Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§410h Ascertainment of Owners’ Election Regarding Reservation Rights

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER LIV — EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK › § 410h

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the Secretary of the Interior starts a court action to buy land under sections 410e–410h, the Secretary must make a reasonable effort to find the owners and ask if they want to keep any reservation rights under those sections. If, after that effort, the owners cannot be found or do not appear in the court case so their choice is unknown, the Secretary may buy the full ownership (fee simple) of the land without those reservation rights, under the rules in subsections (1) and (2) of section 410e.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §410h

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In any action caused by the Secretary of the Interior to be commenced for the acquisition of lands under the provisions hereof, reasonable diligence shall be exercised by him to ascertain whether owners elect to retain reservations in accordance with the provisions of sections 410e to 410h of this title. If, after the exercise of such reasonable diligence, owners cannot be located, or do not appear in judicial proceedings to acquire the lands, so that it may be ascertained whether they desire to retain reservations in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Secretary may acquire the fee simple title to their lands free and clear of reservations as set forth in subsections (1) and (2) of section 410e of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 410h

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102