Pub. L. 93-251, tit. I, sec. 3

Sec. 3. (a) The West Tennessee tributaries feature, Mississippi River and tributaries project (Obion and Forked Deer Rivers), Tennessee, authorized by the Flood Control Acts approved June 30, 1948, and November 7, 1966, as amended and modified, is hereby further amended to authorize the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to acquire thirty-two thousand acres of land for the mitigation of fish and wildlife resources, recreation, and environmental purposes. Such lands shall be made available for public use, consistent with good wildlife management practices. (b) Due to the urgency of completion of the West Tennessee tributaries feature and the necessity to preserve wildlife habitat, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, is hereby authorized to enter immediately into leasehold agreements, accept donations, acquire by direct purchase, and to institute eminent domain proceedings to insure the preservation of the necessary lands in their natural state and to further the objectives of this section. (c) Final details and designs of this mitigation feature shall consist of plans approved by the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Governor of the State of Tennessee after consultation with the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission prior to the conveyance by the Secretary of the Army to the State of Tennessee as provided in subsection (d). 88 Stat. 15 (d) The Secretary of the Army is authorized and directed to convey without monetary consideration, to the State of Tennessee all right, title, and interest of the United States in the lands and developments acquired under the authority of this section. Prior to such conveyance the State of Tennessee or its appropriate designee shall agree in writing in accordance with the provisions of section 221 of the Flood Control Act of 1970, to operate, maintain, and manage the agreed upon mitigation lands and developments at no expense to the United States. In addition, the deed of conveyance to the lands and developments shall provide that they shall continue to be used for wildlife purposes in accordance with the plans of subsection (b) and the title to such lands or developments, which have been provided at Federal expense under the authority of this subsection shall revert to the United States if they cease to be used for such purposes. (e) Not less than 20 per centum of the funds appropriated each fiscal year for the construction of the West Tennessee tributaries feature, Mississippi River and tributaries project, shall be expended to implement the mitigation program authorized by this section, until the entire amount of funds authorized by this section has been expended. (f) The stun of $6,600,000 is hereby authorized to be appropriated to carry out the purposes of this section, and such sum shall be in addition to funds previously authorized for the West Tennessee tributaries feature.