Public Law 115–175: To transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain Bureau of Land Management land from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for inclusion in the Black Hills National Cemetery, and for other purposes.

public-law-115-175Public Law 115-175Statute

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PUBLIC LAW 115–175—MAY 25, 2018
132 STAT. 1369
Public Law
115–175
115th Congress
An Act
To transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain Bureau of Land Management land from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for inclusion in the Black Hills National Cemetery, and for other purposes.

May 25, 2018

[S. 35]

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

Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act.
SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the “
Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act
”.
SEC. 2.

DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
(1)

Cemetery.—

The term “
Cemetery
” means the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota.
(2)

Federal land.—

The term “
Federal land
” means the approximately 200 acres of Bureau of Land Management land adjacent to the Cemetery, generally depicted as “Proposed National Cemetery Expansion” on the map entitled “Proposed Expansion of Black Hills National Cemetery-South Dakota” and dated June 16, 2016.
(3)

Secretary.—

The term “
Secretary
” means the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 3.

TRANSFER AND WITHDRAWAL OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND FOR CEMETERY USE.

(a)

Conduct of Due Diligence Activities by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.—

(1)

In general.—

Before the transfer of administrative jurisdiction and withdrawal of the Federal land under subsections (b) and (c), respectively, and subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete any appropriate environmental, cultural resource, and other due diligence activities on the Federal land that would enable the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to confirm that the Federal land is suitable for cemetery purposes.
(2)

Determinations.

Notice; required coordination.—

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—
(A)
before conducting any due diligence activities under paragraph (1), notify the Secretary of the activities to be conducted;
(B)
as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to be necessary in the conduct of the due diligence activities under paragraph (1), coordinate the activities with the Secretary; and132 STAT. 1370
(C)
if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines, on completion of the due diligence activities under paragraph (1), that the Federal land is suitable for cemetery purposes, submit written notice of the determination to the Secretary.
(b)

Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.—

(1)

Transfer.—

(A)

In general.—

On receipt by the Secretary of written notice of a determination that the Federal land is suitable for cemetery purposes under subsection (a)(2)(C), except as provided in subparagraph (B), and subject to valid existing rights, administrative jurisdiction over the Federal land is transferred from the Secretary to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for use as a national cemetery in accordance with chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code.
(B)

Exclusion.—

The transfer of administrative jurisdiction over the Federal land under subparagraph (A) shall not include the land located within 100 feet of the center of the Centennial Trail, as generally depicted on the map entitled “Proposed Expansion of Black Hills National Cemetery-South Dakota” and dated June 16, 2016.
(2)

Legal descriptions.—

(A)

Federal Register,

publication.

Notice.

In general.—

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice containing a legal description of the Federal land.
(B)

Effect.—

A legal description published under subparagraph (A) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct any clerical and typographical errors in the legal description.
(C)

Public information.

Availability.—

Copies of the legal description published under subparagraph (A) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of—
(i)
the Bureau of Land Management; and
(ii)
the National Cemetery Administration.
(D)

Reimbursement.

Costs.—

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall reimburse the Secretary for the costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this paragraph, including the costs of any surveys and other reasonable costs.
(c)

Withdrawal.—

On receipt by the Secretary of written notice of a determination that the Federal land is suitable for cemetery purposes under subsection (a)(2)(C) and subject to valid existing rights, the Federal land—
(1)
is withdrawn from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the geothermal leasing laws; and
(2)
shall be treated as property as defined under section 102(9) of title 40, United States Code.
(d)

Boundary Modification.—

The boundary of the Cemetery is modified to include the Federal land.132 STAT. 1371
(e)

Modification of Public Land Order.—

Public Land Order 2112, dated June 6, 1960 (25 Fed. Reg. 5243), is modified to exclude the Federal land.
Approved May 25, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 35:

HOUSE REPORTS: ┐No. 115–626, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: ┐No. 115–35 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:

Vol. 163 (2017):

Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate.

Vol. 164 (2018):

May 15, 16, considered and passed House.

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