P.R. Laws tit. 3, § 17a
(a) The Governor of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized and directed, in behalf and in representation of The People of Puerto Rico, to convey to the Government of the United States of America, for national defense purposes, the marsh lands, mangrove swamps, dry lands, and adjacent bodies of water, owned by The People of Puerto Rico and located on the east and southeast coasts of Puerto Rico, bounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Ensenada Honda bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and which extend along the coast between the boundaries of the lands of the Insular Government of Puerto Rico, toward the east and west of the Daguao river and toward the north and west of the Fajardo river, including specifically the following parcels: Parcel No. 4, called “Manglar de Oriente”; Parcel No. 5, called “Manglar de Guayacán”; parcel No. 6, called “Pueblo de Puerto Rico”; parcel No. 7, called “Pueblo de Puerto Rico”; parcel no. 8, including the islets “Roloncito” and “La Garza”; parcel No. 11, called “Manglar de Medio Mundo”; parcel No. 12, called “Manglar de la Puerca”; a parcel situated to the north of a parcel of land owned by private persons, called “Particular Sucesión Veve”; and all rights, title and interest that The People of Puerto Rico may have in parcel No. 9, called “Islote Cabra de Tierra”; parcel No. 13, called “Manglar Fortuna”; parcel No. 14, called “Manglar de Santa Rita”, including the adjacent parcels, known as A, B, and C; and parcel No. 15A, called “Manglar de Santa María, subject to such rights of a third party as there may be on a portion there; parcel No. 15B, called “Manglar de Tolonesa”; parcel No. 16, called “Manglar de Mata Redonda”; Provided, That whenever said lands are no longer necessary for national defense, they shall automatically revert to the People of Puerto Rico.
(b) The Insular Government shall execute, free of charge, any documents that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, upon payment by the Government of the United States, for the houses or improvements located thereon and owned by persons other than The People of Puerto Rico.
History —Apr. 26, 1941, No. 54, §§ 1, 2.