§ 698a. — Acquisition of property for Big Thicket Preserve.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC698a]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 6--GAME AND BIRD PRESERVES; PROTECTION
Sec. 698a. Acquisition of property for Big Thicket Preserve
(a) Mineral rights; easements; improved properties
The Secretary shall, immediately after the publication of the
boundaries of the preserve, commence negotiations for the acquisition of
the lands located therein: Provided, That he shall not acquire the
mineral estate in any property or existing easements for public
utilities, pipelines or railroads without the consent of the owner
unless, in his judgment, he first determines that such property or
estate is subject to, or threatened with, uses which are, or would be,
detrimental to the purposes and objectives of sections 698 to 698e of
this title: Provided further, That the Secretary, insofar as is
reasonably possible, may avoid the acquisition of improved properties,
as defined in sections 698 to 698e of this title, and shall make every
effort to minimize the acquisition of land where he finds it necessary
to acquire properties containing improvements.
(b) Plan to Congressional committees; time; contents
Within one year after October 11, 1974, the Secretary shall submit,
in writing, to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and to the
Committees on Appropriations of the United States Congress a detailed
plan which shall indicate:
(i) the lands and areas which he deems essential to the
protection and public enjoyment of this preserve,
(ii) the lands which he has previously acquired by purchase,
donation, exchange or transfer for administration for the purpose of
this preserve, and
(iii) the annual acquisition program (including the level of
funding) which he recommends for the ensuing five fiscal years.
(c) Completion of land acquisition program; time
It is the express intent of the Congress that the Secretary should
substantially complete the land acquisition program contemplated by
sections 698 to 698e of this title within six years after October 11,
1974.
(Pub. L. 93-439, Sec. 2, Oct. 11, 1974, 88 Stat. 1256.)
Change of Name
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate abolished
and replaced by Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate,
effective Feb. 11, 1977. See Rule XXV of Standing Rules of the Senate,
as amended by Senate Resolution No. 4 (popularly cited as the
``Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977''), approved Feb.
4, 1977.
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of
Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives on Jan. 5, 1993, by House Resolution No. 5, One
Hundred Third Congress. Committee on Natural Resources of House of
Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Resources of House
of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104-14, set out as a note
preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 698, 698b, 698c, 698e of
this title.
