Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§47e Purchase of private lands for park authorized

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - SEQUOIA AND YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARKS › § 47e

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior may buy certain privately owned lands in California for the United States. If the lands cannot be bought at prices the Secretary thinks are reasonable, they may be taken by condemnation under section 3113 of title 40. The purchases or condemnations must use any federal funds available for that purpose as of July 9, 1937, but not money from the general fund of the Treasury. The law lists the exact parcels by section, lot, township, range, and the Mount Diablo meridian. Once the United States holds title to those parcels, they must be added to Yosemite National Park and follow the same laws and rules as the rest of the park. Nothing here changes any valid existing rights.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §47e

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire, by purchase when purchaseable 11 So in original. at prices deemed by him reasonable—otherwise by condemnation under the provisions of section 3113 of title 40, on behalf of the United States under any fund or moneys available for such purpose, on July 9, 1937, except from the general fund of the Treasury, any of the following-described lands in the State of California now in private ownership, to wit: section 25, lots 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9, section 34, northeast quarter, southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, lots 1 to 10, inclusive, section 35, section 36, township 1 south, range 19 east; southeast quarter northwest quarter, east half southwest quarter, southeast quarter, lots 2, 3, and 4, section 30, section 31, township 1 south, range 20 east; section 1, 2, and 3, east half section 10, section 11 and 12, north half section 14, northeast quarter section 15, township 2 south, range 19 east; southeast quarter northwest quarter, east half southwest quarter, lots 3 to 7, inclusive, section 6, township 2 south, range 20 east, Mount Diablo meridian. When title to the aforesaid privately owned lands has been vested in the United States, all of the lands described in this section shall be added to and become a part of the Yosemite National Park and shall be subject to all laws and regulations applicable thereto: Provided, That nothing in this section or section 47f of this title shall be construed to affect any valid existing rights.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification “Section 3113 of title 40” substituted in text for “the Act of August 1, 1888” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, the first section of which enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 47e

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73