§ 2253. — Adjustment by Secretary of titles to lands acquired by Government and subject to his control.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC2253]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 55--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Sec. 2253. Adjustment by Secretary of titles to lands acquired
by Government and subject to his control
If the Secretary of Agriculture shall find after the acquisition by
the United States of any land or interest therein which is subject to
his administration, custody, or control, other than land acquired by
exchange of public domain land or resources, that the title thereto is
legally insufficient for the purposes for which such land or interest
was acquired and no consideration therefor has been paid by the United
States, or that title or color of title to such land or interest was
acquired through mistake, misunderstanding, error, or inadvertence, he
is authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of and in the name of the
United States to the person from whom the title was acquired or to the
person whom he finds entitled thereto a quitclaim deed to such land or
interest: Provided, however, That if the person to whom such deed is
made is the same person from whom the United States acquired title, or
his successor in interest, any consideration given by the United States
for such land or interest shall be restored or, in lieu thereof, the
value equivalent of such consideration as determined by the Secretary of
Agriculture shall be paid to the United States; and any consideration or
value equivalent so restored or paid shall, so far as is practicable, be
restored to the jurisdiction, or deposited to the credit, of the
department, agency, appropriation, or fund from which the consideration
was transferred or paid at the time of the acquisition of title by the
United States.
(July 8, 1943, ch. 197, 57 Stat. 388; Mar. 3, 1952, ch. 72, 66 Stat. 11;
Pub. L. 87-869, Sec. 2, Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1157.)
Codification
Section was formerly classified to section 567 of Title 5 prior to
the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization
and Employees, by Pub. L. 89-554, Sec. 1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.
Amendments
1962--Pub. L. 87-869 struck out ``within twenty years'' after
``shall find''.
1952--Act Mar. 3, 1952, increased period of limitation during which
Secretary may adjust land titles from ten to twenty years.
Transfer of Functions
Functions of all officers, agencies, and employees of Department of
Agriculture transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of
Agriculture by 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 2, Sec. 1, eff. June 4, 1953, 18
F.R. 3219, 67 Stat. 633, set out as a note under section 2201 of this
title.
