Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-102

§460a–6 Blue Ridge Parkway Extension; Acceptance of Lands; Public Use, Administration, and Maintenance Areas; Survey Location of Parkway Extension Crossing National Forest Land; Transfer From Federal Agency to Administrative Jurisdiction of Secretary of the Interior; National Forest Uses Following Transfer Within National Forest

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER LXV — NATIONAL PARKWAYS › § 460a–6

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior can accept donated land in North Carolina and Georgia to build an extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway from near Beech Gap, NC to near Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (north of Atlanta and Marietta, GA). The land may vary in width but must average no more than 125 acres per mile owned outright and up to 25 acres per mile in scenic easements. It includes areas for public use, administration, and maintenance. If the parkway crosses national forest, the Interior and Agriculture Secretaries must agree on its location and width. Federal agencies may transfer agreed parts of their land to the Interior Secretary for the parkway at no cost. Compatible national forest uses may continue if both Secretaries agree.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §460a–6

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept, on behalf of the United States, donations of land and interests in land in the States of North Carolina and Georgia, to construct thereon an extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway from the vicinity of Beech Gap, North Carolina, to the vicinity of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park north of Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia, and to provide public use, administration, and maintenance areas in connection therewith. The lands accepted for the parkway extension may vary in width but shall average not more than one hundred and twenty-five acres per mile in fee simple plus not more than twenty-five acres per mile in scenic easements. The survey location and width of any portion of the parkway extension that crosses national forest land shall be jointly determined by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture. Where the parkway extension designated by the Secretary of the Interior traverses Federal lands, the head of the department or agency having jurisdiction over such lands is authorized to transfer to the Secretary of the Interior the part of the Federal lands mutually agreed upon as necessary for the construction, maintenance and administration of the parkway extension and public use thereof, without transfer of funds. Any such transfer within a national forest shall not preclude any national forest use that is compatible with parkway use and that is agreed upon by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 460a–6

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102