16 U.S.C. § 423l–4 — Land acquisition

submitted 26 years ago by Pub. L. 106-511 to r/title-16-CONSERVATION · 258 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

The Secretary of the Interior can buy or accept land for Richmond National Battlefield Park, but only from willing landowners. The Secretary must take the minimum interest needed, and can use conservation easements instead of buying land outright. The Secretary may also acquire the Tredegar Iron Works site for a visitor center.

(a) Acquisition authority: The Secretary of the Interior can acquire land, water, and interests in land within the battlefield park's boundaries — but only from willing landowners, through donation, purchase (using donated or appropriated funds), or exchange. The Secretary must acquire only the minimum interest needed to achieve the park's purposes. Privately owned land can be acquired only with the owner's consent. (b) Easements: Outside the park's boundaries, near Richmond, the Secretary can acquire an easement from a willing owner if it's necessary to protect core Civil War resources identified by the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee. Once such an easement is acquired, the Secretary must revise the park's boundaries to include that property. Inside the park's boundaries, if a willing landowner prefers it, the Secretary should use a permanent conservation easement rather than buying the land outright — so it stays in non-federal ownership. (c) Visitor center: The Secretary can acquire the Tredegar Iron Works buildings and their surrounding land in Richmond, to use as the park's visitor center.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a) Acquisition authority

(1) In general

The Secretary may acquire lands, waters, and interests in lands within the boundaries of the battlefield park from willing landowners by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. In acquiring lands and interests in lands under sections 423l–1 to 423l–6 of this title, the Secretary shall acquire the minimum interest necessary to achieve the purposes for which the battlefield is established.

(2) Special rule for private lands

Privately owned lands or interests in lands may be acquired under sections 423l–1 to 423l–6 of this title only with the consent of the owner.

(b) Easements

(1) Outside boundaries

The Secretary may acquire an easement on property outside the boundaries of the battlefield park and around the City of Richmond, with the consent of the owner, if the Secretary determines that the easement is necessary to protect core Civil War resources as identified by the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee. Upon acquisition of the easement, the Secretary shall revise the boundaries of the battlefield park to include the property subject to the easement.

(2) Inside boundaries

To the extent practicable, and if preferred by a willing landowner, the Secretary shall use permanent conservation easements to acquire interests in land in lieu of acquiring land in fee simple and thereby removing land from non-Federal ownership.

The Secretary may acquire the Tredegar Iron Works buildings and associated land in the City of Richmond for use as a visitor center for the battlefield park.

Source credit: (Pub. L. 106–511, title V, § 504, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2374.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

2000Enacted · Pub. L. 106-511 · 114 Stat. 2374

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 106-511 on 2000-11-13.

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