§410d Acceptance and protection of property pending establishment of park; publication of establishment order

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior may accept on behalf of the United States any land, submerged land, or interests in land inside the roughly 2,000‑square‑mile area he recommended in his December 3, 1930 report under the March 1, 1929 Act. He can accept land even if oil, gas, or mineral rights are kept by someone else, if he approves. No major work or official creation of the park can happen until the United States has clear title to a major portion of the lands the Secretary chooses within that area. While reservations remain, the Secretary may protect the land as needed. If the park is not created within ten years from December 6, 1944, or if it is later abandoned, any accepted land goes back to Florida or the original owners. When the required steps are done, the Secretary must create the Everglades National Park by issuing an order and publishing it in the Federal Register.