---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 272a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "272a"
heading: "Acquisition of property"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/272a"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter XXX — Arches National Park"
---

# §272a. Acquisition of property

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, transfer from any Federal agency, exchange or otherwise, the lands and interests in lands described in [section 272 of this title](/usc/16/272.md), except that lands or interests therein owned by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Utah, or any political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof, may be acquired only with the approval of such [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15).
- (b) **Lost Spring Canyon Addition—** As soon as practicable after October 30, 1998, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall transfer jurisdiction over the [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) contained in the Lost Spring Canyon [Addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) from the Bureau of Land Management to the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–155, § 2, Nov. 12, 1971, 85 Stat. 422; Pub. L. 105–329, § 2(b), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 3060.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1998—Pub. L. 105–329 inserted section catchline and subsec. (a) designation and heading and added subsec. (b).