---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 696"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "696"
heading: "National Key Deer Refuge; establishment; acquisition of property: exchanges, cash equalization payments; administration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/696"
units:
  - "Chapter 6 — Game and Bird Preserves; Protection"
---

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


In order to protect and [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) in the national interest the key deer and other wildlife resources 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, 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 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 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/16/590q.md?p=a) 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, 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 of wildlife, fish, and game.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–164, § 1, Aug. 22, 1957, 71 Stat. 412; Pub. L. 89–669, § 10(a), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 930.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1966—Pub. L. 89–669 struck out one thousand acres limitation on acquisition of property, substituted prohibition against condemnation of lands within a one thousand-foot zone adjacent to either side of U.S. Highway Numbered 1 for the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge for former prohibition against condemnation of lands on an island that is traversed at any point by U.S. Highway Numbered 1, and required cash equalization payment when making unequal exchanges of properties.