156
PUBLIC LAW 378-MAY 28, 1954
[68 S T A T
(a) The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized, in his discretion and when the public interest will be benefited thereby— (1) to exchange public lands in the State of Wyoming, within or without the boundaries of the project, for non-Federal lands of approximately equal value within the exterior boundaries of the project which are adaptable for use in the construction, operation, or maintenance of project irrigation facilities; (2) upon concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, to transfer to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture public lands within the exterior boundaries of the project which are suitable for development and settlement; and (3) for the purpose of consolidating Federal holdings of lands in the project, upon concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, to exchange public lands in the State of Wyoming, within or without the boundaries of the project, for non-Federal lands of approximately equal value within the exterior boundaries of the project which are suitable for development and, upon consummation of such exchange, the lands received in exchange shall thereupon become a part of the project and subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized and directed— (1) when in his judgment the public interests will be benefited thereby, to exchange lands under his jurisdiction within the exterior boundaries of the project for non-Federal lands of approximately equal value within the boundaries of the project which he finds are suitable for project development and settlement; and (2) upon concurrence of the Secretary of the Interior, to transfer to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior lands or interests in lands which are adaptable for use in the construction, operation, or maintenance of project irrigation facilities, or are unsuited for incorporation into farm units and are surplus to the needs of the project. (c)(1) The lands transferred to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture under the provisions of section (a)(2) and received in exchange under the provisions of sections (a)(3) and (b)(1) shall be developed, settled, disposed of and otherwise administered in the same manner as acquired project lands; and (2) the lands transferred to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior under the provisions of section (b)(2) shall be administered under the public land laws, excepting lands transferred for use in the construction, operation, or maintenance of project irrigation facilities which, together with the lands received in exchange under the provisions of section (a)(1), shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior in all respects the same as other project lands under his jurisdiction. Approved May 28, 1954. Public Law 378 May 28. 1954 [H. R. 2696]
CHAPTER 246
^ ^^T To provide a method of paying certain unsettled claims for damages sustained as a result of the explosions at Port Chicago, California, on July 17, 1944, in the amounts found to be due by the Secretary of the Navy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Port Chi cago, United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose Settlement of of effecting the Settlement of those claims against the United States claims. resulting from the explosions which occurred at the naval ammunition depot at Port Chicago, California, on July 17, 1944, which have not
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