---
kind: "range"
citation: "16 U.S.C. §§ 696–696b"
title: "16"
from: "696"
to: "696b"
count: 3
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/696..696b"
---

# §696. National Key Deer Refuge; establishment; acquisition of property: exchanges, cash equalization payments; administration


In order to protect and [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) in the national interest the key deer and other wildlife [resources](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=8) in the Florida Keys, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior is authorized to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by purchase, lease, exchange, and donations, including the use of donated [funds](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=2), such lands or interests therein in townships 65 and 66 south, ranges 28, 29, and 30 east, Monroe County, Florida, as he shall find to be suitable for the [conservation](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) and management of the said key deer and other wildlife: Provided, That no lands within a one thousand-foot zone adjacent to either side of United States Highway Numbered 1 in Monroe County shall be acquired for the Key Deer National [Wildlife Refuge](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6) by condemnation. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in the exercise of his exchange authority, may accept title to any non-Federal property in townships 65 and 66 south, ranges 28, 29, and 30 east, Monroe County, Florida, and in exchange therefor convey to the grantor of such property any federally owned property in the [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of Florida under his jurisdiction which he classifies as suitable for exchange or other disposal. The values of the properties so exchanged either shall be approximately equal, or if they are not approximately equal the values shall be equalized by the payment of cash to the grantor or to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) as the circumstances require. The properties so acquired shall constitute the National Key Deer Refuge, and shall be administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior in accordance with the laws and regulations relating to the national [wildlife refuges](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=6), including, but not limited to, sections [664](/usc/16/664.md), [666a](/usc/16/666a.md), and [666b](/usc/16/666b.md) of this title, relating to the [conservation](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) of wildlife, fish, and game.


# §696a. Acquisition of title to properties for National Key Deer Refuge; rights-of-way and easements


In furtherance of the aforesaid purposes, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may take such action and make such expenditures as he shall find to be necessary in order to secure satisfactory title in the United States to such properties, including the payment of expenses incidental to the location, examination, and survey of such lands and the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of title thereto; but no payment shall be made for any such lands until the title thereto shall be satisfactory to the Attorney General: Provided, That the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of such lands or interests therein by the United States shall in no case be defeated because of rights-of-ways, easements, exceptions, and reservations which, in the opinion of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, will not interfere materially with the use of such properties for the purposes of [sections 696 to 696b](/usc/16/696..696b.md) of this title.


# §696b. Authorization of appropriations; limitation


There is hereby authorized to be appropriated from time to time out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such amounts as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of [sections 696 to 696b](/usc/16/696..696b.md) of this title. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall not utilize more than $2,035,000 from appropriated [funds](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=2) for the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of land and interests in land for the purposes of [sections 696 to 696b](/usc/16/696..696b.md) of this title.