An act 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
PL 115-279 (H.R.2615), enacted 11/20/2018

132 STAT. 4187 
PUBLIC LAW 115–279—NOV. 20, 2018 
Public Law 115–279 
115th Congress 
An Act 
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. 
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 ‘‘Gulf Islands National Seashore 
Land Exchange Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ means the 
parcel of approximately 1.542 acres of land that is located 
within the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Jackson County, 
Mississippi, and identified as ‘‘NPS Exchange Area’’ on the 
Map. 
(2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means 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. 
(3) NON-FEDERAL
LAND.—The term ‘‘non-Federal land’’ 
means the parcel of approximately 2.161 acres of land that 
is located in Jackson County, Mississippi, and identified as 
‘‘VFW Exchange Area’’ on the Map. 
(4) POST.—The term ‘‘Post’’ means the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars Post 5699. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
Park Service. 
SEC. 3. GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE LAND EXCHANGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may convey to the Post all 
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal 
land in exchange for the conveyance by the Post to the Secretary 
of all right, title, and interest of the Post in and to the non- 
Federal land. 
(b) EQUAL VALUE EXCHANGE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The values of the Federal land and non- 
Federal land to be exchanged under this section shall be equal, 
as determined by an appraisal conducted— 
(A) by a qualified and independent appraiser; and 
(B) in accordance with nationally recognized appraisal 
standards. 
Appraisal. 
Gulf Islands 
National 
Seashore Land 
Exchange Act. 
16 USC 459h–1 
note. 
Nov. 20, 2018 
[H.R. 2615] 
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132 STAT. 4188 
PUBLIC LAW 115–279—NOV. 20, 2018 
(2) EQUALIZATION.—If the values of the Federal land and 
non-Federal land to be exchanged under this section are not 
equal, the values shall be equalized through— 
(A) a cash payment; or 
(B) adjustments to the acreage of the Federal land 
or non-Federal land to be exchanged, as applicable. 
(c) PAYMENT OF COSTS OF CONVEYANCE.— 
(1) PAYMENT REQUIRED.—As a condition of the exchange 
authorized under this section, the Secretary shall require the 
Post to pay the costs to be incurred by the Secretary, or to 
reimburse the Secretary for the costs incurred by the Secretary, 
to carry out the exchange, including— 
(A) survey costs; 
(B) any costs relating to environmental documentation; 
and 
(C) any other administrative costs relating to the land 
exchange. 
(2) REFUND.—If the Secretary collects amounts from the 
Post under paragraph (1) before the Secretary incurs the actual 
costs and the amount collected by the Secretary exceeds the 
costs actually incurred by the Secretary to carry out the land 
exchange under this section, the Secretary shall provide to 
the Post a refund of the excess amount paid by the Post. 
(3) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN AMOUNTS RECEIVED.—Amounts 
received by the Secretary from the Post as reimbursement 
for costs incurred under paragraph (1) shall be— 
(A) credited to the fund or account from which amounts 
were used to pay the costs incurred by the Secretary in 
carrying out the land exchange; 
(B) merged with amounts in the fund or account to 
which the amounts were credited under subparagraph (A); 
and 
(C) available for the same purposes as, and subject 
to the same conditions and limitations applicable to, 
amounts in the fund or account to which the amounts 
were credited under subparagraph (A). 
(d) DESCRIPTION OF FEDERAL LAND AND NON-FEDERAL LAND.— 
The exact acreage and legal description of the Federal land and 
non-Federal land to be exchanged under this section shall be deter-
mined by surveys that are determined to be satisfactory by the 
Secretary and the Post. 
(e) CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT.—The exchange of Federal land 
and non-Federal land under this section shall be— 
(1) carried out through a quitclaim deed or other legal 
instrument; and 
(2) subject to such terms and conditions as are mutually 
satisfactory to the Secretary and the Post, including such addi-
tional terms and conditions as the Secretary considers to be 
appropriate to protect the interests of the United States. 
(f) VALID EXISTING RIGHTS.—The exchange of Federal land 
and non-Federal land authorized under this section shall be subject 
to valid existing rights. 
(g) TITLE APPROVAL.—Title to the Federal land and non-Federal 
land to be exchanged under this section shall be in a form acceptable 
to the Secretary. 
(h) TREATMENT
OF ACQUIRED LAND.—Any non-Federal land 
and interests in non-Federal land acquired by the United States 
Surveys. 
Determination. 
Reimbursement. 
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132 STAT. 4189 
PUBLIC LAW 115–279—NOV. 20, 2018 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2615: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–302 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 115–228 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 163 (2017): Nov. 28, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 164 (2018): Oct. 11, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Nov. 13, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
under this section shall be administered by the Secretary as part 
of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. 
(i) MODIFICATION
OF
BOUNDARY.—On completion of the 
exchange of Federal land and non-Federal land under this section, 
the Secretary shall modify the boundary of the Gulf Islands National 
Seashore to reflect the exchange of Federal land and non-Federal 
land. 
Approved November 20, 2018. 
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