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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§425b Leasing lands for memorial

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER LX— - NATIONAL MILITARY PARKS › § 425b

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior may lease parts of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania battlefields that he does not need to buy right away. Leases can include options to buy later if he decides buying is as economical as condemning the land. He may let owners or tenants stay or farm on nominal terms if they preserve existing defenses, structures, roads, and battlefield outlines, follow rules about cutting or moving soil, and help care for monuments. If the United States already owns the land, rent from such agreements must be used to maintain the park.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §425b

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to enter into leases with the owners of such of the lands, works, defenses, and buildings thereon within the said Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battle Fields Memorial, as in his discretion it is unnecessary to forthwith acquire title to, and such leases shall be on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, and may contain options to purchase, subject to later acceptance if in the judgment of the Secretary of the Interior it is as economical to purchase as condemn title to the property: Provided, That the Secretary of the Interior may enter into agreements upon such nominal terms as he may prescribe, permitting the present owners or their tenants to occupy or cultivate their present holdings, upon condition that they will preserve the present breastworks, earthworks, walls, defenses, shelters, buildings, and roads, and the present outlines of the battlefields, and that they will only cut trees or underbrush or disturb or remove the soil, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, and that they will assist in caring for and protecting all tablets, monuments, or such other artificial works as may from time to time be erected by proper authority: Provided further, That if such agreements to lease cover any lands the title to which shall have been acquired by the United States, the proceeds from such agreements shall be applied by the Secretary of the Interior toward the maintenance of the park.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Transfer of administrative functions of park, see note set out under section 425 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 425b

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73