Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73not60
§53 Powers Devolved on Secretary of the Interior on Turning Over of Papers to States
Title 43 › Chapter 3— SURVEYS › § 53
Summary
When a State receives its survey papers (for example, field notes, maps, and records) under section 54, the Secretary of the Interior—or someone the Secretary appoints—takes over the same survey duties and powers that the surveyor general had for that State. Those duties include surveying, resurveying, dividing land, and other related tasks.
Full Legal Text
Title 43, §53
Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In all cases where, as provided in section 54 of this title, the field notes, maps, records, and other papers appertaining to land titles in any State are turned over to the authorities of such State, the same authority, powers, and duties in relation to the survey, resurvey, or subdivision of the lands therein, and all matters and things connected therewith, as previously exercised by the surveyor general, whose district included such State, shall be vested in, and devolved upon, the Secretary of the Interior or such officer as he may designate.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 2219 derived from act Jan. 22, 1853, ch. 24, § 1, 10 Stat. 152.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Surveyor GeneralAbolition of office of surveyor general, see note set out under section 51 of this title.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out under section 1451 of this title. “Secretary of the Interior or such officer as he may designate” substituted for “Commissioner of the General Land Office” on authority of section 403 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946. See note set out under section 1 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 53
Title 43 — Public Lands
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60