Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§403g–1 Exchange of lands

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XLVI— - SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK AND GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK › § 403g–1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior may accept private land or land rights (and buildings) that are inside or next to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and trade park land or rights (and buildings) to the owners in return. Trades can be done with no extra money if the properties are about equal in value. If they are not equal, the Secretary or the owner must pay the difference, and the Secretary may use National Park land‑acquisition funds. No more than 200 acres of park land may be given away. Land the United States gets this way becomes part of the park. Land the United States gives away is removed from the park and no longer controlled by park rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §403g–1

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept from grantors title to non-Federal land and interests in land, together with improvements thereon, situated within or adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and in exchange therefor, to convey by deed on behalf of the United States to the aforesaid grantors, land or interests therein, together with improvements thereon, situated within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Provided, That such exchanges may be made without additional compensation by either party to the exchange when the properties to be exchanged are of approximately equal value; however, when the properties are not of approximately equal value, as may be determined by the Secretary, an additional payment of funds shall be required by the Secretary or by the grantor of non-Federal properties, as the case may be, in order to make an equal exchange, and the Secretary is authorized to use any land acquisition funds relating to the National Park System for such purposes: Provided further, That not more than two hundred acres of park land shall be conveyed pursuant to the aforesaid exchange authority. All properties acquired by the United States pursuant to this section shall become a part of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park upon acquisition thereof. Properties conveyed by the United States pursuant to this section shall thereafter be excluded from the park and any Federal regulation or control thereof for park purposes.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 403g–1

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73