16 U.S.C. § 460zz–4: Administration

Summary

The Secretary must manage the federal lands inside the Area under the rules in this part. Only lands the Secretary directly controls follow the usual National Park rules. Other lands and waters inside the Area stay under state and local law. The Secretary must work with the State of Minnesota and local governments when managing federal land there. Inside the Area, the Secretary can get land by donation, by buying it with donated or appropriated funds, by exchange, or by transfer. Land owned by the State or its local governments can only be taken by donation. Private land can only be acquired with the owner’s consent unless the Secretary finds local plans are missing, not following the approved plan, or not being enforced and no other option will protect the Area. If a local government won’t fix the problem after being warned, the Secretary may withhold or require repayment of federal funds and, if the State does not act within a 60-day period and the problem continues, may acquire needed land without the owner’s consent (subject to available appropriations). The Secretary may let former owners of improved homes keep living there for noncommercial residential use if it fits the approved plan, under rules like those in section 460ii–1 but using the date January 1, 1987.

Title 16, §460zz–4

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authorities

The Secretary shall administer the Area in accordance with this part. Only those lands within the Area under the direct jurisdiction of the Secretary shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System. Other lands and waters within the Area shall be administered under State and local laws. In the case of any conflict between the provisions of this part and such generally applicable provisions of law, the provisions of this part shall govern.

(b)State and local authorities

The Secretary shall consult and cooperate with the State of Minnesota and its political subdivisions concerning the development and management of Federal lands within the Area.

(c)Land acquisition

Within the boundaries of the Area, the Secretary is authorized, in consultation with the State of Minnesota and the affected local governmental unit, to acquire land and interests therein by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, exchange or transfer, except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(1)Any lands or interests therein owned by the State of Minnesota or any political subdivision thereof may be acquired only by donation.

(2)Privately owned lands or interests therein may be acquired only with the consent of the owner thereof unless the Secretary makes a determination pursuant to subsection (d)(2). In no event may the Secretary use the authority provided in subsection (d)(3) to acquire land or interests in land without the owner’s consent for any use exercised prior to January 1, 1987, that is consistent with the plan under section 460zz–2 of this title.

(d)Review of local plans

(1)Authority

For the purpose of protecting the integrity of the Area the Secretary shall cooperate and consult with the State and the appropriate political subdivisions to review all relevant local plans, laws and ordinances to determine whether they substantially conform to the plan approved pursuant to section 460zz–2 of this title. Additionally the Secretary shall in consultation with the State and its political subdivisions determine the adequacy of enforcement of such plans, laws, and ordinances, including review of building permits and zoning variances granted by local governments, and amendments to local laws and ordinances. The Secretary shall enter into agreements with the State or its political subdivisions to provide, on behalf of the Secretary, professional services necessary for the review of such local plans, laws, and ordinances, and of amendments thereto and variances therefrom, and for the monitoring or the enforcement thereof by local governments having jurisdiction over any areas to which the management plan applies.

(2)Purpose

The purpose of review under paragraph (1) shall be to determine the degree to which actions by local governments are compatible with the purposes of this subchapter. Following the approval of the plan under section 460zz–2 of this title and after a reasonable period of time has elapsed, upon a finding by the Secretary that such plans, laws and ordinances are nonexistent, are otherwise not in conformance with the plan or are not being enforced in a manner consistent with the plan, and if the Secretary determines that there is no feasible alternative available to prevent uses which would be substantially incompatible with the plan, the Secretary may exercise the authority available to him under the provisions of paragraph (3).

(3)Enforcement

In those sections of the Area where local plans, laws and ordinances, or amendments thereto or variances therefrom are found by the Secretary not to be in conformance with the plan approved pursuant to section 460zz–2 of this title, or are not being enforced in a manner consistent with the plan, the Secretary shall notify the local government authority concerned. The Secretary may withhold from the local government authority concerned or, require reimbursement of, (A) Federal funds made available for implementation of the plan, or (B) any grant under section 460zz–5(a) of this title if the local plan, law, ordinance, amendment, or variance is not modified to conform with the plan and enforced in such manner as will carry out the purposes of this part. If the State has not initiated, within a 60-day period, such judicial or other action as necessary to ensure conformity with the plan, and if noncompliance with the plan or failure to enforce the plan continues after the end of such 60-day period, the Secretary may acquire, subject to appropriations, land or interests in land under this subsection without the consent of the owner thereof. Land and interests in land acquired pursuant to this subsection shall be restricted to the geographical area of the local government unit failing to conform with the plan and shall be limited to those lands clearly and directly required, in the judgment of the Secretary, for the protection of the Area in a manner compatible with the plan.

(e)Retention by owner of use and occupancy

The Secretary may permit the owner or owners of any improved residential property acquired by the Secretary under this part to retain a right of use and occupancy of the property for noncommerical residential uses not incompatible with the plan approved under section 460zz–2 of this title. The provisions of subsection (c), (d), and (e) of section 460ii–1 of this title shall apply to the retention of such rights, except that for purposes of this part, the applicable date shall be January 1, 1987 in lieu of January 1, 1975 and the purposes of this part shall be substituted for the purposes referred to in section 460ii–1(d) of this title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–40 substituted “Other” for “Our” in third sentence.

§460zz–4 Administration

Summary

Title 16, §460zz–4

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata