Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 84 Part 1.djvu/893

 84 STAT.]

835

PUBLIC LAW 91-393-SEPT. 1, 1970

Public Law 91-393 AN ACT

September 1, 1970

To amend section 355 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, concerning approval by the Attorney General of the title to lands acquired for or on behalf of the United States, and for other purposes.

[H.R. 15374]

Be it enacted by the Senate and Hou-ne of Re present at] ves of the United States of America in Congress a.^sembleds That the first seven pjira^raplis of section 855 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (40 r. S. ( \ 255; 88 U.S.C. 788; and 50 U.S.C. 175) are hereby repealed, and in lieu thereof there are substituted the following paragraphs: "Unless the Attorney General gives prior written approval of the sufficiency of the title to land for the purpose for which the property is being acquired by the United States, public money may not be expended for the purchase of the land or any interest therein. "The Attorney General may delegate his responsibility under this section to other departments and agencies, subject to his general supervision and in accordance with regulations promulgated by him. "Any Federal department or agency which has been delegated the responsibility to approve land titles under this section may request the Attorney General to render his opinion as to the validity of the title to any real property or interest therein, or may request the advice or assistance of the Attorney General in connection with determinations as to the sufficiency of titles. "Except where otherwise authorized by law or provided by contract, the expenses of procuring certificates of title or other evidences of title as the Attorney General may require may be paid out of the appropriations for the acquisition of land or out of the appropriations made for the contingencies of the acquiring department or agency." The foregoing provisions of this section shall not be construed to affect in any manner any existing provisions of law which are applicable to the acquisition of lands or interests in land by the Tennessee Valley Authority. SEC. 2. The third full paragraph on page 941 of volume 25 of the Statutes at Large, in the Act of March 2, 1889, as amended (40 U.S.C. 256), is repealed. SEC. 3. Section 8 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 962 (16 U.S.C. 517)) is amended by adding after "Attorney General" the words "or his designee". SEC. 4. Section 5 of the Act of February 26, 1931 (46 Stat. 1422 (40 U.S.C. 258e)) is amended by deleting the words ", notwithstanding the provisions of section 855 of the Revised Statutes of the United States". SEC. 5. Sections 4776 and 9776 of title 10, United States Code, are each amended by deleting the sentence: "In such a case, section 175 of title 50 does not apply." SEC. 6. Section 6 of the Act of February 18, 1929 (45 Stat. 1228, as amended (16 U.S.C. 715e)) is further amended by adding the words, "or his designee" after "Attorney General". Approved September 1, 1970.

Lands acquired by U. S. Title approval by Attorney General.

Repeal, 75 Stat. 577.

70A Stat. 270, 591.

49 Stat. 381.

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