The Chief of Engineers, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Army, is authorized to construct, maintain, and operate public park and recreational facilities at water resource development projects under the control of the Department of the Army, to permit the construction of such facilities by local interests (particularly those to be operated and maintained by such interests), and to permit the maintenance and operation of such facilities by local interests. The Secretary of the Army is also authorized to grant leases of lands, including structures or facilities thereon, at water resource development projects for such periods, and upon such terms and for such purposes as he may deem reasonable in the public interest: Provided, That leases to nonprofit organizations for park or recreational purposes may be granted at reduced or nominal considerations in recognition of the public service to be rendered in utilizing the leased premises: Provided further, That preference shall be given to federally recognized Indian tribes and Federal, State, or local governmental agencies, and licenses or leases where appropriate, may be granted without monetary considerations, to such Indian tribes or agencies for the use of all or any portion of a project area for any public purpose, when the Secretary of the Army determines such action to be in the public interest, and for such periods of time and upon such conditions as he may find advisable: And provided further, That in any such lease or license to a federally recognized Indian tribe 1 Federal, State, or local governmental agency which involves lands to be utilized for the development and conservation of fish and wildlife, forests, and other natural resources, the licensee or lessee may be authorized to cut timber and harvest crops as may be necessary to further such beneficial uses and to collect and utilize the proceeds of any sales of timber and crops in the development, conservation, maintenance, and utilization of such lands. Any balance of proceeds not so utilized shall be paid to the United States at such time or times as the Secretary of the Army may determine appropriate. The water areas of all such projects shall be open to public use generally for boating, swimming, bathing, fishing, and other recreational purposes, and ready access to and exit from such areas along the shores of such projects shall be maintained for general public use, when such use is determined by the Secretary of the Army not to be contrary to the public interest, all under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Army may deem necessary, including but not limited to prohibitions of dumping and unauthorized disposal in any manner of refuse, garbage, rubbish, trash, debris, or litter of any kind at such water resource development projects, either into the waters of such projects or onto any land federally owned and administered by the Chief of Engineers. Any violation of such rules and regulations shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Any persons charged with the violation of such rules and regulations may be tried and sentenced in accordance with the provisions of section 3401 of title 18. All persons designated by the Chief of Engineers for that purpose shall have the authority to issue a citation for violation of the regulations adopted by the Secretary of the Army, requiring the appearance of any person charged with violation to appear before the United States magistrate judge, within whose jurisdiction the water resource development project is located, for trial; and upon sworn information of any competent person any United States magistrate judge in the proper jurisdiction shall issue process for the arrest of any person charged with the violation of said regulations; but nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing the arrest by any officer of the United States, without process, of any person taken in the act of violating said regulations. No use of any area to which this section applies shall be permitted which is inconsistent with the laws for the protection of fish and game of the State in which such area is situated. All moneys received by the United States for leases or privileges shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
(Dec. 22, 1944, ch. 665, §4,
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1954-Act Sept. 3, 1954, amended section generally, and, among other changes, inserted "for park or recreational purposes" in first proviso, inserted "or leases where appropriate" in second proviso, and inserted third proviso permitting lessees and licensees to cut timber and harvest crop in certain cases and containing provisions with respect to the collection, utilization, and disposition of the proceeds from the sale of timber and crops.
1946-Act July 24, 1946, inserted first proviso dealing with leases to nonprofit organizations.
"United States magistrate judge" substituted for "United States magistrate" wherever appearing in text pursuant to section 321 of
Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II,
"(1)
"(2)
"(a) On and after December 31, 1989, the Secretary shall continue in effect any lease or assignment thereof to which this section applies, until such time as such lease is terminated by the leaseholder, any successors or assigns of the leaseholder, or by the Secretary under subsection (b) of this section. Any such continuation beyond the date of expiration of such lease as in effect on December 31, 1989, shall be at fair market rentals and on such other reasonable terms and conditions not inconsistent with this section as the Secretary deems necessary. No continuation shall be made beyond such date unless the leaseholder agrees (1) to hold the United States harmless from any claim for damages or injury to persons or property arising from occupancy of or through the use of the property subject to such lease, and (2) to not unreasonably expand existing improvements.
"(b)(1) On and after December 31, 1989, the Secretary and any other officer or employee of the United States shall not terminate a lease to which this section applies, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
"(2) On and after December 31, 1989, the Secretary may terminate a lease to which this section applies only if-
"(A) the property covered by the lease is needed for immediate use for public park purposes or other higher public use or for a navigation or flood control project; or
"(B) the leaseholder substantially violates a provision of such lease.
"(c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section apply to (1) any cottage site lease of property, which lease was entered into by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to section 4 of the Act entitled 'An Act authorizing the construction of certain public works on rivers and harbors for flood control, and for other purposes', approved December 22, 1944 (
Similar provisions were contained in
For transfer of certain functions relating to real property under jurisdiction of Air Force, and certain functions relating to construction of buildings and facilities insofar as they may pertain to Department of the Air Force, from Secretary of the Army to Secretary of the Air Force, see Secretary of Defense Transfer Order Nos. 14, eff. July 1, 1948; 18, eff. July 7, 1948; and 40 [App. B(66)], July 22, 1949.
Provisions of this section as not amended, modified or repealed by the Submerged Lands Act, see section 1303 of Title 43, Public Lands.