---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410ee"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410ee"
heading: "San Antonio Missions National Historical Park"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410ee"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIX–C — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park"
---

# §410ee. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

- (a) **Establishment—**
  - (1) **In general—** In order to provide for the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of the Spanish Missions of San Antonio, Texas, for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans, there is hereby established the San Antonio Missions National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) (hereafter in this section referred to as the “[park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)”) consisting of Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada Missions, together with [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) and features historically associated therewith, as generally depicted on the drawing entitled “Boundary [Map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1), San Antonio Missions National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)”, numbered 930–80,022–C and dated May 1978, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service, Department of the Interior, and in the offices of the Superintendent of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
  - (2) **Additional land—** The [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) shall also consist of the lands and interests therein within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) bounded by the line depicted as “Proposed Boundary Extension” on the [maps](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “San Antonio Missions National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)”, numbered 472–80,075, 472–80,076, 472–80,077, 472–80,078, 472–80,079, 472–80,080, and 472–80,081 and dated June 7, 1990, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the same manner as is such drawing.
  - (3) **Boundary modification—**
    - (A) **In general—** The boundary of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) is modified to include approximately 137 acres, as depicted on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “San Antonio Missions National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Proposed Boundary [Addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2)”, numbered 472/113,006A, and dated June 2012.
    - (B) **Availability of map—** The [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-3-A) shall be on file and available for inspection in the appropriate offices of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service.
    - (C) **Acquisition of land—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) the land or any interest in the land described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-3-A) only by donation or exchange.
  - (4) **Revisions—** After advising the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives, in writing, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the “[Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)”) may make minor revisions of the boundaries of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) when necessary by publication of a revised drawing or other boundary description in the Federal Register.
- (b) **Acquisition of lands and interests; cooperative agreements; submittal to Department of Justice—** For the purposes of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized—
  - (1) to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, lands and interests therein constituting the following generally described [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in the historic missions district of the city of San Antonio, Texas—
    - (A) Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo;
    - (B) Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna;
    - (C) Mission San Francisco de la Espada;
    - (D) Espada Acequia, the section of approximately five miles along the west side of and parallel to the San Antonio River;
    - (E) Espada Dam and Aqueduct;
    - (F) Mission San Juan Capistrano;
    - (G) San Juan Acequia, on the east side of the San Antonio River; and
    - (H) such lands and interests therein which the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines are necessary or desirable to provide for public access to, and interpretation and protection of, the foregoing; and
  - (2) to enter cooperative agreements with the [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of any historic properties, including properties referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), in furtherance of the purposes of this section.

  Each agreement under [paragraph (2)](#b-2) shall provide among other things that the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) will hold and [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) the historic property in perpetuity and will not undertake or permit the alteration or removal of historic features or the erection of markers, structures, or buildings without the prior concurrence of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), and that the public shall have reasonable access to those portions of the property to which access is necessary in the judgment of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) for the proper appreciation and interpretation of its historical and architectural value. Pursuant to such cooperative agreements and notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may, directly or by contract, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, or develop such buildings, structures, and related facilities including roads, trails, and other interpretive facilities on real property not in Federal ownership and may maintain and operate programs in connection therewith as he deems appropriate. Any lands or interest therein owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of San An­tonio, the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Texas, or any political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) of such [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), including the San Antonio River Authority, may be acquired by donation only: Provided, That the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall submit all proposed cooperative agreements to the Department of Justice for a determination that the proposed agreements do not violate the constitutional provisions regarding the separation of church and [state](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a).

- (c) **Retention of rights by owners; compensation for property; termination of rights; “improved property” defined—**
  - (1) With the exception of any property deemed necessary by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) for visitor facilities or administration of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), any [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) or [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of [improved property](/usc/16/251h.md?p=2) on the date of its [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may, as a condition of such [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1), retain for themselves and their successors or assigns a right of use and occupancy of the property for noncommercial residential purposes, for twenty-five years, or, in lieu thereof, for a term ending at the death of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) or his spouse, whichever is later. The [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) shall elect the term to be reserved. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall pay to the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) the fair market value of the property on the date of such [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) less the fair market value on such date of the right retained by the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4).
  - (2) A right of use and occupancy retained or enjoyed pursuant to this subsection may be terminated with respect to the entire property by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) upon his determination that the property or any portion thereof had ceased to be used for noncommercial residential purposes and upon tender to the holder of a right an amount equal to the fair market value, as of the date of tender, of that portion of the right which remains unexpired on the date of termination.
  - (3) The term “[improved property](/usc/16/251h.md?p=2)”, as used in this subsection, shall mean a detached, noncommercial residential dwelling, the construction of which was begun before January 1, 1978 (hereinafter referred to as a “dwelling”), together with so much of the land on which the dwelling is situated, the said land being in the same ownership as the dwelling, as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall designate to be reasonably necessary for the enjoyment or[^1] the dwelling for the sole purpose of noncommercial residential use, together with any structures accessory to the dwelling which are situated on the land so designated.
- (d) **Protection and preservation of historical and architectural values; administration—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized and directed to [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) prompt and appropriate action in accordance with the provisions of this section and any cooperative agreement hereunder to assure the protection and preservation of the historical and architectural values of the missions and the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) and features historically associated therewith within the boundaries of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). The [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) shall be administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) in accordance with this section and provisions of law generally applicable to [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; [16 U.S.C. 1](/usc/16/1.md) et seq.)[^2] and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; [16 U.S.C. 461–467](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(/us/usc/t16/s461–467))).[^2]
- (e) **San Antonio Missions Advisory Commission; membership; Chairman; vacancies; compensation and expenses; meeting and consultation between Secretary and Advisory Commission; termination—**
  - (1) There is hereby authorized to be established by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), a San Antonio Missions Advisory [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c). The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall be composed of eleven members, each appointed for a term of two years by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), as follows:
    - (A) one member to be appointed from recommendations made by the Governor of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Texas;
    - (B) one member to be appointed from recommendations made by the County Commissioners of Bexar County, Texas;
    - (C) one member to be appointed from recommendations made by the City Council of the City of San Antonio, Texas;
    - (D) one member to be appointed to represent non-Federal property [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) whose property is operated and maintained in accordance with cooperative agreements with the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) pursuant to [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2);
    - (E) one member from the membership of a local conservation or historical organization; and
    - (F) six members representing the general public.

    The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall designate one member to be Chairman of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) and may fill any vacancy in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

  - (2) Members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall serve without compensation as such, but the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may pay expenses reasonably incurred by the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) and may reimburse members for reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities under this section on vouchers signed by the Chairman.
  - (3) All appointments to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall be made by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) within six months after November 10, 1978, and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), or his designee, shall from time to time, but at least semiannually, meet and consult with the Advisory [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) in matters relating to the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) and with respect to carrying out the provisions of this section.
  - (4) Unless extended by Act of Congress, this [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall terminate ten years after the date of its first meeting with the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) or his designee.
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—**
  - (1) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, but not more than $10,000,000 for the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of lands and interests in lands.
  - (2) For the development of essential public facilities there are authorized to be appropriated not more than $15,000,000.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “of”.
[^2]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–629, title II, § 201, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3636; Pub. L. 96–344, § 13, Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1136; Pub. L. 101–628, title V, § 501, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4492; Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(j), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4585; Pub. L. 113–291, div. B, title XXX, § 3042, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3792.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (d), is act Aug. 25, 1916, ch. 408, 39 Stat. 535, known as the National Park Service Organic Act, which enacted sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 100101 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs. Sections 1 to 4 of the Act were repealed and restated as section 1865(a) of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of Title 54 by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 4(a)(1), 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3260, 3272. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of former sections of this title, see Disposition Table preceding section 100101 of Title 54.

The Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461–467), referred to in subsec. (d), is act Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 593, 49 Stat. 666, known as the Historic Sites Act of 1935 and also as the Historic Sites, Buildings, and Antiquities Act, which enacted sections 461 to 467 of this title. The Act was repealed and restated as section 1866(a) of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and sections 102303 and 102304 and chapter 3201 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs, by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 4(a)(1), 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3260, 3272. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of former sections of this title, see Disposition Table preceding section 100101 of Title 54.

### Amendments

2014—Pub. L. 113–291, § 3042(1), inserted section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–291 inserted subsec. heading, designated first, second, and third sentences as pars. (1), (2), and (4), respectively, inserted par. headings, and added par. (3).

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(j)(1), substituted “Natural Resources” for “Interior and Insular Affairs” after “Committee on”.

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(j)(2), struck out at end “Within one year from November 10, 1978, the Secretary shall develop and transmit to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate a final master plan for the development of the park consistent with the objectives of this section, indicating (A) the facilities needed to accommodate the health, safety, and interpretive needs of the visiting public; (B) the location and estimated cost of all facilities; and (C) the projected need for any additional facilities within the park.”

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–628, § 501(a), inserted after first sentence “The park shall also consist of the lands and interests therein within the area bounded by the line depicted as ‘Proposed Boundary Extension’ on the maps entitled ‘San Antonio Missions National Historical Park’, numbered 472–80,075, 472–80,076, 472–80,077, 472–80,078, 472–80,079, 472–80,080, and 472–80,081 and dated June 7, 1990, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the same manner as is such drawing.”

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 101–628, § 501(b), substituted “$15,000,000” for “$500,000”.

1980—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 96–344 substituted “eleven” for “seven” in provision preceding subpar. (A) and “six” for “two” in subpar. (F).