Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73not60

§59hh Declaration of Nonnavigability for Portion of Pelican Island, Texas

Title 33 › Chapter 1— NAVIGABLE WATERS GENERALLY › Subchapter II— WATERS DECLARED NONNAVIGABLE: CHANGE OF NAME › § 59hh

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Army may transfer full ownership of about 605 acres called the San Jacinto Disposal Area to the City of Galveston. The city must pay fair market value set by independent appraisers. The transfer only happens when the Army and the city agree on the payment. If the whole 605 acres is transferred, the city must give the Army about 564 acres on Pelican Island and pay the money difference between the two land values. If 125 acres or less is transferred, the city pays the fair market value of that part. The Army will also be paid for any extra dredged‑material or site‑preparation costs under the Local Cooperation Agreement dated October 18, 1973. Unless the Secretary, after talking with local and regional officials, finds the planned projects are not in the public interest, the land (or parts of it that are bulkheaded and filled or have permanent structures, including marinas) will be declared nonnavigable. Any work must follow federal laws, including sections 401, 403, and 1344 of title 33 and the National Environmental Policy Act. That nonnavigability ends if, 20 years after October 28, 1993, areas are not filled or built as required, or if permitted work does not begin within 5 years of the permits. Parcels must be surveyed and legally described before transfer, and the Secretary may review section 1344’s applicability within 60 days after October 28, 1993.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §59hh

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of the Army is authorized to convey to the City 11 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized. of Galveston, Texas, fee simple absolute title to all or any part of a parcel of land containing approximately 605 acres known as the San Jacinto Disposal Area located on the east end of Galveston Island, Texas, in the W.A.A. Wallace Survey, A–647 and A–648, City 1 of Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, being part of the old Fort San Jacinto site, at the fair market value of such parcel to be determined in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d). Such conveyance shall only be made by the Secretary of the Army upon the agreement of the Secretary and the City 1 as to all compensation due herein.
(b)(1)Upon receipt of compensation from the city of Galveston, the Secretary shall convey the parcel, or any part of the parcel, as described in subsection (a).
(2)If the full 605-acre parcel is conveyed, the compensation shall be—
(A)conveyance to the Department of the Army of fee simple absolute title to a parcel of land containing approximately 564 acres on Pelican Island, Texas, in the Eneas Smith Survey, A–190, Pelican Island, city of Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, adjacent to property currently owned by the United States, with the fair market value of the parcel being determined in accordance with subsection (d); and
(B)payment to the United States of an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the parcel to be conveyed under subsection (a) and the fair market value of the parcel to be conveyed under subparagraph (A).
(3)If the conveyance is 125 acres or less, compensation shall be an amount equal to the fair market value of the parcel to be conveyed, with the fair market value of the parcel being determined in accordance with subsection (d).
(c)Costs of maintaining the Galveston Harbor and Channel will continue to be governed by the Local Cooperation Agreement (LCA) between the United States of America and the City 1 of Galveston dated October 18, 1973, as amended. Upon conveyance of the parcel, or any part of the parcel, described in subsection (a), the Department of the Army shall be compensated directly for the present value of the total costs to the Department for disposal of dredge material and site preparation pursuant to the LCA, if any,,22 So in original. in excess of the present value of the total costs that would have been incurred if this conveyance had not been made.
(d)The fair market value of the land to be conveyed pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) shall be determined by independent appraisers using the market value method.
(e)(1)Unless the Secretary finds, after consultation with local and regional public officials (including local and regional public planning organizations), that the proposed projects to be undertaken within the parcel described in subsection (a) are not in the public interest then, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), such parcel is declared to be nonnavigable waters of the United States.
(2)The declaration under paragraph (1) shall apply only to those parts of the parcel described in subsection (a) which are or will be bulkheaded and filled or otherwise occupied by permanent structures, including marina facilities. All such work is subject to all applicable Federal statutes and regulations including, but not limited to, section 401 and 403 of this title, section 1344 of this title, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.].
(3)If, 20 years after October 28, 1993, any area or part thereof described in subsection (a) is not bulkheaded or filled or occupied by permanent structures, including marina facilities, in accordance with the requirements set out in paragraph (2), or if work in connection with any activity permitted in paragraph (2) is not commenced within 5 years after issuance of such permits, then the declaration of nonnavigability for such area or part thereof shall expire.
(f)The 605-acre parcel and the 564-acre parcel shall be surveyed and further legally described prior to conveyance. Not later than 60 days following October 28, 1993, if he deems it necessary, the Secretary of the Army shall complete a review of the applicability of section 1344 of this title to the said parcels.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsec. (e)(2), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–53, § 585(1), inserted “all or any part of” after “absolute title to” in first sentence. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–53, § 585(2), amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Upon receipt of compensation from the City of Galveston, the Secretary shall convey the parcel as described in subsection (a) of this section. Such compensation shall include— “(1) conveyance to the Department of the Army of fee simple absolute title to a parcel of land containing approximately 564 acres on Pelican Island, Texas, in the Eneas Smith Survey, A–190, Pelican Island, City of Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, adjacent to property currently owned by the United States. The fair market value of such parcel will be determined in accordance with the provision of subsection (d) of this section; and “(2) payment to the United States of an amount equal to the difference of the fair market value of the parcel to be conveyed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and the fair market value of the parcel to be conveyed pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–53, § 585(3), in second sentence, inserted “, or any part of the parcel,” after “parcel” and “, if any,” after “LCA”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 59hh

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60