§ 460y–4 — Authority Of Secretary

The Secretary is authorized— (1) To conduct a public hearing or hearings to receive expression of local views relating to establishment of the area. (2) To acquire by donation, by purchase with donated funds or with funds appropriated specifically for that purpose, or by exchange, any land or interest in land within the area described in section 460y–8 of this title, which the Secretary, in his judgment, determines to be desirable for consolidation of public lands within the Area in order to facilitate efficient and beneficial management of the public lands or otherwise to accomplish the purposes of this subchapter: Provided, That the Secretary may not acquire, without the consent of the owner, any such lands or interests therein which are utilized on October 21, 1970, for residential, agricultural, or commercial purposes so long as he finds such property is devoted to uses compatible with the purposes of this subchapter. Any lands or interests in lands acquired by the United States under the authority of this section shall, upon acceptance of title, become public lands, and shall become a part of the area subject to all the laws and regulations applicable thereto. (3) In the exercise of his authority to acquire land or interests in land by exchange under this subchapter, to accept title to any non-Federal land located within the Area and to convey to the grantor of such land not to exceed an equal value of surveyed, unappropriated, and unreserved public lands or interests, in lands and appropriated funds when in his judgment the exchange will be in the public interest, and in accordance with the following: (A) The public lands offered in exchange for non-Federal lands or interests in non-Federal lands must be in the same county or counties, and must be classified by the Secretary as suitable for exchange. For a period of five years, any such public lands suitable for transfer to nonpublic ownership shall be classified for exchange under this subchapter. (B) If the lands or interests in lands offered in exchange for public lands have a value at least equal to two-thirds of the value of the public lands, the exchange may be completed upon payment to the Secretary of the difference in value, or the submittal of a cash deposit or a performance bond in an amount at least equal to the difference in value assuring that additional lands acceptable to the Secretary and at least equal to the difference in value will be conveyed to the Government within a time certain to be specified by the Secretary. Any such payment made to the Secretary shall be deposited in the Treasury as a miscellaneous receipt. (C) If the public lands offered in exchange for non-Federal lands or interests in non-Federal lands have a value at least equal to two-thirds of the value of the non-Federal lands, the exchange may be completed upon payment by the Secretary of the difference in value. (D) Either party to an exchange under this subchapter may reserve minerals, easements, or rights of use either for its own benefit, for the benefit of third parties, or for the benefit of the general public. Any such reservation, whether in lands conveyed to or by the United States, shall be subject to such reasonable conditions respecting ingress and egress and the use of the surface of the land as may be deemed necessary by the Secretary. When minerals are reserved in a conveyance by the United States, any person who prospects for or acquires the right to mine and remove the reserved mineral deposits shall be liable to the surface owners according to their respective interests for any actual damage to the surface or to the improvements thereon resulting from prospecting, entering, or mining operations; and such person shall, prior to entering, either obtain the surface owner’s written consent, or file with the Secretary a good and sufficient bond or undertaking to the United States in an amount acceptable to the Secretary for the use and benefit of the surface owner to secure payment of such damages as may be determined in an action brought on the bond or undertaking in a court of competent jurisdiction. (4) In the exercise of his authority to purchase lands under this subchapter to pay for any such purchased lands their fair market value, as determined by the Secretary, who may, in his discretion, base his determination on an independent appraisal obtained by him. (5) To identify the appropriate public uses of all of the public lands and interests therein within the Area. Disposition of the public lands within the Area, or any of the lands subsequently acquired as part of the Area, is prohibited, and the lands in the Area described in section 460y–8 of this title are hereby withdrawn from all forms of entry, selection, or location under existing or subsequent law, except as provided in section 460y–5 of this title. Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the Secretary may (A) exchange public lands or interests therein within the area for privately owned lands or interests therein also located within the Area, and (B) issue leases, licenses, contracts, or permits as provided by other laws. (6) To construct or cause to be constructed and to operate and maintain such roads, trails, and other access and recreational facilities in the area as the Secretary deems necessary and desirable for the proper protection, utilization, and development of the area. (7) To reforest and revegetate such lands within the area and install such soil- and water-conserving works and practices to reduce erosion and improve forage and timber capacity as the Secretary deems necessary and desirable. (8) To enter into such cooperative arrangements with the State of California, local governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations as the Secretary deems necessary or desirable concerning but not limited to installation, construction, maintenance, and operation of access and recreational facilities, reforestation, revegetation, soil and moisture conservation, and management of fish and wildlife including hunting and fishing and control of predators. The Secretary shall permit hunting and fishing on lands and waters under the jurisdiction within the boundaries of the recreation area in accordance with the applicable laws of the United States and the State of California, except that the Secretary may designate zones where, and establish periods when, no hunting or fishing shall be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, fish and wildlife management, or public use and enjoyment. Except in emergencies, any regulations of the Secretary pursuant to this section shall be put into effect only after consultation with the appropriate State fish and game department. (9) To issue such regulations and to do such other things as the Secretary deems necessary and desirable to carry out the terms of this subchapter.