---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 715e"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "715e"
heading: "Examination of title; easements and reservations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/715e"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Protection of Migratory Game and Insectivorous Birds"
  - "Subchapter III — Migratory Bird Conservation"
---

# §715e. Examination of title; easements and reservations


The [Secretary](/usc/16/718j.md?p=b-3) of the Interior may do all things and make all expenditures necessary to secure the safe title in the United States to the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) which may be acquired under this subchapter, but no payment shall be made for any such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) until the title thereto shall be satisfactory to the Attorney General or his designee, but the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) by the United States shall in no case be defeated because of rights-of-way, easements, and reservations which from their nature will in the opinion of the [Secretary](/usc/16/718j.md?p=b-3) of the Interior in no manner interfere with the use of the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) so encumbered for the purposes of this subchapter, but such rights-of-way, easements, and reservations retained by the grantor or lessor from whom the United States receives title under this subchapter or any other Act for the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by the [Secretary](/usc/16/718j.md?p=b-3) of the Interior of [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for wildlife refuges shall be subject to rules and regulations prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/718j.md?p=b-3) of the Interior for the occupation, use, operation, protection, and administration of such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) as inviolate sanctuaries for migratory birds or as refuges for wildlife; and it shall be expressed in the deed or lease that the use, occupation, and operation of such rights-of-way, easements, and reservations shall be subordinate to and subject to such rules and regulations as are set out in such deed or lease or, if deemed necessary by the [Secretary](/usc/16/718j.md?p=b-3) of the Interior, to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by him from time to time.


## Source credit

(Feb. 18, 1929, ch. 257, § 6, 45 Stat. 1223; June 15, 1935, ch. 261, title III, § 301, 49 Stat. 381; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 4(f), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 91–393, § 6, Sept. 1, 1970, 84 Stat. 835.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–393 inserted “or his designee” after “Attorney General”.

1935—Act June 15, 1935, inserted “under said sections or any other Act for the acquisition by the Secretary of Agriculture of areas for wildlife refuges” and “or as refuges for wildlife”, and inserted clause beginning “as are set out in such deed or lease or, if deemed necessary” etc.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

Transfer of functions of Secretary of Agriculture to Secretary of the Interior by Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, see Transfer of Functions note set out under section 715a of this title.