43 U.S.C. § 1766 — Suspension or termination; grounds; pro-

Page 578 TITLE 43—PUBLIC LANDS § 1765 1 So in original. which is classified generally to chapter 31 (§ 901 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 901 of Title 7 and Ta- bles. AMENDMENTS 1996—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104–333 substituted ‘‘eligible for financing pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, determined without regard to any application requirement under that Act,’’ for ‘‘financed pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended,’’. 1986—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–545, § 2(1), inserted before the period at end ‘‘or for emergency repair work nec- essary for those rights-of-way authorized under section 1761(c) of this title’’. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–545, § 2(2), substituted ‘‘The holder of a right-of-way shall pay in advance the fair market value thereof, as determined by the Secretary granting, issuing, or renewing such right-of-way. The Secretary concerned may require either annual pay- ment or a payment covering more than one year at a time except that private individuals may make at their option either annual payments or payments covering more than one year if the annual fee is greater than one hundred dollars. The Secretary concerned may waive rentals where a right-of-way is granted, issued or renewed in consideration of a right-of-way conveyed to the United States in connection with a cooperative cost share program between the United States and the hold- er.’’ for ‘‘The holder of a right-of-way shall pay annu- ally in advance the fair market value thereof as deter- mined by the Secretary granting, issuing, or renewing such right-of-way: Provided, That when the annual rental is less than $100, the Secretary concerned may require advance payment for more than one year at a time: Provided further, That the Secretary concerned may waive rentals where a right-of-way is granted, issued, or renewed in reciprocation for a right-of-way conveyed to the United States in connection with a co- operative cost share program between the United States and the holder.’’ 1984—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 98–300 inserted at end ‘‘Rights-of-way shall be granted, issued, or renewed, without rental fees, for electric or telephone facilities financed pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, or any extensions from such facili- ties: Provided, That nothing in this sentence shall be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary granting, issuing, or renewing the right-of-way to re- quire reimbursement of reasonable administrative and other costs pursuant to the second sentence of this sub- section.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1996 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title X, § 1032(b), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4239, provided that: ‘‘The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to rights-of-way leases held on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 12, 1996].’’ Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS See note set out under section 1763 of this title. § 1765. Terms and conditions Each right-of-way shall contain— (a) terms and conditions which will (i) carry out the purposes of this Act and rules and reg- ulations issued thereunder; (ii) minimize dam- age to scenic and esthetic values and fish and wildlife habitat and otherwise protect the en- vironment; (iii) require compliance with appli- cable air and water quality standards estab- lished by or pursuant to applicable Federal or State law; and (iv) require compliance with State standards for public health and safety, environmental protection, and siting, con- struction, operation, and maintenance of or for rights-of-way for similar purposes if those standards are more stringent than applicable Federal standards; and (b) such terms and conditions as the Sec- retary concerned deems necessary to (i) pro- tect Federal property and economic interests; (ii) manage efficiently the lands which are subject to the right-of-way or adjacent thereto and protect the other lawful users of the lands adjacent to or traversed by such right-of-way; (iii) protect lives and property; (iv) protect the interests of individuals living in the general area traversed by the right-of-way who rely on the fish, wildlife, and other biotic resources of the area for subsistence purposes; (v) require location of the right-of-way along a route that will cause least damage to the environment, taking into consideration feasibility and other relevant factors; and (vi) otherwise protect the public interest in the lands traversed by the right-of-way or adjacent thereto. (Pub. L. 94–579, title V, § 505, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2780.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This Act, referred to in par. (a), is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, known as the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. For complete classifica- tion of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS See note set out under section 1763 of this title. § 1766. Suspension or termination; grounds; pro- cedures applicable Abandonment of a right-of-way or noncompli- ance with any provision of this subchapter con- dition of the right-of-way, or applicable rule or regulation of the Secretary concerned may be grounds for suspension or termination of the right-of-way if, after due notice to the holder of the right-of-way and, and 1 with respect to ease- ments, an appropriate administrative pro- ceeding pursuant to section 554 of title 5, the Secretary concerned determines that any such ground exists and that suspension or termi- nation is justified. No administrative proceeding shall be required where the right-of-way by its terms provides that it terminates on the occur- rence of a fixed or agreed-upon condition, event, or time. If the Secretary concerned determines that an immediate temporary suspension of ac- tivities within a right-of-way for violation of its terms and conditions is necessary to protect public health or safety or the environment, he may abate such activities prior to an adminis- trative proceeding. Prior to commencing any proceeding to suspend or terminate a right-of- way the Secretary concerned shall give written notice to the holder of the grounds for such ac- Page 579 TITLE 43—PUBLIC LANDS § 1770 tion and shall give the holder a reasonable time to resume use of the right-of-way or to comply with this subchapter condition, rule, or regula- tion as the case may be. Failure of the holder of the right-of-way to use the right-of-way for the purpose for which it was granted, issued, or re- newed, for any continuous five-year period, shall constitute a rebuttable presumption of abandon- ment of the right-of-way except that where the failure of the holder to use the right-of-way for the purpose for which it was granted, issued, or renewed for any continuous five-year period is due to circumstances not within the holder’s control, the Secretary concerned is not required to commence proceedings to suspend or termi- nate the right-of-way. (Pub. L. 94–579, title V, § 506, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2780.) Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS See note set out under section 1763 of this title. § 1767. Rights-of-way for Federal departments and agencies (a) The Secretary concerned may provide under applicable provisions of this subchapter for the use of any department or agency of the United States a right-of-way over, upon, under or through the land administered by him, sub- ject to such terms and conditions as he may im- pose. (b) Where a right-of-way has been reserved for the use of any department or agency of the United States, the Secretary shall take no ac- tion to terminate, or otherwise limit, that use without the consent of the head of such depart- ment or agency. (Pub. L. 94–579, title V, § 507, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2781.) Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS See note set out under section 1763 of this title. § 1768. Conveyance of lands covered by right-of- way; terms and conditions If under applicable law the Secretary con- cerned decides to transfer out of Federal owner- ship any lands covered in whole or in part by a right-of-way, including a right-of-way granted under the Act of November 16, 1973 (87 Stat. 576; 30 U.S.C. 185), the lands may be conveyed subject to the right-of-way; however, if the Secretary concerned determines that retention of Federal control over the right-of-way is necessary to as- sure that the purposes of this subchapter will be carried out, the terms and conditions of the right-of-way complied with, or the lands pro- tected, he shall (a) reserve to the United States that portion of the lands which lies within the boundaries of the right-of-way, or (b) convey the lands, including that portion within the bound- aries of the right-of-way, subject to the right-of- way and reserving to the United States the right to enforce all or any of the terms and conditions of the right-of-way, including the right to renew it or extend it upon its termination and to col- lect rents. (Pub. L. 94–579, title V, § 508, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2781.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Act of November 16, 1973, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 93–153, Nov. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 576. For complete classi- fication of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS See note set out under section 1763 of this title. § 1769. Existing right-of-way or right-of-use unaf- fected; exceptions; rights-of-way for railroad and appurtenant communication facilities; applicability of existing terms and conditions (a) Nothing in this subchapter shall have the effect of terminating any right-of-way or right- of-use heretofore issued, granted, or permitted. However, with the consent of the holder thereof, the Secretary concerned may cancel such a right-of-way or right-of-use and in its stead issue a right-of-way pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter. (b) When the Secretary concerned issues a right-of-way under this subchapter for a railroad and appurtenant communication facilities in connection with a realinement of a railroad on lands under his jurisdiction by virtue of a right- of-way granted by the United States, he may, when he considers it to be in the public interest and the lands involved are not within an incor- porated community and are of approximately equal value, notwithstanding the provisions of this subchapter, provide in the new right-of-way the same terms and conditions as applied to the portion of the existing right-of-way relinquished to the United States with respect to the pay- ment of annual rental, duration of the right-of- way, and the nature of the interest in lands granted. The Secretary concerned or his dele- gate shall take final action upon all applications for the grant, issue, or renewal of rights-of-way under subsection (b) of this section no later than six months after receipt from the applicant of all information required from the applicant by this subchapter. (Pub. L. 94–579, title V, § 509, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2781.) Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS See note set out under section 1763 of this title. § 1770. Applicability of provisions to other Fed- eral laws (a) Right-of-way Effective on and after October 21, 1976, no right-of-way for the purposes listed in this sub- chapter shall be granted, issued, or renewed over, upon, under, or through such lands except under and subject to the provisions, limitations, and conditions of this subchapter: Provided, That nothing in this subchapter shall be con- strued as affecting or modifying the provisions of sections 532 to 538 of title 16 and in the event