16 U.S.C. § 423l–4: Land acquisition

Summary

The Secretary may get land, water, or property rights inside the battlefield park from willing owners by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated money, or exchange. The Secretary must take only the smallest interest needed to meet the park’s purpose, and private land can be acquired only with the owner’s consent. With an owner’s agreement, the Secretary may get easements outside the park and around the City of Richmond to protect core Civil War resources named by the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee, and must then update the park boundary to include those easement areas. Inside the park, permanent conservation easements should be used when practical and if the owner prefers instead of buying full ownership. The Secretary may also acquire the Tredegar Iron Works buildings and nearby land in Richmond for a visitor center.

Title 16, §423l–4

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Acquisition authority

(1)In general

The Secretary may acquire lands, waters, and interests in lands within the boundaries of the battlefield park from willing landowners by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. In acquiring lands and interests in lands under sections 423l–1 to 423l–6 of this title, the Secretary shall acquire the minimum interest necessary to achieve the purposes for which the battlefield is established.

(2)Special rule for private lands

Privately owned lands or interests in lands may be acquired under sections 423l–1 to 423l–6 of this title only with the consent of the owner.

(b)Easements

(1)Outside boundaries

The Secretary may acquire an easement on property outside the boundaries of the battlefield park and around the City of Richmond, with the consent of the owner, if the Secretary determines that the easement is necessary to protect core Civil War resources as identified by the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee. Upon acquisition of the easement, the Secretary shall revise the boundaries of the battlefield park to include the property subject to the easement.

(2)Inside boundaries

To the extent practicable, and if preferred by a willing landowner, the Secretary shall use permanent conservation easements to acquire interests in land in lieu of acquiring land in fee simple and thereby removing land from non-Federal ownership.

(c)Visitor center

The Secretary may acquire the Tredegar Iron Works buildings and associated land in the City of Richmond for use as a visitor center for the battlefield park.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Sections 423l–1 to 423l–6 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this title”, meaning title V of Pub. L. 106–511, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2373, which enacted sections 423l–1 to 423l–6 of this title and repealed sections 423j to 423l of this title. For complete classification of title V to the Code, see Tables.

§423l–4 Land Acquisition

Summary

Title 16, §423l–4

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Citations & Metadata