Chapter 578. To authorize acquisition or use of public lands by States, counties, or municipalities for recreational purposes
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CHAP. 578.— An Act To authorize acquisition or use of public lands by States, counties, or municipalities for recreational purposes.June 14, 1926. [[H. R. 10773](/us/bill/69/hr/10773).] [[Public, No. 386](/us/pl/69/386).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Public lands.Patents of, authorized to States, etc., for recreational purposes, in exchange for lands therefrom. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and hereby is, authorized, in his discretion, to withhold from all forms of appropriation unreserved nonmineral public lands, which have been classified by him as chiefly valuable 742for recreational purposes and are not desired for Federal administration, but only after a petition requesting such withdrawal has been signed and filed by the duly constituted authorities of the States or of the county or counties within, which the lands are located, and to accept title on behalf of the United States from any States in and to lands granted by Congress to such State, and in exchange therefor to patent to such State an equal quantity or value of surveyed land so withheld and classified, any patent so issued toMineral deposits, etc., reserved. contain a reservation to the United States of all mineral deposits in the land conveyed and of the right to mine and remove same, under regulations to be established by the Secretary, and a provisionReversion for non-user, etc. for reversion of title to the United States upon a finding by the Secretary of the Interior that for a period of five consecutive years such land has not been used by the State for park or recreational purposes, or that such land or any part thereof is being devoted to other use: *Provided*, That lands so withheld and classified may,*Provisos*.Purchase by States in lieu of exchange. in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, be also held subject to purchase and may be purchased by the State or county in which the lands are situated, or by an adjacent municipality in the same State, at a price to be fixed by the Secretary of the Interior, through appraisal or otherwise, subject to the same reservation of mineral deposits and the same provision for reversion of title as are prescribed for conveyances to the States in consummation of exchanges hereby authorized, or be held subject to lease and mayLeases authorized. be leased to such States, counties, or municipalities for recreational use at a reasonable annual rental for a period of twenty years, with privilege of renewal for a like period.
And the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to make all necessary rules andRules to be prescribed. regulations for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this Act into effect: *Provided further*, That the Secretary of the InteriorReport to Congress of lands exchanged. shall for each year make a report to Congress giving in detail a list of lands exchanged under the provisions of this Act. Approved, June 14, 1926.