§1745 Disclaimer of Interest in Lands

Summary

The Secretary can sign and record a paper saying the United States gives up any claim to certain land when that helps clear up ownership problems. Before doing so, the Secretary must talk with any affected Federal agency and find that one of these is true: a U.S. record interest ended by law or is invalid; the land between an old survey meander line and the real shoreline is not U.S. land; or land added or exposed by water movement (accreted, relicted, or avulsed) is not U.S. land. An applicant must file a written request, have notice of that request published in the Federal Register at least 90 days before the disclaimer is issued, and pay the Secretary’s administrative costs. Payments go into the current appropriation used to pay those expenses. The disclaimer has the same effect as a quitclaim deed from the United States.