I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2615 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2017 Mr. Palazzo introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Gulf Islands National Seashore Land Exchange Act of 2017 . 2. Land exchange, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jackson County, Mississippi (a) Land exchange authorized The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) may convey to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5699 (in this section referred to as the Post ) all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real property, consisting of approximately 1.542 acres, located within the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Jackson County, Mississippi, and identified as NPS Exchange Area on 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. (b) Land To be acquired In exchange for the property described in subsection (a), the Post shall convey to the Secretary all right, title, and interest of the Post in and to a parcel of real property, consisting of approximately 2.161 acres, located in Jackson County, Mississippi, and identified as VFW Exchange Area on the map described in subsection (a). (c) Equal value exchange (1) In general The values of the parcels of real property to be exchanged under this section shall be determined by an appraisal conducted— (A) by a qualified and independent appraiser; and (B) in accordance with nationally recognized appraisal standards. (2) Equalization If the values of the parcels of real property to be exchanged under this section, as determined pursuant to paragraph (1), are not equal, the values shall be equalized through— (A) a cash payment; or (B) adjustments to the acreage of the parcels of real property to be exchanged. (d) Payment of costs of conveyance (1) Payment required The Secretary shall require the Post to cover costs to be incurred by the Secretary, or to reimburse the Secretary for such costs incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the land exchange under this section, including survey costs, costs related to environmental documentation, and any other administrative costs related to the land exchange. If amounts are collected from the Secretary in advance of the Secretary incurring the actual costs and the amount collected exceeds the costs actually incurred by the Secretary to carry out the land exchange, the Secretary shall refund the excess amount to the Post. (2) Treatment of amounts received Amounts received as reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall be credited to the fund or account that was used to cover those costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out the land exchange. Amounts so credited shall be merged with amounts in such fund or account and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject to the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in such fund or account. (e) Description of property The exact acreage and legal description of property to be exchanged under this section shall be determined by surveys satisfactory to the Secretary and the Post. (f) Conveyance agreement The exchange of real property under this section shall be accomplished using a quit claim deed or other legal instrument and upon terms and conditions mutually satisfactory to the Secretary and the Post, including such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States. (g) Valid existing rights The exchange authorized under this section shall be subject to valid existing rights. (h) Title approval Title to the real property described in subsection (a) and the real property described in subsection (b) to be exchanged under this section shall be in a form acceptable to the Secretary. (i) Treatment of acquired land Land and interests in land acquired by the United States under subsection (b) shall be administered by the Secretary as part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. (j) Modification of boundary Upon completion of the land exchange under this section, the Secretary shall modify the boundary of the Gulf Islands National Seashore to reflect such land exchange.