Michigan Public Lands Improvement Act of 1988

Summary

Michigan Public Lands Improvement Act of 1988 - Grants to the State of Michigan the surface estate in certain public uplands and islands in Michigan waters which were not subject to any claim on January 1, 1988. Allows the Secretary of the Interior to sell certain other lands which were subject to a claim as of that date to the claimants following resolution of conflicting claims. Deems title to public lands which, on the date of enactment of this Act, was subject to leases and patents conveyed to the State of Michigan under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act to have vested in the State and to be exempt from Department of the Interior regulations governing conveyances under such Act. Authorizes the Secretary to sell and issue a patent to a tract of public land located in Michigan where the Secretary determines that: (1) such tract is difficult and uneconomic to manage as part of the public lands and is not suitable for management by another Federal department or agency; and (2) such sale would not be inconsistent with land use plans developed in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Allows the Secretary, following adjudication of any conflicting claims, to convey such land at fair market value, less equities presented by an applicant for such conveyance (such as the amount paid for the land, longevity of the applicant's claim, and taxes paid on the land) and less the value of any improvements. Provides for description of tracts of such land conveyed on the approved Federal plat of survey. Authorizes the Secretary to convey title to a trustee, where a tract does not conform to an existing survey plat, to conform the legal description to such plat, or require the applicant to reimburse the United States for the cost of preparing a plat of survey. Prohibits the sale of such lands unless the Secretary, at least 30 days prior to such sale, publishes notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the tract is located. Makes all lands conveyed by this Act subject to the reservation to the United States of all minerals in the lands and the rights to prospect for, mine, and remove the minerals, with exceptions. Prohibits the conveyance or transfer of such lands by the State of Michigan to any person or entity other than a political subdivision of the State. Authorizes the use of such lands only for purposes of public recreation or protection of fish, wildlife, plants, or other natural resources and values. Directs the Secretary to take steps to notify Michigan residents of the uplands and islands to be conveyed. Requires the State of Michigan to notify the Secretary with regard to any conveyance of such lands by such State to a political subdivision. Requires such State to submit to the Secretary a report within five years of enactment of this Act, and every five years thereafter, as to the present ownership, management, and use of such lands conveyed. Sets forth enforcement procedures.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

No timeline events have been ingested for this record yet.

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

4 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 29 October 1988

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 11 July 1988

  Open at official source

• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 7 July 1988

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 13 April 1988

  Open at official source

Sponsors

No sponsors or actors listed by the source.

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.