribed by sections 869 to 869-4 of this title, dispose
    of any public lands to a State, Territory, county, municipality, or
    other State, Territorial, or Federal instrumentality or political
    subdivision for any public purposes, or to a nonprofit corporation
    or nonprofit association for any recreational or any public purpose
    consistent with its articles of incorporation or other creating
    authority. Before the land may be disposed of under sections 869 to
    869-4 of this title it must be shown to the satisfaction of the
    Secretary that the land is to be used for an established or
    definitely proposed project, that the land involved is not of
    national significance nor more than is reasonably necessary for the
    proposed use, and that for proposals of over 640 acres
    comprehensive land use plans and zoning regulations applicable to
    the area in which the public lands to be disposed of are located
    have been adopted by the appropriate State or local authority. The
    Secretary shall provide an opportunity for participation by
    affected citizens in disposals under sections 869 to 869-4 of this
    title, including public hearings or meetings where he deems it
    appropriate to provide public comments, and shall hold at least one
    public meeting on any proposed disposal of more than six hundred
    forty acres under sections 869 to 869-4 of this title. The
    Secretary may classify public lands in Alaska for disposition under
    sections 869 to 869-4 of this title. Lands so classified may not be
    appropriated under any other public land law unless the Secretary
    revises such classification or authorizes the disposition of an
    interest in the lands under other applicable law. If, within
    eighteen months following such classification, no application has
    been filed for the purpose for which the lands have been so
    classified, then the Secretary shall restore such lands to
    appropriation under the applicable public land laws.
    (b) Acreage limitations
      Conveyances made in any one calendar year shall be limited as
    follows:
        (i) For recreational purposes:
          (A) To any State or the State park agency or any other agency
        having jurisdiction over the State park system of such State
        designated by the Governor of that State as its sole
        representative for acceptance of lands under this provision,
        hereinafter referred to as the State, or to any political
        subdivision of such State, six thousand four hundred acres, and
        such additional acreage as may be needed for small roadside
        parks and rest sites of not more than ten acres each.
          (B) To any nonprofit corporation or nonprofit association,
        six hundred and forty acres.
          (C) No more than twenty-five thousand six hundred acres may
        be conveyed for recreational purposes under sections 869 to
        869-4 of this title in any one State per calendar year. Should
        any State or political subdivision, however, fail to secure, in
        any one year, six thousand four hundred acres, not counting
        lands for small roadside parks and rest sites, conveyances may
        be made thereafter if pursuant to an application on file with
        the Secretary of the Interior on or before the last day of said
        year and to the extent that the conveyance would not have
        exceeded the limitations of said year.

        (ii) For public purposes other than recreation:
          (A) To any State or agency or instrumentality thereof, for
        any one program, six hundred and forty acres.
          (B) To any political subdivision of a State, six hundred and
        forty acres.
          (C) To any nonprofit corporation or nonprofit association,
        six hundred and forty acres.
    (c) Lands withdrawn in aid of functions of a department, agency,
      State, etc.; lands excepted from disposal
      Where the lands have been withdrawn in aid of a function of a
    Federal department or agency other than the Department of the
    Interior, or of a State, Territory, county, municipality, water
    district, or other local governmental subdivision or agency, the
    Secretary of the Interior may make disposals under sections 869 to
    869-4 of this title only with the consent of such Federal
    department or agency, or of such State, Territory, or local
    governmental unit. Nothing in sections 869 to 869-4 of this title
    shall be construed to apply to lands in any national forest,
    national park, or national monument, or national wildlife refuge,
    or to any Indian lands or lands set aside or held for the use or
    benefit of Indians, including lands over which jurisdiction has
    been transferred to the Department of the Interior by Executive
    order for the use of Indians, or, except insofar as sections 869 to
    869-4 of this title apply to leases of land to States and counties
    and to State and Federal instrumentalities and political
    subdivisions and to municipal corporations, to the revested Oregon
    and California Railroad grant lands and the reconveyed Coos Bay
    Wagon Road grant lands in the State of Oregon. Nor shall any
    disposition be made under sections 869 to 869-4 of this title for
    any use authorized under any other law, except for a use authorized
    under sections 682a to 682e (!1) of this title.




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