Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102
§157 Acquisition of Lands
Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER XVII — BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK › § 157
Summary
The Secretary of the Interior can accept ownership of the lands described in section 156 for national park use if the Secretary approves the proof of title. The United States cannot accept any land for Big Bend National Park until the State of Texas gives the United States exclusive control of the entire area in a form the Secretary approves.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §157
Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion and upon submission of evidence of title satisfactory to him, to accept, on behalf of the United States, title to the lands referred to in section 156 of this title as may be deemed by him necessary or desirable for national-park purposes: Provided, That no land for the Big Bend National Park shall be accepted until exclusive jurisdiction over the entire area, in form satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, shall have been ceded by the State of Texas to the United States.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 157
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102