16 U.S.C. § 410aa–1: Lands and property

Summary

Sets the park boundary by using a map called "Valley Forge National Historical Park," dated June 1979, map number VF–91,001. That map is kept at the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., and at the park superintendent’s office. The Secretary of the Interior may make small boundary changes when needed, but must first notify the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources in writing and then publish the revised map or boundary in the Federal Register. Inside those boundaries, the Secretary may get land by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated money, exchange, or transfer. Land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or its local governments may only be taken by donation, and any such donation cannot be dated before October 1, 1976. Owners of "improved property" that the Secretary acquires may keep the right to live there for noncommercial residential use for a term they choose: up to 25 years, or instead until the death of the owner or the owner's spouse, whichever is later. If the property is not donated, the Secretary must pay fair market value minus the value of that reserved right. The Secretary can end a reserved right if it is used in a way that conflicts with the park’s purposes and must pay the fair market value of the unused part. "Improved property" means a detached, noncommercial house started before January 1, 1975, plus enough land and any small buildings needed for its noncommercial residential use.

Title 16, §410aa–1

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Boundaries; inspection of map

The park shall comprise the area generally depicted on the map entitled “Valley Forge National Historical Park”, dated June 1979, and numbered VF–91,001, which shall be on file and available for inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, District of Columbia, and in the offices of the superintendent of the park. After advising the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, in writing, the Secretary may make minor revisions of the boundaries of the park when necessary by publication of a revised map or other boundary description in the Federal Register.

(b)Acquisition of lands

Within the boundaries of the park, the Secretary may acquire lands and interests therein by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, exchange, or transfer. Any property owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any political subdivision thereof may be acquired only by donation. The effective date of such donation shall not be prior to October 1, 1976.

(c)Reservation of rights by grantors; compensation for land (d) Termination of grantor’s rights

Except for property deemed by the Secretary to be essential for visitor facilities, or for access to or administration of the park, any owner or owners of improved property on the date of its acquisition by the Secretary may, as a condition of such acquisition, retain for themselves and their successors or assigns a right of use and occupancy of the improved property for noncommercial residential purposes for a definite term not to exceed twenty-five years, or in lieu thereof, for a term ending at the death of the owner, or the death of his or her spouse, whichever is the later. The owner shall elect the term to be reserved. Unless the property is wholly or partially donated, the Secretary shall pay to the owner the fair market value of the property on the date of such acquisition, less the fair market value on such date of the right retained by the owner.

(e)“Improved property” defined

The term “improved property”, as used in this section shall mean a detached, noncommercial residential dwelling, the construction of which was begun before January 1, 1975 (hereafter referred to as “dwelling”), together with so much of the land on which the dwelling is situated, the said land being in the same ownership as the dwelling, as the Secretary shall designate to be reasonably necessary for the enjoyment of the dwelling for the sole purpose of noncommercial residential use, together with any structures accessory to the dwelling which are situated on the land so designated.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives” for “Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States Congress”. 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–287 substituted reference to park area as depicted on map “dated June 1979, and numbered VF–91,001” for prior depiction on map “dated February 1976, and numbered VF–91,000”.

§410aa–1 Lands and Property

Summary

Title 16, §410aa–1

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata