H.R. 894 — Introduced in House

I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 894 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 30, 2019Mr. Johnson of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide for clear title to certain land in Louisiana, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lake Bistineau Land Title Stability Act. 2. Lake Bistineau land title stability (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Claimant The term claimant means any individual, group, or corporation authorized to hold title to land or mineral interests in land in the State of Louisiana with a valid claim to the omitted land, including any mineral interests. (2) Map The term Map means the map entitled Lands as Delineated by Original Survey December 18, 1842 showing the 1969 Meander Line at the 148.6 Elevation Line and dated January 30, 2018. (3) Omitted land (A) In general The term omitted land means the land in lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of sec. 30, T. 16 N., R. 10 W., Louisiana Meridian, comprising a total of approximately 229.72 acres, as depicted on the Map, that— (i) was in place during the Original Survey; but (ii) was not included in the Original Survey. (B) Inclusion The term omitted land includes— (i) Peggy's Island in lot 1 of sec. 17, T. 16 N., R. 10 W., Louisiana Meridian; and (ii) Hog Island in lot 1 of sec. 29, T. 16 N., R. 10 W., Louisiana Meridian. (4) Original survey The term Original Survey means the survey of land surrounding Lake Bistineau, Louisiana, conducted by the General Land Office in 1838 and approved by the Surveyor General on December 8, 1842. (b) Conveyances (1) In general Consistent with the first section of the Act of December 22, 1928 (commonly known as the “Color of Title Act”) (45 Stat. 1069, chapter 47; 43 U.S.C. 1068), except as provided by this section, the Secretary shall convey to the claimant the omitted land, including any mineral interests, that has been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse possession by a claimant or an ancestor or grantor of the claimant, under claim or color of title, based on the Original Survey. (2) Confirmation of title The conveyance or patent of omitted land to a claimant under paragraph (1) shall have the effect of confirming title to the surface and minerals in the claimant and shall not serve as any admission by a claimant. (c) Payment of costs (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the conveyance required under subsection (b) shall be without consideration. (2) Exception Before the conveyance of the omitted land under subsection (b), from any funds appropriated to the State of Louisiana by the Louisiana Legislature, the State of Louisiana shall pay to the Secretary any costs incurred by the Secretary relating to any survey, platting, legal description, or associated activities required to prepare and issue a patent under that subsection. (d) Map and legal description As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file, and make available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land and Management, the Map and legal descriptions of the omitted land to be conveyed under subsection (b).