Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 1.djvu/323

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80rH CONG., 2D SESS. -CH. 382-JUNE 3, 1948 293 [CHAPTER 382] AN ACT To reduce in area the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Essex County, [InR3,1947 Massachusetts, and for other purposes. [Public Law 579] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Anerica in Congress assembled, That the Parker Parker River Na- tional Wildlife Refuge, River National Wildlife Refuge in Essex County, Massachusetts, is M ls.liRefu hereby reduced in area by eliminating therefrom those portions of Reduction of area. the refuge designated and known as the Crane Pond, Downfall, and Mill Creek Areas, and the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to dispose of all of the interests of the United States in such areas in accordance with the provisions of this Act. SEC. 2. (a) Within ninety days following the date of enactment Reconveyance of land to prior owner. of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall mail, to each prior nd topri owner of such lands within the three areas designated in section 1 as have been acquired by the United States by direct purchase or the ownership of which has been determined and compensation therefor paid to the prior owner thereof in the condemnation proceeding entitled "United States v. 12,367.47 Acres More or Less of Land Situate in Essex County, Massachusetts, Civil No. 7010, in the District Court of the United States for the District of Massachusetts", or in any other condemnation proceeding instituted by the United States for the acquisition of lands for the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, a notice stating in effect that title to the lands acquired from such prior owner will be reconveyed to that prior owner upon pay- ment to the United States, within sixty days after the receipt of such notice, of an amount equal to the purchase price paid by the United States for such lands. Upon receipt of payment from the prior owner of the lands in question, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey all right, title, and interest of the United States in such land to the prior owner thereof. (b) With respect to such other lands as lie within the three areas Exclusion from con- designated in section 1 and are included in the condemnation pro- lfgl"tion"" ro"'e"d- ceeding or proceedings referred to, and compensation for the taking of which has not been paid to the prior owners thereof, the Attorney General of the United States is authorized and directed to exclut(l the same from the condemnation proceedings entitled "United States v. 12,367.47 Acres More or Less of Land Situate in Essex County, Massachusetts, Civil No. 7010, in the District Court of the United States for the District of Massachusetts", or any other condemnation proceeding instituted by the United States for the acquisition of lands for the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of October 21, 1942 (56 Stat. 797; 40 U. S . C ., 40u 8 .C258f Supp. 258f), within ninety days following the date of enactment of this Act or within such additional period as the court in such pro- ceeding may determine to be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act. (c) Such lands lying within the boundaries of the areas designated Ltoaridnoteturne in section 1, the title to which cannot be returned to the prior owners thereof in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall be disposed of in such manner and at such prices as the Secretary of the Interior may deem to be in the best interests of the United States. SEC. 3. All moneys paid to the United States in accordance with apCrito ationai the provisions of section 2, for the reconveyance of lands to prior owners or in connection with the disposition of such lands as provided therein, all moneys on deposit with the District Court of the United 62 STAT.]