Public Law 84–300

in order to provide for adjustments in the lands or interests in hind heretofore acquired for the Jim Woodruff Reservoir, Florida and Georgia, to conform such acquisition to a lesser estate in lands now being acquired to complete the real estate requirements of the project, the Secretary of the Army is authorized to reconvey any such land or interests in land heretofore acquired to the former owners of such hind whenever (1) he shall determine that such land or interest is not required for public purposes, and (2) he shall have received an application for reconveyance as hereinafter provided.

Any such reconveyance of any such land or interest shall be made only after the Secretary (1) has given notice, in such manner (including publication) its he shall by regulation prescribe, to the former owner of such hind or interest, and (2) has received an application for the reconveyance of such land or interest from such former owner, in such form as he shall by regulation prescribe, within a period of ninety days following the date of issuance of such notice.

Any reconveyance of land or interest therein made under this Act shall be subject to such exceptions, restrictions, and reservations (including a reservation to the United States of flowage rights) as the Secretary may determine are in the public interest.

Any land or interest therein reconveyed under this Act shall be sold for an amount determined by the Secretary to be equal to the price for which the hind was acquired by the United States, adjusted to reflect (1) any increase in the value thereof resulting from improvements to the hind made by the United States, or (2) any decrease in the value thereof resulting from (A) any reservation, exception, restriction, or condition to which the reconveyance is made subject, and (B) any damage to the hind or interest therein caused by the United States. In addition, the cost of any surveys necessary as an incident of such reconveyance shall be borne by the grantee.

The requirements of this section shall not be applicable with respect to the disposition of any land, or interest therein, described in subsection (a) if the Secretary shall certify (1) that notice has been given to the former owner of such land or interest as provided in subsection (b) and that no qualified applicant has made timely application for the reconveyance of such land or interest, or (2) that within a reasonable time after receipt of a proper application for any reconveyance of such land or interest the parties have been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with respect to the reconveyance of such Land or interest..

As used in this section, the term “former owner” means the person from whom any land, or interest therein, was acquired by the United States, or if such person is deceased, his spouse, or if such spouse is deceased, his children..