Everglades Land Acquisition Act of 2016

Everglades Land Acquisition Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to carry out, south of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, land acquisition projects for flood damage reduction and water storage, treatment, and conveyance purposes.

The bill prohibits Interior from paying more than the land's fair market value.

Upon the acquisition of such land, Interior, in consultation with the Army Corps of Engineers, shall provide for:

• the restoration of the acquired land for flood damage reduction and water storage, treatment, and conveyance purposes; and
• the utilization of the land in conjunction with projects that implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

Interior may transfer or sell the land acquired under this Act to the Army Corps of Engineers, the state of Florida, a political subdivision of the state, or a nonprofit conservation organization.

[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4793 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4793

  To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land south of 
Lake Okeechobee, Florida, for the purpose of flood damage reduction and 
   water storage, treatment, and conveyance purposes, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2016

    Mr. Clawson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 
Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land south of 
Lake Okeechobee, Florida, for the purpose of flood damage reduction and 
   water storage, treatment, and conveyance purposes, 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 ``Everglades Land Acquisition Act of 
2016''.

SEC. 2. LAND ACQUISITION, SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA.

    (a) Land Acquisition Authorized.--The Secretary of the Interior 
shall carry out land acquisition projects south of Lake Okeechobee, 
Florida, for flood damage reduction and water storage, treatment, and 
conveyance purposes. Not later than December 31, 2016, the Secretary 
shall identify all of the land proposed to be acquired under the 
authority of this subsection.
    (b) Consideration.--As consideration for the acquisition of land 
under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior may not pay more 
than the fair market value of the land. The Secretary may accept 
donations of land under such subsection.
    (c) Restoration and Use.--Upon acquisition of land under subsection 
(a), the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Chief of 
Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers, shall provide for--
            (1) restoration of the acquired land for flood damage 
        reduction and water storage, treatment, and conveyance 
        purposes; and
            (2) utilization of the acquired land in conjunction with 
        projects implementing the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration 
        Plan.
    (d) Land Transfer Authority.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior may transfer 
        or sell the land acquired under subsection (a) to the Army 
        Corps of Engineers, the State of the Florida, a political 
        subdivision of the State, or a nonprofit conservation 
        organization.
            (2) Operation and maintenance.--If the Secretary transfers 
        or sells the land under this section, the Secretary of the 
        Interior and the entity that receives or purchases the land 
        shall execute a written agreement relating to the operation and 
        maintenance of the land and any improvements to the land.
    (e) Supplemental Appropriations.--For an additional amount for 
fiscal year 2016, to remain available until December 31, 2019, there is 
hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, $500,000,000 to the Secretary of the Interior for the 
purpose of purchasing and restoring land south of Lake Okeechobee, 
Florida, for flood damage reduction and water storage, treatment, and 
conveyance purposes: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) 
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
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