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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§696 National Key Deer Refuge; Establishment; Acquisition of Property: Exchanges, Cash Equalization Payments; Administration

Title 16 › Chapter 6— GAME AND BIRD PRESERVES; PROTECTION › § 696

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior can buy, lease, exchange, or accept donations (including donated money) of land in townships 65 and 66 south, ranges 28, 29, and 30 east in Monroe County, Florida to protect the key deer and other wildlife. The government cannot force the sale of land (condemnation) inside a 1,000-foot zone on either side of U.S. Highway 1 in Monroe County. The Secretary may trade federal land in Florida for private land in those townships. If the lands traded are not about equal in value, cash must be paid to make them equal. Land gained this way will become the National Key Deer Refuge and will be managed by the Secretary under the national wildlife refuge rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §696

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In order to protect and preserve in the national interest the key deer and other wildlife resources in the Florida Keys, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire by purchase, lease, exchange, and donations, including the use of donated funds, such lands or interests therein in townships 65 and 66 south, ranges 28, 29, and 30 east, Monroe County, Florida, as he shall find to be suitable for the conservation and management of the said key deer and other wildlife: Provided, That no lands within a one thousand-foot zone adjacent to either side of United States Highway Numbered 1 in Monroe County shall be acquired for the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge by condemnation. The Secretary, in the exercise of his exchange authority, may accept title to any non-Federal property in townships 65 and 66 south, ranges 28, 29, and 30 east, Monroe County, Florida, and in exchange therefor convey to the grantor of such property any federally owned property in the State of Florida under his jurisdiction which he classifies as suitable for exchange or other disposal. The values of the properties so exchanged either shall be approximately equal, or if they are not approximately equal the values shall be equalized by the payment of cash to the grantor or to the Secretary as the circumstances require. The properties so acquired shall constitute the National Key Deer Refuge, and shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the laws and regulations relating to the national wildlife refuges, including, but not limited to, section 664, 666a, and 666b of this title, relating to the conservation of wildlife, fish, and game.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1966—Pub. L. 89–669 struck out one thousand acres limitation on acquisition of property, substituted prohibition against condemnation of lands within a one thousand-foot zone adjacent to either side of U.S. Highway Numbered 1 for the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge for former prohibition against condemnation of lands on an island that is traversed at any point by U.S. Highway Numbered 1, and required cash equalization payment when making unequal exchanges of properties.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 696

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60