Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 69.djvu/488

 446

Quitclaim deeds.

Reservation to U. S.

Surveys.

Easements, e t c.

Contributions.

PUBLIC LAW 215-AUG. 3, 1955

[69

ST A T.

(2) relinquish any tract of such lands, with or without compensation, to any person having a legal or equitable interest therein. In passing upon a proposed disposition of any tract of land under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into account the uses to which the tract involved is most suited and whether it may be better utilized in private ownership. (b) In selling any tract under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall make such provision as he may deem appropriate to give a preference right to any occupant of the tract who has, or whose predecessors in interest have, lawfully and continuously occupied the tract for home, business, or school purposes since April 30, 1949, or earlier. The Secretary shall give any occupant who is lawfully in possession of a tract at the time of its offer for sale, an appropriate period within which such occupant may remove improvements constructed by him or by his predecessors in interest, or may elect to receive compensation for such improvements from the successful purchaser of the tract in an amount equal to the appraised value of the improvements as determined by the Secretary. (c) In disposing of an interest in any tract under this Act, the Secretary may also give a preference right, when he deems it appropriate, to any owner of an interest in any land adjoining the tract to be disposed. SEC. 3. (a) The Secretary may sell or lease any tract under the provisions of the Act of June 4, 1954 (68 Stat. 173; 43 U.S.C. sec. 869, and the following), to the State of Oklahoma or any other agency or organization qualified under that Act. (b) Upon the filing of an application by an appropriate local governing body within two years after the first issuance of regulations under this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may relinquish or convey to such body, without compensation, the surface rights to any tract of the lands which, prior to the transfer of title to the United States, w as set apart for streets, alleys, or other public purposes, even though not legally dedicated to such purposes. SEC. 4. (a) The Secretary of the Interior shall issue quitclaim deeds for any lands disposed of under section 2 or section 3(b) of this Act. The Secretary shall fix through appraisal the minimum price to be paid for lands that are offered for sale under subsection (a)(1) of section 2. If any lands are relinquished under subsection (a)(2) of section 2, without compensation, the Secretary shall require the grantee to pay a service charge of not less than $10. (b) Any deed for lands disposed of under section 2 of this Act shall contain a reservation to the United States of all mineral deposits, together with the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the same under applicable provisions of law. Any deed for lands disposed of under this Act shall contain any provision which the Secretary determines is necessary in order to protect the rights of the holders of existing interests in the lands, or to permit access to any of the lands in which the Federal Government retains an interest. (c) If a survey is necessary to describe properly any lands that are to be disposed of under this Act, the Secretary shall require the proposed grantee to pay the proportionate cost of such survey. SEC. 5. The Secretary of the Interior may issue easements, leases, or permits for the development and use of nonmineral resources of the lands or may sell such resources. SEC. 6. The Secretary of the Interior may accept contributions or donations of money, services, and property to further the provisions of this Act. Moneys received under this section shall be covered into the Treasury and are hereby appropriated and made available until

�