16 U.S.C. § 459c–5: Owner’s reservation of…

Summary

Lets owners whose land is bought for the seashore keep the right to live on or use the property for a set time. The owner can choose to keep that right for up to 25 years, or instead keep it until the owner or the owner’s spouse dies, whichever is later. If the land is sold rather than donated, the Secretary pays the owner the fair market value of the land minus the value of the right the owner keeps. The Secretary can end the kept right if it is used in a way that conflicts with the seashore’s purposes, but must notify the holder and pay the fair market value of the unused time left. The Secretary may lease former farm land that was bought for the seashore, with rules needed to protect the park, and must first offer such a lease to the person who owned or leased the land just before the United States bought it. “Improved property” means a private, noncommercial home started before Sept. 1, 1959 (or before May 1, 1978/1979 for areas added later) plus nearby land needed for normal home use. “Agricultural property” means land used or being changed to farming, ranching, or dairying as of May 1, 1978 (or May 1, 1979 for certain areas) and related buildings. For land bought under the Ninety-fifth Congress, the Secretary and owner may agree to delay or spread payments over 10 years with interest up to the Treasury borrowing rate. The Secretary may accept donated California lands (including Tomales Bay State Park and land between it and Fish Hatchery Creek) and add them to the seashore. No general admission fee may be charged to enter the seashore.

Title 16, §459c–5

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Election of term; fair market value; termination; notification; lease of Federal lands: restrictive covenants, offer to prior owner or leaseholder

Except for property which the Secretary specifically determines is needed for interpretive or resources management purposes of the seashore, the owner of improved property or of agricultural property on the date of its acquisition by the Secretary under sections 459c to 459c–7 of this title may, as a condition of such acquisition, retain for himself and his or her heirs and assigns a right of use and occupancy for a definite term of not more than twenty-five years, or, in lieu thereof, for a term ending at the death of the owner or the death of his or her spouse, whichever is later. The owner shall elect the term to be reserved. Unless the property is wholly or partly donated to the United States, the Secretary shall pay to the owner the fair market value of the property on the date of acquisition minus the fair market value on that date of the right retained by the owner. A right retained pursuant to this section shall be subject to termination by the Secretary upon his or her determination that it is being exercised in a manner inconsistent with the purposes of sections 459c to 459c–7 of this title, and it shall terminate by operation of law upon the Secretary’s notifying the holder of the right of such determination and tendering to him or her an amount equal to the fair market value of that portion of the right which remains unexpired. Where appropriate in the discretion of the Secretary, he or she may lease federally owned land (or any interest therein) which has been acquired by the Secretary under sections 459c to 459c–7 of this title, and which was agricultural land prior to its acquisition. Such lease shall be subject to such restrictive covenants as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 459c to 459c–7 of this title. Any land to be leased by the Secretary under this section shall be offered first for such lease to the person who owned such land or was a leaseholder thereon immediately before its acquisition by the United States.

(b)“Improved and agricultural property” defined

As used in sections 459c to 459c–7 of this title, the term “improved property” shall mean a private noncommercial dwelling, including the land on which it is situated, whose construction was begun before September 1, 1959, or, in the case of areas added by action of the Ninety-fifth Congress, May 1, 1978 or, in the case of areas added by action of the Ninety-sixth Congress, May 1, 1979, and structures accessory thereto (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as “dwelling”), together with such amount and locus of the property adjoining and in the same ownership as such dwelling as the Secretary designates to be reasonably necessary for the enjoyment of such dwelling for the sole purpose of noncommercial residential use and occupancy. In making such designation the Secretary shall take into account the manner of noncommercial residential use and occupancy in which the dwelling and such adjoining property has usually been enjoyed by its owner or occupant. The term “agricultural property” as used in sections 459c to 459c–7 of this title means lands which were in regular use for, or were being converted to agricultural, ranching, or dairying purposes as of May 1, 1978 or, in the case of areas added by action of the Ninety-sixth Congress, May 1, 1979, together with residential and other structures related to the above uses of the property that were in existence or under construction as of May 1, 1978.

(c)Payment deferral; scheduling; interest rate

In acquiring those lands authorized by the Ninety-fifth Congress for the purposes of sections 459c to 459c–7 of this title, the Secretary may, when agreed upon by the landowner involved, defer payment or schedule payments over a period of ten years and pay interest on the unpaid balance at a rate not exceeding that paid by the Treasury of the United States for borrowing purposes.

(d)Lands donated by State of California

The Secretary is authorized to accept and manage in accordance with sections 459c to 459c–7 of this title, any lands and improvements within or adjacent to the seashore which are donated by the State of California or its political subdivisions. He is directed to accept any such lands offered for donation which comprise the Tomales Bay State Park, or lie between said park and Fish Hatchery Creek. The boundaries of the seashore shall be changed to include any such donated lands.

(e)Fee or admission charge prohibited

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no fee or admission charge may be levied for admission of the general public to the seashore.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–199, § 101(a)(2), substituted “Except for property which the Secretary specifically determines is needed for interpretive or resources management purposes of the seashore, the” for “The” in first sentence. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–199, § 101(a)(3), inserted “or, in the case of areas inserted by action of the Ninety-sixth Congress,

May 1, 1979,” after “

May 1, 1978” and “that were in existence or under

Construction

as of May 1, 1978” after “related to the above uses of the property”. Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 96–199, § 101(a)(4), added subsecs. (d) and (e). 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–625, § 318(b), extended provision to agricultural property; provided for: retention rights of heirs and assigns, retention rights for term of twenty-five years or for term ending with death of owner or spouse, whichever was later, as elected by owner, which provision previously authorized retention for term of fifty years, termination of right of retention and notice thereof, and for lease of federally owned lands, subject to restrictive covenants, with first offer to prior owner or leaseholder; and included clause relating to donation of property to the United States. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–625, § 318(c), defined “improved property” to include private dwelling, the

Construction

of which was begun, in the case of areas added by action of the Ninety-fifth Congress, October 1, 1978, and included definition of “agricultural property”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–625, § 318(d), added subsec. (c).

§459c–5 Owner’s Reservation of Right of Use and Occupancy for Fixed Term of Years or Life

Summary

Title 16, §459c–5

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Construction

Construction

Citations & Metadata