Sec. 82606. Acquisition and transfers of lands and waters for wildlife refuge
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/bill/116/hr/2/rds/section-82606A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary shall acquire by donation, purchase with appropriated funds, or exchange the lands and water, or interest therein (including conservation easements), within the boundaries of the Wildlife Refuge, except that the lands, water, and interests therein owned by the State of California and its political subdivisions may be acquired only by donation. The head of any Federal department or agency, including any agency within the Department of the Interior, that has jurisdiction of any Federal property located within the boundaries of the Wildlife Refuge as described by this subtitle shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Secretary an assessment of the suitability of such property for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge.
Any assessment under paragraph
(1)shall include— parcel descriptions and best existing land surveys for such property; a list of existing special reservations, designations, or purposes of the property; a list of all known or suspected hazardous substance contamination of such property, and any facilities, surface water, or groundwater on such property; the status of withdrawal of such property from— the Mineral Leasing Act; and the General Mining Act of 1872; and a recommendation as to whether such property is or is not suitable for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge. The Secretary shall, not later than 60 days after receiving an assessment submitted pursuant to paragraph (1), determine if the property described in such assessment is suitable for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge. If the Secretary determines the property in an assessment submitted under paragraph
(1)is suitable for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge, the head of the Federal department or agency that has jurisdiction of such property shall transfer such property to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for the purposes of this subtitle. Property determined by the Secretary to be unsuitable for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge based on an assessment submitted under paragraph
(1)shall be subsequently transferred to the Secretary for purposes of this subtitle by the head of the department or agency that has jurisdiction of such property if such property becomes suitable for inclusion in the Wildlife Refuge as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the head of the department or agency that has jurisdiction of such property. If property transferred to the Secretary under this subsection allows for public access at the time of transfer, such access shall be maintained unless such access— would be incompatible with the purposes of the Wildlife Refuge; would jeopardize public health or safety; or must be limited due to emergency circumstances.