§ 698s. — Acquisition.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC698s]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 6--GAME AND BIRD PRESERVES; PROTECTION
Sec. 698s. Acquisition
(a) Authorization
(1) In general
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary is authorized
to acquire lands, waters, and interests in lands and waters within
the boundaries of the Preserve by donation, purchase with donated or
appropriated funds, or exchange.
(2) Consent of the owner
The Secretary may not acquire lands, waters, or interests in
lands and waters for the Preserve without the consent of the owner.
(3) State lands
Lands, waters, and interests in lands and waters within the
boundaries of the Preserve that are owned by the State of Alabama,
or any political subdivision of the State, may be acquired only by
donation or exchange.
(b) Negotiations for acquisition
(1) Commencement of negotiations
Immediately after publication of a description of the boundaries
of the Preserve in accordance with section 698q(d) of this title,
the Secretary shall commence negotiations for the acquisition of the
lands, waters, and interests in lands and waters within the
boundaries of the Preserve.
(2) Report to Congress
Not later than 1 year after October 21, 1992, the Secretary
shall submit, in writing, a detailed schedule of actions and a
progress report regarding the acquisition to--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(C) the Committees on Appropriations of Congress.
(3) Acquisition deadline
The Secretary shall substantially complete the acquisition of
the lands, waters, and interests in lands and waters within the
Preserve, in accordance with the purposes of sections 698q to 698t
of this title, not later than 2 years after October 21, 1992,
subject to the availability of funds.
(c) Environmental audits
(1) Availability to owner
Promptly following completion of any environmental audit
performed by or on behalf of the Secretary with respect to any
property proposed to be acquired for the purposes of sections 698q
to 698t of this title, the Secretary shall make available to the
owner of the property a copy of the audit.
(2) Inclusion in documents transferring title
Any audit described in paragraph (1), and any environmental
audit performed by the owner of the property and submitted to the
Secretary prior to the date of the acquisition, shall be included as
part of the documents transferring title to the property to the
United States.
(d) Future additions
No lands or interest in lands may be added to the Preserve after
October 21, 1992, without specific authorization by Congress and the
consent of the owner of the lands or interest.
(Pub. L. 102-427, Sec. 4, Oct. 21, 1992, 106 Stat. 2181; Pub. L. 103-
437, Sec. 6(d)(36), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4585.)
Amendments
1994--Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 103-437 substituted ``Natural
Resources'' for ``Interior and Insular Affairs''.
Change of Name
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 698q, 698r, 698t of this
title.
