§79c — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary may get land for Redwood National Park and up to ten acres outside the park for park offices. The land can be given, bought, exchanged, or taken by other legal means. Land owned by the State of California can only be accepted as a gift, and the Secretary can accept it with any existing conditions on the title so long as those conditions fit park use. The United States automatically got full ownership and the right to possess certain park lands on October 2, 1968, and additional lands and some down trees on March 27, 1978, except state-owned land and some other exceptions. Trees cut from the ground before January 1, 1975, or after January 31, 1978, in the added area are covered by the United States’ ownership rules, with limits: removal of cut timber must follow state and federal law, may be restricted if it would harm second-growth trees or cause sediment, and timber in stream beds cannot be taken without the Secretary’s permission. The Secretary must allow existing removal or use rules that protect supply to Redwoods United, Inc. The Secretary must also let current woods employers keep using certain roads (B, L, M, K and portions of Bald Hills road) at the same level they used them, but only for forest and land management, including timber harvest and road work. If the United States takes land, the owner must be paid fair compensation. Payment may come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund with 6% interest from the date of taking, or by trading federal property with the owner’s agreement, or by a mix of money and property. Claims for payment go to the U.S. district court where the land is located. If a taken property is not needed, the Secretary may return or sell parts of it under certain limits, but not if full compensation already was paid. The Secretary may buy whole parcels that cross park lines to avoid extra damage costs, and then trade or sell the parts outside the park. The Secretary may also buy land on both sides of the highway south of Prairie Creek to keep a tree screen between the road and nearby land. The Secretary can buy or get lesser rights in land around the park and in watersheds to protect timber, soil, and streams, and may make contracts or cooperative agreements to fix erosion, reduce sediment, and help rehabilitate damaged areas. Money for some of these actions was made available starting March 27, 1978, and more funding could be approved after October 1, 1978. Contracts should try to keep and use experienced local employees. The Secretary must study erosion and sediment in the Redwood Creek basin and work with the Secretary of Agriculture to manage nearby federal lands to reduce sediment that could harm the park. Definitions: Down tree personal property — trees that were cut or otherwise severed from the ground by people. Interests in land — rights shorter than full ownership (not full title unless necessary).

Title 16, §79c

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary is authorized to acquire lands and interests in land within the boundaries of the Redwood National Park and, in addition thereto, not more than ten acres outside of those boundaries for an administrative site or sites. Such acquisition may be by donation, purchase with appropriated or donated funds, exchange, or otherwise, but lands and interests in land owned by the State of California may be acquired only by donation which donation of lands or interest in lands may be accepted in the discretion of the Secretary subject to such preexisting reverters and other conditions as may appear in the title to these lands held by the State of California, and such other reverters and conditions as may be consistent with the use and management of the donated lands as a portion of Redwood National Park. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may expend appropriated funds for the management of and for the construction, design, and maintenance of permanent improvements on such lands and interests in land as are donated by the State of California in a manner not inconsistent with such reverters and other conditions.

(b)(1)Effective on October 2, 1968, there is hereby vested in the United States all right, title, and interest in, and the right to immediate possession of, all real property within the park boundaries designated in maps NPS–RED–7114–A and NPS–RED–7114–B and effective on March 27, 1978, there is hereby vested in the United States all right, title, and interest in, and the right to immediate possession of, all real property within the area indicated as “Proposed Additions” on the map entitled “Additional Lands, Redwood National Park, California,” numbered 167–80005–D and dated March 1978, and all right, title, and interest in, and the right to immediate possession of the down tree personal property (trees severed from the ground by man) severed prior to January 1, 1975, or subsequent to January 31, 1978, within the area indicated as “Proposed Additions” on the map entitled “Additional Lands, Redwood National Park, California,” numbered 167–80005–D and dated March 1978, except real property owned by the State of California or a political subdivision thereof and except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection. The Secretary shall allow for the orderly termination of all operations on real property acquired by the United States under this subsection, and for the removal of equipment, facilities, and personal property therefrom.Down tree personal property severed subsequent to December 31, 1974, and prior to February 1, 1978 may be removed in accordance with applicable State and Federal law, or other applicable licenses, permits, and existing agreements, unless the Secretary determines that the removal of such down timber would damage second growth resources or result in excessive sedimentation in Redwood Creek: Provided, however, That down timber lying in stream beds may not be removed without permission of the Secretary: Provided, That such removal shall also be subject to such reasonable conditions as may be required by the Secretary to insure the continued availability of raw materials to Redwoods United, Incorporated, a nonprofit corporation located in Manila, California. The Secretary shall permit, at existing levels and extent of access and use, continued access and use of each acquired segment of the B line, L line, M line, and K and K roads by each current affected woods employer or its successor in title and interest: Provided, That such use is limited to forest and land management and protection purposes, including timber harvesting and road maintenance. The Secretary shall permit, at existing levels and extent of access and use, continued access and use of acquired portions of the Bald Hills road by each current affected woods employer or its successor in title and interest: Provided further, That nothing in this sentence shall diminish the authority of the Secretary to otherwise regulate the use of the Bald Hills road.

(2)The United States will pay just compensation to the owner of any real property taken by paragraph (1) of this subsection. Such compensation shall be paid either: (A) by the Secretary of the Treasury from money appropriated from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, including money appropriated to the Fund pursuant to section 4(b) 11 See References in Text note below. of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended, subject to the appropriation limitation in section 79j of this title, upon certification to him by the Secretary of the agreed negotiated value of such property, or the valuation of the property awarded by judgment, including interest at the rate of 6 per centum per annum from the date of taking the property to the date of payment therefor; or (B) by the Secretary, if the owner of the land concurs, with any federally owned property available to him for purposes of exchange pursuant to the provisions of section 79e of this title; or (C) by the Secretary using any combination of such money or federally owned property. Any action against the United States with regard to the provisions of this subchapter and for the recovery of just compensation for the lands and interests therein taken by the United States, and for the down tree personal property taken, shall be brought in the United States district court for the district where the land is located without regard to the amount claimed. The United States may initiate proceedings at any time seeking a determination of just compensation in the district court in the manner provided by section 1358 and 1403 of title 28 and may deposit in the registry of the court the estimated just compensation, or a part thereof, in accordance with the procedure generally described by section 3114(a)–(d) of title 40. Interest shall not be allowed on such amounts as shall have been paid into the court. In the event that the Secretary determines that the fee simple title to any property (real or personal) taken under this section is not necessary for the purposes of this subchapter, he may, with particular attention to minimizing the payment of severance damages and to allow for the orderly removal of down timber, revest title to such property subject to such reservations, terms, and conditions, if any, as he deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, and may compensate the former owner for no more than the fair market value of the rights so reserved, except that the Secretary may not revest title to any property for which just compensation has been paid; or, the Secretary may sell at fair market value without regard to the requirements of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 such down timber as in his judgment may be removed without damage to the park, the proceeds from such sales being credited to the Treasury of the United States. If the State of California designates a right-of-way for a bypass highway around the eastern boundary of Prairie Creek Redwood State Park prior to October 1, 1984, the Secretary is authorized and directed to acquire such lands or interests in lands as may be necessary for such a highway and, subject to such conditions as the Secretary may determine are necessary to assure the adequate protection of Redwood National Park, shall thereupon donate the designated right-of-way to the State of California for a new bypass highway from a point south of Prairie Creek Redwood State Park through the drainage of May Creek and Boyes Creek to extend along the eastern boundary of Prairie Creek Redwood State Park within Humboldt County. Such acreage as may be necessary in the judgment of the Secretary for this conveyance, and for a buffer thereof, shall be deemed to be a publicly owned highway for purposes of section 79b(a) of this title effective on March 27, 1978.

(3)This subsection shall apply to ownerships of fifty acres or less only if such ownerships are held or occupied primarily for nonresidential or nonagricultural purposes, and if the Secretary gives notice to the owner within sixty days after October 2, 1968, of the application of this subsection. Notice by the Secretary shall be deemed to have been made as of October 2, 1968. The district court of the United States for that district in which such ownerships are located shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any action brought by any person having an interest therein for damages occurring by reason of the temporary application of this paragraph, between October 2, 1968, and the date upon which the Secretary gives such notice. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary under subsections (a) and (c) of this section to acquire such areas for the purposes of this subchapter.

(c)If any individual tract or parcel of land acquired is partly inside and partly outside the boundaries of the park or the administrative site the Secretary may, in order to minimize the payment of severance damages, acquire the whole of the tract or parcel and exchange that part of it which is outside the boundaries for land or interests in land inside the boundaries or for other land or interests in land acquired pursuant to this subchapter, and dispose of so much thereof as is not so utilized in accordance with the provisions of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41. The cost of any land so acquired and disposed of shall not be charged against the limitation on authorized appropriations contained in section 79j of this title.

(d)The Secretary is further authorized to acquire, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, lands and interests in land bordering both sides of the highway between the present southern boundary of Prairie Creek Redwood State Park and a point on Redwood Creek near the town of Orick to a depth sufficient to maintain or to restore a screen of trees between the highway and the land behind the screen and the activities conducted thereon.

(e)In order to afford as full protection as is reasonably possible to the timber, soil, and streams within the boundaries of the park, the Secretary is authorized, by any of the means set out in subsections (a) and (c) of this section, to acquire interests in land from, and to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, the owners of land on the periphery of the park and on watersheds tributary to streams within the park designed to assure that the consequences of forestry management, timbering, land use, and soil conservation practices conducted thereon, or of the lack of such practices, will not adversely affect the timber, soil, and streams within the park as aforesaid. As used in this subsection, the term “interests in land” does not include fee title unless the Secretary finds that the cost of a necessary less-than-fee interest would be disproportionately high as compared with the estimated cost of the fee. No acquisition other than by donation shall be effectuated and no contract or cooperative agreement shall be executed by the Secretary pursuant to the provisions of this subsection until after he has notified the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of his intended action and of the costs and benefits to the United States involved therein. Effective on March 27, 1978, there are made available from the amounts provided in section 79j of this title or as may be hereafter provided such sums as may be necessary for the acquisition of interests in land. Effective on October 1, 1978, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the implementation of contracts and cooperative agreements pursuant to this subsection: Provided, That it is the express intent of Congress that the Secretary shall to the greatest degree possible insure that such contracts and cooperative agreements provide for the maximum retention of senior employees by such owners and for their utilization in rehabilitation and other efforts. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, is further authorized, pursuant to contract or cooperative agreement with agencies of the Federal Executive, the State of California, any political or governmental subdivision thereof, any corporation, not-for-profit corporation, private entity or person, to initiate, provide funds, equipment, and personnel for the development and implementation of a program for the rehabilitation of areas within and upstream from the park contributing significant sedimentation because of past logging disturbances and road conditions, and, to the extent feasible, to reduce risk of damage to streamside areas adjacent to Redwood Creek and for other reasons: Provided further, That authority to make payments under this subsection shall be effective only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts. Such contracts or cooperative agreements shall be subject to such other conditions as the Secretary may determine necessary to assure the adequate protection of Redwood National Park generally, and to provide employment opportunities to those individuals affected by this taking and to contribute to the economic revival of Del Norte and Humboldt Counties in northern California. The Secretary shall undertake and publish studies on erosion and sedimentation originating within the hydrographic basin of Redwood Creek with particular effort to identify sources and causes, including differentiation between natural and man-aggravated conditions, and shall adapt his general management plan to benefit from the results of such studies. The Secretary, or the Secretary of Agriculture, where appropriate, shall also manage any additional Federal lands under his jurisdiction that are within the hydrographic basin of Redwood Creek in a manner which will minimize sedimentation which could affect the park, and in coordination with plans for sediment management within the basin. To effectuate the provisions of this subsection, and to further develop scientific and professional information and data concerning the Redwood Forest ecosystem, and the various factors that may affect it, the Secretary may authorize access to the area subject to this subsection by designated representatives of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 4(b) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), probably means section 5(b), formerly section 4(b), of Pub. L. 88–578, Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 900, which was classified to section 460l–7(b) of this title and which related to advance appropriations. section 5(b) was repealed by Pub. L. 94–422, title I, §101(2), Sept. 28, 1976, 90 Stat. 1314. The remainder of section 5 was repealed and restated as section 200304 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs, by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3272. section 79b(a) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), was in the original “section 101(a)(2) of this amendment”, meaning section 101(a)(2) of Pub. L. 95–250, which amended section 79b(a) of this title. Codification “section 3114(a)–(d) of title 40” substituted in subsec. (b)(2) for “section 258a of title 40, United States Code” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, the first section of which enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works. In subsec. (b)(2), “chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41” substituted for “the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended,” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, which Act enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts. In subsec. (c), “chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except section 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41” substituted for “the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (63 Stat. 377), as amended (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.)” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, which Act enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.

Amendments

1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–250, § 101(a)(3), inserted provisions authorizing the Secretary to accept donations of lands owned by the State of California subject to such preexisting reverters and other conditions as may appear in the title to those lands and such other reverters and conditions as may be consistent with the use and management of the donated lands as a portion of the Redwood National Park and further authorizing the Secretary to expend appropriated funds for permanent improvements on the donated lands in a manner not inconsistent with the reverters and other conditions. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 95–250, § 101(a)(4), expanded existing provisions, effective Mar. 27, 1978, by inserting references to the vesting in the United States of all right, title, and interest in, and right to immediate possession of, all real property, and to immediate possession of down tree personal property, within the area indicated as “Proposed Additions” on the map entitled “Additional Lands, Redwood National Park, California”, numbered 167–80005–D and dated March 1978, and inserted two unlettered paragraphs relating, respectively, to the removal of down tree personal property and to the continued access and use of acquired roads. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 95–250, § 101(a)(5), struck out provision for the bringing of actions in the Court of Claims, as provided in section 1491 of title 28, against the United States for the recovery of just compensation for the land and interests therein taken by the United States and inserted provisions directing that such actions, as well as actions for down tree personal property taken, be brought in the United States district court for the district where the land is located without regard to the amount claimed, authorizing the United States to initiate proceedings to determine just compensation and to deposit the estimated just compensation in the registry of the court, making provision for the revestment of title in cases where the Secretary determines that fee simple title is not necessary, and otherwise relating to the right-of-way for a new bypass highway. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–250, § 101(a)(6), substituted “until after he has notified the President of the Senate” for “until sixty days after he has notified the President of the Senate” in existing provisions and inserted provisions relating to the availability of funds for the acquisition of interests in land, the implementation of contracts and cooperative agreements pursuant to this subsection, and rehabilitative activities generally designed to minimize erosion and sedimentation in ways designed to assure adequate protection for Redwood National Park, contribute to the economic revival of Del Norte and Humboldt Counties in northern California, and provide employment opportunities to individuals affected by taking of land and interests in land.

§79c Acquisition of Land