---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 696a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "696a"
heading: "Acquisition of title to properties for National Key Deer Refuge; rights-of-way and easements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/696a"
units:
  - "Chapter 6 — Game and Bird Preserves; Protection"
---

# §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](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) 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](/usc/16/696.md) to [696b](/usc/16/696b.md) of this title.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–164, § 2, Aug. 22, 1957, 71 Stat. 412.)