---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 698a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "698a"
heading: "Acquisition of property for Big Thicket Preserve"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/698a"
units:
  - "Chapter 6 — Game and Bird Preserves; Protection"
---

# §698a. Acquisition of property for Big Thicket Preserve

- (a) **Mineral rights; easements; improved properties—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, immediately after the publication of the boundaries of the [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2), commence negotiations for the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of the lands located therein: Provided, That he shall not [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) the mineral estate in any property or existing easements for public utilities, pipelines or railroads without the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) unless, in his judgment, he first determines that such property or estate is subject to, or threatened with, uses which are, or would be, detrimental to the purposes and objectives of sections [698](/usc/16/698.md) to [698e](/usc/16/698e.md) of this title: Provided further, That the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), insofar as is reasonably possible, may avoid the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of [improved properties](/usc/16/251h.md?p=2), as defined in sections [698](/usc/16/698.md) to [698e](/usc/16/698e.md) of this title, and shall make every effort to minimize the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of land where he finds it necessary to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) properties containing improvements.
- (b) **Plan to Congressional committees; time; contents—** Within one year after October 11, 1974, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall submit, in writing, to the Committee[^1] on Interior and Insular Affairs and to the Committees on Appropriations of the United States Congress a detailed plan which shall indicate:
  - (i) the lands and [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) which he deems essential to the protection and public enjoyment of this [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2),
  - (ii) the lands which he has previously acquired by purchase, donation, exchange or transfer for administration for the purpose of this [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2), and
  - (iii) the annual [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) program (including the level of funding) which he recommends for the ensuing five fiscal years.
- (c) **Completion of land acquisition program; time—** It is the express intent of the Congress that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) should substantially complete the land [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) program contemplated by sections [698](/usc/16/698.md) to [698e](/usc/16/698e.md) of this title within six years after October 11, 1974.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “Committees”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–439, § 2, Oct. 11, 1974, 88 Stat. 1256.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate abolished and replaced by Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, effective Feb. 11, 1977. See Rule XXV of Standing Rules of the Senate, as amended by Senate Resolution No. 4 (popularly cited as the “Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977”), approved Feb. 4, 1977.

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives on Jan. 5, 1993, by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Third Congress.