Public Law 102–562

there is a history of adverse claims and title confusion relating to certain lands in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, arising from private land claims predating the Louisiana Purchase;

numerous parties have in good faith placed valuable improvements upon such lands in the belief that they owned such lands; and

the public interest will be best served by clarifying the uncertainty of title by conveying the interest of the United States in such lands to those affected parties.

In General.—

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to the reservation in subsection (b), the United States hereby grants all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to certain lands in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, as described in section 103, to those parties who, as of the date of enactment of this Act, would be recognized as holders of a right, title, or interest to any portion of such lands under the laws of the State of Louisiana, but for the interest of the United States in such lands.

Reservation of Mineral Rights.—

The United States hereby excepts and reserves from the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, all minerals underlying such lands, along with the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the minerals under applicable law and such regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe.

the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, located in Contra Costa County, California, served as the major West Coast munitions supply facility during World War II, during which time the facility played a critical role in the success of the war effort;

on July 17, 1944, an explosion at Port Chicago, the origin of which has never been determined, resulted in the deaths of 320 officers and sailors, the largest domestic loss of life during World War II, and the injury of many others; and

it is fitting and appropriate that the site of the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, which is currently included in the Concord Naval Weapons Station, be designated as a National Memorial to commemorate the role of the facility during World War II, to recognize those who served at the facility, and to honor the memory of those who gave their lives and were injured in the explosion on July 17, 1944.

Designation.—

In order to recognize the critical role Port Chicago, located at the Concord Naval Weapons Station in Contra Costa County, California, played in the Second World War by serving as the main facility for the Pacific Theater and the historic importance of the explosion which occurred at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine on July 17, 1944, such Naval Magazine is hereby designated as a National Memorial, to be known as the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. The Secretary of the Interior

Federal Register, publication.

Records.

shall take appropriate action to assure that the Memorial is announced in the Federal Register and that official records and lists are amended, in due course, to reflect the inclusion of this memorial along with other national memorials established by an Act of Congress.

Marker.—

The Secretary of the Interior, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense, is authorized and directed to place at the site the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, as designated under subsection (a), an appropriate plaque or marker commemorating the critical role Port Chicago played in the Second World War and the historic importance of the explosion which occurred at that location on July 17, 1944. The plaque or marker shall include a listing of the names of those who lost their fives during the explosion.

Public Access.—

The Secretary of the Interior shall enter

Contracts.

into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Navy to provide for public access to the Memorial.