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
PL 115-175 (S.35), enacted 05/25/2018

132 STAT. 1369 
PUBLIC LAW 115–175—MAY 25, 2018 
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. 
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 ‘‘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 MANAGE-
MENT 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 sub-
sections (b) and (c), respectively, and subject to paragraph 
(2), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete any appro-
priate 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) 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; and 
Determinations. 
Black Hills 
National 
Cemetery 
Boundary 
Expansion Act. 
May 25, 2018 
[S. 35] 
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132 STAT. 1370 
PUBLIC LAW 115–175—MAY 25, 2018 
(C) if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines, 
on completion of the due diligence activities under para-
graph (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 writ-
ten 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 Sec-
retary 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 juris-
diction 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 Ceme-
tery-South Dakota’’ and dated June 16, 2016. 
(2) LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.— 
(A) 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) AVAILABILITY.—Copies of the legal description pub-
lished 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) COSTS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
reimburse the Secretary for the costs incurred by the Sec-
retary 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. 
Reimbursement. 
Public 
information. 
Federal Register, 
publication. 
Notice. 
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132 STAT. 1371 
PUBLIC LAW 115–175—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. 
(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. 
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