Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 75.djvu/224

 184

PUBLIC LAW 87-70-JUNE 30, 1961

[76

ST A T.

valuable open-space land in such areas, for the preponderant majority of the Nation's present and future population. (b) It is the purpose of this title to help curb urban sprawl and prevent the spread of urban blight and deterioration, to encourage more economic and desirable urban development, and to help provide necessary recreational, conservation, and scenic areas by assisting State and local governments in taking prompt action to preserve openspace land which is essential to the proper long-range development and welfare of the Nation's urban areas, in accordance with plans for the allocation of such land for open-space purposes. FEDERAL GRANTS

Limitation. Appropriation.

Restrictions.

Review of applications.

SEC. 702. (a) In order to encourage and assist in the timely acquisition of land to be used as permanent open-space land, as deianed herein, the Housing and Home Finance Administrator (hereinafter referred to as the "Administrator") is authorized to enter into contracts to make grants to States and local public bodies acceptable to the Administrator as capable of carrying out the provisions of this title to help finance the acquisition of title to, or other permanent interests in, such land. The amount of any such grant shall not exceed 20 per centum of the total cost, as approved by the Administrator, of acquiring such interests: Provided, That this limitation may be increased to not to exceed 30 per centum in the case of a grant extended to a public body which (1) exercises responsibilities consistent with the purposes of this title for an urban area as a whole, or (2) exercises or participates in the exercise of such responsibilities for all or a substantial portion of an urban area pursuant to an interstate or other intergovernmental compact or agreement. The faith of the United States is pledged to the payment of all grants contracted for under this title. (b) The Administrator may enter into contracts to make grants under this title aggregating not to exceed $50,000,000. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the amounts necessary to provide for the payment of such grants as well as to carry out all other purposes of tnis title. (c) No grants under this title shall be used to defray development costs or ordinary State or local governmental expenses, or to help finance the acquisition by a public body of land located outside the urban area for which it exercises (or participates in the exercise of) responsibilities consistent with the purpose of this title. (d) The Administrator may set such further terms and conditions for assistance under this title as he determines to be desirable. (e) The Administrator shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior on the general policies to be followed in reviewing applications for grants. To assist the Administrator in such review, the Secretary of the Interior shall furnish him appropriate information on the status of recreational planning for the areas to be served by the open-space land acquired with the grants. The Administrator shall provide current information to the Secretary from time to time on significant program developments. P L A N N I N G REQUIREMENTS

SEC. 703. (a) The Administrator shall enter into contracts to make grants for the acquisition of land under this title only if he finds that (1) the proposed use of the land for permanent open space is important to the execution of a comprehensive plan for the urban area meeting criteria he has established for such plans, and (2) a program of

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