---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410m"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410m"
heading: "Ascertainment of owners’ election regarding reservation rights"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410m"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIV — Everglades National Park"
---

# §410m. Ascertainment of owners’ election regarding reservation rights


In acquiring any of the land or water within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) described in [section 410i of this title](/usc/16/410i.md) the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior shall exercise reasonable diligence to ascertain whether [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) elect to retain reservations in accordance with the provisions of [section 410j of this title](/usc/16/410j.md). If, after the exercise of such reasonable diligence, [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) cannot be located, or do not appear in judicial proceedings to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) the land and water, so that it may be ascertained whether they desire to retain reservations in accordance with the provisions hereof, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) the fee simple title to their land free and clear of reservations as set forth in subsections (1), (2), and (3) of [section 410j of this title](/usc/16/410j.md).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–482, § 5, July 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 285.)