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


Public Law 115-306
115th Congress

An Act


 
To establish a procedure for the conveyance of certain Federal property
around the Dickinson Reservoir in the State of North
Dakota. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means Dickinson
Parks & Recreation in Dickinson, North Dakota.
(2) Dickinson reservoir.--The term ``Dickinson Reservoir''
means the Dickinson Reservoir constructed as part of the
Dickinson Unit, Heart Division, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin
Program, as authorized by section 9 of the Act of December 22,
1944 (commonly known as the ``Flood Control Act of 1944'') (58
Stat. 891, chapter 665).
(3) Game and fish headquarters.--The term ``game and fish
headquarters'' means the approximately 10 acres of land depicted
as ``Game and Fish Headquarters'' on the Map.
(4) Management agreement.--The term ``Management Agreement''
means the management agreement entitled ``Management Agreement
between the Bureau of Reclamation, et al., for the Development,
Management, Operation, and Maintenance of Lands and Recreation
Facilities at Dickinson Reservoir'', MA No. 07AG602222,
Modification No. 1 and dated March 15, 2017.
(5) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map prepared by the
Bureau of Reclamation, entitled ``Dickinson Reservoir'', and
dated May 2018.
(6) Permitted cabin land.--The term ``permitted cabin land''
means the land depicted as ``Permitted Cabin Land'' on the Map.
(7) Property.--The term ``property'' means any cabin site
located on permitted cabin land for which a permit is in effect
on the date of enactment of this Act.
(8) Recreation land.--The term ``recreation land'' means the
land depicted as ``Recreation and Public Purpose Lands'' on the
Map.
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation.
(10) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of North
Dakota, acting through the North Dakota Game and Fish
Department.

[[Page 4405]]

SEC. 2. CONVEYANCES TO DICKINSON DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION.

(a) Conveyances to Dickinson Department of Parks and Recreation.--
(1) <>  In general.--Subject to the
management requirements of paragraph (3) and the easements and
reservations under section 4, not later than 5 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to the
Department all right, title, and interest of the United States
in and to--
(A) the recreation land; and
(B) the permitted cabin land.
(2) Costs.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), the Secretary shall convey the land described in
paragraph (1) at no cost.
(B) Title transfer; land surveys.--As a condition of
the conveyances under paragraph (1), the Department
shall agree to pay all survey and other administrative
costs necessary for the preparation and completion of
any patents for, and transfers of title to, the land
described in paragraph (1).
(3) Management.--
(A) Recreation land.--The Department shall manage
the recreation land conveyed under paragraph (1)--
(i) for recreation and public purposes
consistent with the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly
known as the ``Recreation and Public Purposes
Act'') (44 Stat. 741, chapter 578; 43 U.S.C. 869
et seq.);
(ii) for public access;
(iii) for fish and wildlife habitat; or
(iv) to preserve the natural character of the
recreation land.
(B) Permitted cabin land.--The Department shall
manage the permitted cabin land conveyed under paragraph
(1)--
(i) for cabins or recreational residences in
existence as of the date of enactment of this Act;
or
(ii) for any of the recreation land management
purposes described in subparagraph (A).
(4) Haying and grazing.--With respect to recreation land
conveyed under paragraph (1) that is used for haying or grazing
authorized by the Management Agreement as of the date of
enactment of this Act, the Department may continue to permit
haying and grazing in a manner that is permissible under the 1
or more haying or grazing contracts in effect as of the date of
enactment of this Act.

(b) Reversion.--If a parcel of land conveyed under subparagraph (A)
or (B) of subsection (a)(1) is used in a manner that is inconsistent
with the requirements described in subparagraph (A) or (B),
respectively, of subsection (a)(3), the parcel of land shall, at the
discretion of the Secretary, revert to the United States.
(c) Sale of Permitted Cabin Land by Department.--
(1) <>  In general.--If the Department
sells any parcel of permitted cabin land conveyed under
subsection (a)(1)(B), the parcel shall be sold at fair market
value, as determined by

[[Page 4406]]

a third-party appraiser in accordance with the Uniform Standards
of Professional Appraisal Practice, subject to paragraph (2).
(2) Improvements.--For purposes of an appraisal conducted
under paragraph (1), any improvements on the permitted cabin
land made by the permit holder shall not be included in the
appraised value of the land.
(3) Proceeds from the sale of land by the department.--If
the Department sells a parcel of permitted cabin land conveyed
under subsection (a)(1)(B), the Department shall pay to the
Secretary the amount of any proceeds of the sale that exceed the
costs of preparing the sale by the Department.

(d) Availability of Funds to the Secretary.--Any amounts paid to the
Secretary for land conveyed by the Secretary under this Act shall be
made available to the Secretary, subject to the availability of
appropriations made in advance, for activities relating to the operation
of the Dickinson Dam and Reservoir.
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF GAME AND FISH HEADQUARTERS TO THE STATE.

(a) <>  Conveyance of Game and Fish Headquarters.--
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall convey to the State all right, title, and interest of
the United States in and to the game and fish headquarters, on the
condition that the game and fish headquarters continue to be used as a
game and fish headquarters or substantially similar purposes.

(b) Reversion.--If land conveyed under subsection (a) is used in a
manner that is inconsistent with the requirements described in that
subsection, the land shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, revert
to the United States.
SEC. 4. RESERVATIONS, EASEMENTS, AND OTHER OUTSTANDING RIGHTS.

(a) In General.--Each conveyance to the Department or the State
pursuant to this Act shall be made subject to--
(1) valid existing rights;
(2) operational requirements of the Pick-Sloan Missouri
River Basin Program, as authorized by section 9 of the Act of
December 22, 1944 (commonly known as the ``Flood Control Act of
1944'') (58 Stat. 891, chapter 665), including the Dickinson
Reservoir;
(3) any flowage easement reserved by the United States to
allow full operation of Dickinson Reservoir for authorized
purposes;
(4) reservations described in the Management Agreement;
(5) oil, gas, and other mineral rights reserved of record,
as of the date of enactment of this Act, by, or in favor of, the
United States or a third party;
(6) any permit, license, lease, right-of-use, flowage
easement, or right-of-way of record in, on, over, or across the
applicable property or Federal land, whether owned by the United
States or a third party, as of the date of enactment of this
Act;
(7) a deed restriction that prohibits building any new
permanent structure on property below an elevation of 2,430.6
feet; and
(8) the granting of applicable easements for--
(A) vehicular access to the property; and

[[Page 4407]]

(B) access to, and use of, all docks, boathouses,
ramps, retaining walls, and other improvements for which
access is provided in the permit for use of the property
as of the date of enactment of this Act.

(b) Liability; Taking.--
(1) Liability.--The United States shall not be liable for
flood damage to a property subject to a permit, the Department,
or the State, or for damages arising out of any act, omission,
or occurrence relating to a permit holder, the Department, or
the State, other than for damages caused by an act or omission
of the United States or an employee, agent, or contractor of the
United States before the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Taking.--Any temporary flooding or flood damage to the
property of a permit holder, the Department, or the State, shall
not be considered to be a taking by the United States.
SEC. 5. <>  INTERIM REQUIREMENTS.

During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and
ending on the date of conveyance of a property or parcel of land under
this Act, the provisions of the Management Agreement that are applicable
to the property or land, or to leases between the State and the
Secretary, and any applicable permits, shall remain in force and effect.

Approved December 11, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 440:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-313 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
Oct. 4, considered and passed Senate.
Nov. 13, considered and passed House, amended.
Nov. 27, Senate concurred in House amendment.