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Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§408c Acceptance of Title to Lands; Reservations; Leases; Rights-of-way and Easements

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER LII — ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK › § 408c

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior may take ownership of land given for free inside Isle Royale National Park. He can accept land that comes with leases made when the land was bought, but those leases cannot last longer than the lifetime of the original owner. All such leases and their terms must be sent to and approved by the Secretary. He can also lease park land to people or groups who already occupy it if the use fits park purposes. Leases to natural persons can run only for that person’s lifetime. Leases to schools, churches, companies, associations, or partnerships can run up to 20 years and may be renewed at the Secretary’s choice. He may accept land with reserved rights of way and easements.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §408c

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized in his discretion to accept title to lands tendered without cost to the United States within the area of the Isle Royale National Park, subject to leases entered into and granted as part consideration in connection with the purchase of said land for tender to the United States for park purposes, but not exceeding in length of term the life of the particular grantor or grantors: Provided, That said leases and the terms and conditions thereof shall have previously been submitted to and approved by said Secretary: And provided further, That he may lease upon such terms and conditions as he deems proper any lands within the aforesaid areas when such use shall not be deemed by him inconsistent with the purposes for which the lands were acquired on behalf of the United States, to persons, educational or religious institutions, private corporations, associations, and partnerships previously occupying such land for terms not exceeding the particular lifetime in the case of natural persons, and not exceeding twenty years in all other cases, which latter leases may be renewed in the discretion of said Secretary: And provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior may accept lands for these parks subject to reservations of rights of way and easements.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Provisions of act Feb. 4, 1932, § 2, relating to the Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and to the Mammoth Cave National Park, are classified to section 403e and 404d of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 408c

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102