A bill to authorize and direct the Secrtary of Interior to convey certain lands in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.
PL 102-562 (S.1439), enacted 10/28/1992

106 STAT. 4234 
PUBLIC LAW 102-562—OCT. 28, 1992 
Public Law 102-562 
102d Congress 
An Act 
Oct. 28, 1992 
To authorize and direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain lands in 
[S. 1439] 
Livingston Parish, Louisiana, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I—LAND CONVEYANCE 
SEC. 101. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds and declares that— 
(1) there is a history of adverse claims and title confusion 
relating to certain lands in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, aris-
ing from private land claims predating the Louisiana Purchase; 
(2) numerous parties have in good faith placed valuable 
improvements upon such lands in the belief that they owned 
such lands; and 
(3) the public interest will be best served by clarifying 
the uncertainty of title by conveying the interest of the United 
States in such lands to those affected parties. 
SEC. 102. CONVEYANCE OF LANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
and subject to the reservation in subsection (b), the United States 
hereby grants all right, title, and interest of the United States 
in and to certain lands in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, as described 
in section 103, to those parties who, as of the date of enactment 
of this Act, would be recognized as holders of a right, title, or 
interest to any portion of such lands under the laws of the State 
of Louisiana, but for the interest of the United States in such 
lands. 
(b) RESERVATION OF MINERAL RIGHTS.—The United States 
hereby excepts and reserves from the provisions of subsection (a) 
of this section, all minerals underljdng such lands, along with 
the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the minerals under 
applicable law and such regulations as the Secretary of the Interior 
may prescribe. 
SEC. 103. DESCRIPTION OF LANDS TO BE CONVEYED. 
The lands to be conveyed pursuant to this title are those 
lands located in section 37, township 5 south, range 4 east, St. 
Helena Meridian, in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. 
PUBLIC LAW 102-562—OCT. 28, 1992 
106 STAT. 4235 
TITLE II—PORT CHICAGO NATIONAL 
MEMORIAL 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be referred to as the "Port Chicago National 
Memorial Act of 1992". 
SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
The Congress hereby finds that— 
(1) the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, located in Contra 
Costa County, California, served as the major West Coast muni-
tions supply facility during World War II, during which time 
the facility played a critical role in the success of the war 
effort; 
(2) on July 17, 1944, an explosion at Port Chicago, the 
origin of which has never been determined, resulted in the 
deaths of 320 officers and sailors, the largest domestic loss 
of life during World War II, and the injury of many others; 
and 
(3) it is fitting and appropriate that the site of the Port 
Chicago Naval Magazine, which is currently included in the 
Concord Naval Weapons Station, be designated as a National 
Memorial to commemorate the role of the facility during World 
War II, to recognize those who served at the facility, and 
to honor the memory of those who gave their lives and were 
injured in the explosion on July 17,1944. 
SEC. 203. PORT CfflCAGO NATIONAL MEMORIAL. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—In order to recognize the critical role Port 
Chicago, located at the Concord Naval Weapons Station in Contra 
Costa County, Cgdifomia, played in the Second World War by serv-
ing as the main facility for the Pacific Theater and the historic 
importance of the explosion which occurred at the Port Chicago 
Naval Magazine on July 17, 1944, such Naval Magazine is hereby 
designated as a National Memorial, to be known as the Port Chicago 
Naval Magazine National Memorial. The Secretary of the Interior 
shall take appropriate action to assure that the Memorial is 
announced in the Federal Register and that official records and 
lists are amended, in due course, to reflect the inclusion of this 
memorial along with other national memorials established by an 
Act of Congress. 
(b) MARKER.—^The Secretary of the Interior, with the concur-
rence of the Secretary of Defense, is authorized and directed to 
place at the site the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memo-
rial, as designated under subsection (a), £in appropriate plaque 
or marker commemorating the critical role Port Chicago played 
in the Second World War and the historic importance of the explo-
sion which occurred at that location on July 17, 1944. The plaque 
or marker shall include a listing of the names of those who lost 
their lives during the explosion. 
(c) PUBLIC ACCESS.—^The Secretary of the Interior shall enter 
into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Navy to 
provide for public access to the Memorial. 
Port Chicago 
National 
Memorial Act of 
1992. 
California. 
16 u s e 431 note. 
Federal 
Register, 
publication. 
Records. 
Contracts. 
106 STAT. 4236 
PUBLIC LAW 102-562—OCT. 28, 1992 
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary to carry out this title. 
Approved October 28, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1439: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-948 (Ckimm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 102-284 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
June 12, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 29, considered and p£issed House, amended. 
Oct. 8, Senate concurred in House amendments.