---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 404b–2"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "404b–2"
heading: "Eventual acquisition of Great Onyx and Crystal Caves; cooperation with State of Kentucky"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/404b-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter XLVII — Mammoth Cave National Park"
---

# §404b–2. Eventual acquisition of Great Onyx and Crystal Caves; cooperation with State of Kentucky


The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior is authorized to cooperate with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Kentucky for the purpose of arranging for the eventual [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by the United States of the Great Onyx Cave and the Crystal Cave within the authorized boundaries of Mammoth Cave National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall deposit to the credit of a special receipt account that portion of the annual admission, guide, and elevator fee receipts from the said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) which exceeds the annual amount available to the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) for management, guide, and protection purposes, which funds so deposited may be expended thereafter in payment for the purchase of said cave properties. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is further authorized to enter into such contracts and agreements as he may determine to be necessary to effectuate the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of the cave properties as authorized herein.


## Source credit

(Mar. 27, 1954, ch. 114, 68 Stat. 36.)