    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 115-279
    115th Congress

    An Act

    To authorize the exchange of certain land located in Gulf Islands
    National Seashore, Jackson County, Mississippi, between the National
    Park Service and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 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 ``Gulf Islands National Seashore Land
    Exchange Act''.
    SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
    (1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the
    parcel of approximately 1.542 acres of land that is located
    within the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Jackson County,
    Mississippi, and identified as ``NPS Exchange Area'' on the Map.
    (2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Gulf
    Islands National Seashore, Proposed Land Exchange with VFW,
    Davis Bayou Area--Jackson County, MS'', numbered 635/133309, and
    dated June 2016.
    (3) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means
    the parcel of approximately 2.161 acres of land that is located
    in Jackson County, Mississippi, and identified as ``VFW Exchange
    Area'' on the Map.
    (4) Post.--The term ``Post'' means the Veterans of Foreign
    Wars Post 5699.
    (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
    of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National
    Park Service.
    SEC. 3. GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE LAND EXCHANGE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary may convey to the Post all right,
    title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land in
    exchange for the conveyance by the Post to the Secretary of all right,
    title, and interest of the Post in and to the non-Federal land.
    (b) Equal Value Exchange.--
    (1) <>  In general.--The values of the
    Federal land and non-Federal land to be exchanged under this
    section shall be equal, as determined by an appraisal
    conducted--
    (A) by a qualified and independent appraiser; and
    (B) in accordance with nationally recognized
    appraisal standards.

    [[Page 4188]]

    (2) Equalization.--If the values of the Federal land and
    non-Federal land to be exchanged under this section are not
    equal, the values shall be equalized through--
    (A) a cash payment; or
    (B) adjustments to the acreage of the Federal land
    or non-Federal land to be exchanged, as applicable.

    (c) Payment of Costs of Conveyance.--
    (1) <>  Payment required.--As a
    condition of the exchange authorized under this section, the
    Secretary shall require the Post to pay the costs to be incurred
    by the Secretary, or to reimburse the Secretary for the costs
    incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the exchange,
    including--
    (A) survey costs;
    (B) any costs relating to environmental
    documentation; and
    (C) any other administrative costs relating to the
    land exchange.
    (2) Refund.--If the Secretary collects amounts from the Post
    under paragraph (1) before the Secretary incurs the actual costs
    and the amount collected by the Secretary exceeds the costs
    actually incurred by the Secretary to carry out the land
    exchange under this section, the Secretary shall provide to the
    Post a refund of the excess amount paid by the Post.
    (3) Treatment of certain amounts received.--Amounts received
    by the Secretary from the Post as reimbursement for costs
    incurred under paragraph (1) shall be--
    (A) credited to the fund or account from which
    amounts were used to pay the costs incurred by the
    Secretary in carrying out the land exchange;
    (B) merged with amounts in the fund or account to
    which the amounts were credited under subparagraph (A);
    and
    (C) available for the same purposes as, and subject
    to the same conditions and limitations applicable to,
    amounts in the fund or account to which the amounts were
    credited under subparagraph (A).

    (d) <>  Description of Federal Land
    and Non-Federal Land.--The exact acreage and legal description of the
    Federal land and non-Federal land to be exchanged under this section
    shall be determined by surveys that are determined to be satisfactory by
    the Secretary and the Post.

    (e) Conveyance Agreement.--The exchange of Federal land and non-
    Federal land under this section shall be--
    (1) carried out through a quitclaim deed or other legal
    instrument; and
    (2) subject to such terms and conditions as are mutually
    satisfactory to the Secretary and the Post, including such
    additional terms and conditions as the Secretary considers to be
    appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

    (f) Valid Existing Rights.--The exchange of Federal land and non-
    Federal land authorized under this section shall be subject to valid
    existing rights.
    (g) Title Approval.--Title to the Federal land and non-Federal land
    to be exchanged under this section shall be in a form acceptable to the
    Secretary.
    (h) Treatment of Acquired Land.--Any non-Federal land and interests
    in non-Federal land acquired by the United States

    [[Page 4189]]

    under this section shall be administered by the Secretary as part of the
    Gulf Islands National Seashore.
    (i) Modification of Boundary.--On completion of the exchange of
    Federal land and non-Federal land under this section, the Secretary
    shall modify the boundary of the Gulf Islands National Seashore to
    reflect the exchange of Federal land and non-Federal land.

    Approved November 20, 2018.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2615:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-302 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
    SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-228 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
    Vol. 163 (2017):
    Nov. 28, considered and passed
    House.
    Vol. 164 (2018):
    Oct. 11, considered and passed
    Senate, amended.
    Nov. 13, House concurred in Senate
    amendment.