[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 894 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 894
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide for clear title to
certain land in Louisiana, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 30, 2019
Mr. Johnson of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
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A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide for clear title to
certain land in Louisiana, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lake Bistineau Land Title Stability
Act''.
SEC. 2. LAKE BISTINEAU LAND TITLE STABILITY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Claimant.--The term ``claimant'' means any individual,
group, or corporation authorized to hold title to land or
mineral interests in land in the State of Louisiana with a
valid claim to the omitted land, including any mineral
interests.
(2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Lands
as Delineated by Original Survey December 18, 1842 showing the
1969 Meander Line at the 148.6 Elevation Line'' and dated
January 30, 2018.
(3) Omitted land.--
(A) In general.--The term ``omitted land'' means
the land in lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of sec.
30, T. 16 N., R. 10 W., Louisiana Meridian, comprising
a total of approximately 229.72 acres, as depicted on
the Map, that--
(i) was in place during the Original
Survey; but
(ii) was not included in the Original
Survey.
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``omitted land''
includes--
(i) Peggy's Island in lot 1 of sec. 17, T.
16 N., R. 10 W., Louisiana Meridian; and
(ii) Hog Island in lot 1 of sec. 29, T. 16
N., R. 10 W., Louisiana Meridian.
(4) Original survey.--The term ``Original Survey'' means
the survey of land surrounding Lake Bistineau, Louisiana,
conducted by the General Land Office in 1838 and approved by
the Surveyor General on December 8, 1842.
(b) Conveyances.--
(1) In general.--Consistent with the first section of the
Act of December 22, 1928 (commonly known as the ``Color of
Title Act'') (45 Stat. 1069, chapter 47; 43 U.S.C. 1068),
except as provided by this section, the Secretary shall convey
to the claimant the omitted land, including any mineral
interests, that has been held in good faith and in peaceful,
adverse possession by a claimant or an ancestor or grantor of
the claimant, under claim or color of title, based on the
Original Survey.
(2) Confirmation of title.--The conveyance or patent of
omitted land to a claimant under paragraph (1) shall have the
effect of confirming title to the surface and minerals in the
claimant and shall not serve as any admission by a claimant.
(c) Payment of Costs.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
conveyance required under subsection (b) shall be without
consideration.
(2) Exception.--Before the conveyance of the omitted land
under subsection (b), from any funds appropriated to the State
of Louisiana by the Louisiana Legislature, the State of
Louisiana shall pay to the Secretary any costs incurred by the
Secretary relating to any survey, platting, legal description,
or associated activities required to prepare and issue a patent
under that subsection.
(d) Map and Legal Description.--As soon as practicable after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file, and make
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the
Bureau of Land and Management, the Map and legal descriptions of the
omitted land to be conveyed under subsection (b).
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