legislation: 93-hr-16800
Data license: Public Domain (U.S. Government data) · Data source: Federal Register API & Regulations.gov API
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| 93-hr-16800 | 93 | hr | 16800 | Public Land Policy and Management Act | Public Lands and Natural Resources | 1974-09-23 | 1974-09-23 | Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. | House | Rep. Melcher, John [D-MT-2] | MT | D | M000635 | 10 | Public Land Policy and Management Act - Title I: Short Title, Declaration of Policy and Definitions - Declares the public policies of the United States, including that the public lands be retained in Federal ownership unless disposal of a particular parcel will best serve the national interest. Defines the terms used in this Act. Title II: Planning Future Public Land Use - Directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to: (1) prepare inventories of all public lands and resources; (2) develop and revise land use plans; and (3) manage public lands under principles of multiple use and sustained yield, with specified exceptions. Prescribes the criteria governing the issuance of permits, licenses, and leases. Specifies the conditions under which a tract of the public lands may be sold and the procedures for competitive bidding. States that all withdrawals of public lands shall be reviewed at the end of the withdrawal period and enumerates additional rules with regard to such withdrawals. Details the conditions governing; (1) the acquisition of land; (2) exchanges; (3) the recordation of mining claims and abandonment; (4) recordable disclaimers of interest in land; and (5) the conveyance of reserved mineral interests. Provides that with regard to specified lands along the lower Colorado River the United States shall be subject to all legal and equitable defenses in any case where the United States seeks to establish title or obtain relief dependent on ownership of such lands. Sets forth the procedures for computation of grazing fees and the duration of grazing leases. Title III: Bureau of Land Management - Establishes within the Department of Interior a Bureau of Land Management, granting such Bureau specified enforcement authorities. Provides for cooperation between the Bureau and State and local law enforcement agencies. Creates a working capital fund for the management of the public lands administered by the Bureau. Authorizes to be appropriated $3,000,000 as initial capital for the fund. Provides for contracts for surveys and resource protection to be made by the Secretary of the Interior. Authorizes the establishment of local advisory councils by the Secretary, outlining the rules governing such councils. Requires the Secretary to file an annual report to review roadless areas of 5,000 contiguous acres and report on the suitability of such areas for preservation as wilderness. Title IV: Desert Lands - Expresses the findings of Congress with respect to deserts. Directs the Secretary to implement a plan for the management, use, development, and protection of the public lands within the California desert area and to create a California Desert Conservation Area Advisory Committee, enumerating the duties of such committee. Provides, under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926, for specified criteria to be met prior to the conveyance of land for recreation purposes. Requires the Secretary to conduct a desert areas study, authorizing $1,500,000 for such purposes. Title V: Rights-of-Way - Authorizes the Secretaries to grant rights-of-way through public lands for canals, tunnels, pipelines, roads, airways, and other specified systems. Enumerates the procedures, terms, and conditions for such right-of-way granting. Title VI: Effect on Existing Rights; Repeal of Prior Laws; Appropriation Authorization, and Effective Date - Repeals specified laws relating to: (1) homesteading, desert entry, and small tracts; (2) disposal laws; (3) administration of public lands; and (4) rights-of-way. Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the purposes of this Act. | 2025-09-03T12:50:01Z |