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Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§423l–4 Land Acquisition

Title 16 › Chapter 1— NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter LX— NATIONAL MILITARY PARKS › § 423l–4

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may get land, water, or land rights inside the battlefield park by donation, purchase (using donated money or money set aside by the government), or trade. The Secretary must only get land from owners who agree and must take the smallest interest needed to meet the park’s purposes. The Secretary may buy an easement on land outside the park and around the City of Richmond if the owner agrees and the easement is needed to protect core Civil War resources identified by the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee. After getting such an easement, the Secretary must change the park boundaries to include that land. When possible, and if a willing owner prefers it, the Secretary must use permanent conservation easements instead of buying land outright so the land can remain in private hands. The Secretary may also acquire the Tredegar Iron Works buildings and nearby land in the City of Richmond to use as a visitor center.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §423l–4

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)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)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)(1)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)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)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.

Legislative History

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 423l–4

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60