71
STAT.]
The term "the municipality", as used in this Act, refers to any municipal corporation organized hereafter embracing any part of the town area described. SEC. 2. Except for property, disposal of which is authorized under section 6 of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, is authorized to sell all lands and improvements situated in the town and Grand Coulee areas which was acquired or built by the United States for the construction, operation, and maintenance of Grand Coulee Dam and its appurtenant works and which is not needed for Federal purposes. Such disposals shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in section 3 of this Act, but lands to be sold in the Grand Coulee area shall be sold at public sale to the highest responsible bidder. SEC. 3. (a) All land authorized to be sold under section 2 of this Act which, when offered for sale, is occupied by improvements owned by the United States shall be sold with the improvements in place. (b) Of the property authorized to be sold under section 2 of this Act, lands in the town area occupied by dwelling units shall be sold in accordance with the following terms and conditions: (1) First priority to purchase shall be given to the tenant of the United States in the town area who occupies the land and dwelling unit to be sold. The land and dwelling unit shall be offered at the appraised value as established under section 5 less any applicable discounts under this Act. This right of priority shall expire unless a deposit of earnest money in an amount to be fixed by the Secretary is received by him before the expiration of sixty days after the date on which the property has been offered for sale, and the right of priority shall be deemed abandoned unless within an additional one hundred and eighty days the prospective purchaser shall have signed a contract to purchase the property. Any tenant having a priority under (1) who desires to continue to rent the property occupied by him rather than to purchase it may assign his priority to a person who has entered into a valid contract to lease the property back to him. The Secretary may permit such other assignments of priorities under (1) as he finds to be fair and equitable. Assignments under this paragraph shall be subject to such general rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, including denial, in any instance where the Secretary in his judgment finds it proper, to the assignee concerned, or his successors, assigns, or legal representatives, of any discount in or rebate of the purchase price to which such person or persons would otherwise be entitled under this Act. (2) Second priority to purchase shall apply to property in the town area not purchased under (1) and shall be given to persons who are tenants of the United States in Federal housing in the town area or who would meet the requirements for eligibility to become such tenants under the most recent regulations of the Bureau of Reclamation for the assignment of persons to Federal housing in the town area. Applicants to purchase shall be placed in order of opportunity to choose pursuant to a public drawing, but spouses of such applicants shall not be entitled to apply. Sales shall be at the appraised value as established under section 5, less applicable discounts under this Act. Selection of dwelling units by successful applicants, to be accompanied by a deposit of earnest money fixed as under (1), shall be concluded within limits of time established by the Secretary, and thereafter the purchase shall be concluded in the same manner as provided under (1). A purchase under (1) or (2) shall render the purchaser and any spouse of such purchaser ineligible thereafter to purchase under either (1) or (2). 84352 O - 5 8 - 3 6
525
PUBLIC LAW 85-240-AUG. 30, 1957
Sale of lands.
Terms and ditions.
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