§ 515. — Examination, location, and purchase of forested, cutover, or denuded lands; consent of State legislature to acquisition of land by the United States.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC515]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 2--NATIONAL FORESTS
SUBCHAPTER I--ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 515. Examination, location, and purchase of forested, cut-
over, or denuded lands; consent of State legislature to
acquisition of land by the United States
The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized and directed to
examine, locate, and purchase such forested, cut-over, or denuded lands
within the watersheds of navigable streams as in his judgment may be
necessary to the regulation of the flow of navigable streams or for the
production of timber. No deed or other instrument of conveyance of lands
referred to herein shall be accepted or approved by the Secretary of
Agriculture under this Act until the legislature of the State in which
the land lies shall have consented to the acquisition of such land by
the United States for the purpose of preserving the navigability of
navigable streams.
(Mar. 1, 1911, ch. 186, Sec. 6, 36 Stat. 962; June 7, 1924, ch. 348,
Sec. 6, 43 Stat. 654; Pub. L. 94-588, Sec. 17(a)(3), Oct. 22, 1976, 90
Stat. 2961.)
References in Text
This Act, referred to in text, means act Mar. 1, 1911, ch. 186, 36
Stat. 961, as amended, popularly known as the Weeks Law, which is
classified to sections 480, 500, 513 to 519, 521, 552, and 563 of this
title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short
Title note set out under section 552 of this title and Tables.
Codification
Act Mar. 1, 1911, prior to its amendment, authorized the Secretary
to study lands necessary to the regulation of the flow of navigable
streams. This authority was enlarged by act June 7, 1924, to include in
its scope ``lands necessary for the production of timber''.
Amendments
1976--Pub. L. 94-588 substituted ``The Secretary of Agriculture is
hereby authorized and directed to examine, locate, and purchase such
forested, cut-over, or denuded lands within the watersheds of navigable
streams as in his judgment may be necessary to the regulation of the
flow of navigable streams or for the production of timber. No deed or
other instrument of conveyance of lands referred to herein shall be
accepted or approved by the Secretary of Agriculture under this Act
until the legislature of the State in which the land lies shall have
consented to the acquisition of such land by the United States for the
purpose of preserving the navigability of navigable streams'' for ``The
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to examine, locate,
and recommend for purchase such forested, cut-over, or denuded lands
within the watersheds of navigable streams as in his judgment may be
necessary to the regulation of the flow of navigable streams or for the
production of timber and to report to the National Forest Reservation
Commission the results of such examination; but before any lands are
purchased by the commission said lands shall be examined by the
Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Director of the
Geological Survey, and a report made by them to the commission showing
that the control of such lands by the Federal Government will promote or
protect the navigation of streams or by the Secretary of Agriculture
showing that such control will promote the production of timber
thereon''.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 566b, 582, 2103c of this
title.
