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

# §410ppp. Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

- (a) **Purpose—** The purpose of this section is to establish the Blackstone River Valley National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)—
  - (1) to help [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2), protect, and interpret the nationally significant resources that exemplify the industrial heritage of the Blackstone River Valley for the benefit and inspiration of future generations;
  - (2) to support the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the urban, rural, and agricultural landscape features (including the Blackstone River and Canal) of the region that provide an overarching context for the industrial heritage of the Blackstone River Valley;
  - (3) to educate the public about—
    - (A) the nationally significant sites and districts that convey the industrial history of the Blackstone River Valley; and
    - (B) the significance of the Blackstone River Valley to the past and present of the United States; and
  - (4) to support and enhance the network of partners in the protection, improvement, management, and operation of related resources and facilities throughout the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
- (b) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **National Heritage Corridor—** The term “National Heritage Corridor” means the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
  - (2) **Park—** The term “[Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)” means the Blackstone River Valley National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) established by [subsection (c)(1)](#c-1).
  - (3) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)” means the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior.
  - (4) **States—** The term “[States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r)” means—
    - (A) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Massachusetts; and
    - (B) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Rhode Island.
- (c) **Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** There is established in the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) a [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) System, to be known as the “Blackstone River Valley National Historical [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)”.
  - (2) **Historic sites and districts—** The [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) shall include—
    - (A) Blackstone River [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3); and
    - (B) the following resources, as described in Management Option 3 of the study entitled “Blackstone River Valley Special Resource Study—Study Report 2011”:
      - (i) Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark District.
      - (ii) Slatersville Historic District.
      - (iii) Ashton Historic District.
      - (iv) Whitinsville Historic District.
      - (v) Hopedale Village Historic District.
      - (vi) Blackstone River and the tributaries of Blackstone River.
      - (vii) Blackstone Canal.
  - (3) **Acquisition of land; park boundary—**
    - (A) **Land acquisition—**
      - (i) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) land or interests in land that are considered contributing historic resources in the historic sites and districts described in [paragraph (2)(B)](#c-2-B) for inclusion in the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) boundary by donation, purchase from a willing seller with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
      - (ii) **No condemnation—** No land or interest in land may be acquired for the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) by condemnation.
    - (B) **Park boundary—** On a determination by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) that a sufficient quantity of land or interests in land has been acquired to constitute a manageable [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall establish a boundary for the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) by publishing a boundary [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) in the Federal Register.
    - (C) **Other resources—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may include in the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) boundary any resources that are the subject of an agreement with the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) or a [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) of the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) entered into under [paragraph (4)(D)](#c-4-D).
    - (D) **Boundary adjustment—** On the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of additional land or interests in land under [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A), or on entering an agreement under [subparagraph (C)](#c-3-C), the boundary of the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) shall be adjusted to reflect the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) or agreement by publishing a [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) boundary [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) in the Federal Register.
    - (E) **Availability of map—** The [maps](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) referred to in this paragraph shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service.
    - (F) **Administrative facilities—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) not more than 10 acres in Woonsocket, Rhode Island[^1] for the development of administrative, curatorial, maintenance, or visitor facilities for the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3).
    - (G) **Limitation—** Land owned by the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) or a political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) of the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) may be acquired under this paragraph only by donation.
  - (4) **Administration—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall administer land within the boundary of the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) in accordance with—
      - (i) this subsection; and
      - (ii) the laws 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—
        - (I) the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service Organic Act ([16 U.S.C. 1](/usc/16/1.md) et seq.);[^2] and
        - (II) the Act of August 21, 1935 ([16 U.S.C. 461](/usc/16/461.md) et seq.).[^2]
    - (B) **General management plan—**
      - (i) **In general—** Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall prepare a general [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3)—
        - (I) in consultation with the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) and other interested parties; and
        - (II) in accordance with [section 100502 of title 54](/usc/54/100502.md).
      - (ii) **Requirements—** The plan shall consider ways to use preexisting or planned visitor facilities and recreational opportunities developed in the National Heritage Corridor, including—
        - (I) the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, Pawtucket, Rhode Island;
        - (II) the Captain Wilbur Kelly House, Blackstone River [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), Lincoln, Rhode Island;
        - (III) the Museum of Work and Culture, Woonsocket, Rhode Island;
        - (IV) the River Bend Farm/Blackstone River and Canal Heritage [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), Uxbridge, Massachusetts;
        - (V) the Worcester Blackstone Visitor Center, located at the former Washburn & Moen wire mill facility, Worcester, Massachusetts;
        - (VI) the Route 295 Visitor Center adjacent to Blackstone River [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3); and
        - (VII) the Blackstone River Bikeway.
    - (C) **Related sites—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may provide technical assistance, visitor services, interpretive tours, and educational programs to sites and resources in the National Heritage Corridor that are located outside the boundary of the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) and associated with the purposes for which the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) is established.
    - (D) **Cooperative agreements—**
      - (i) **In general—** To further the purposes of this subsection and notwithstanding [chapter 63](/usc/31/chstV/ch63.md) of title 31, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may enter into cooperative agreements with the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), political [subdivisions](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) of the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), nonprofit organizations (including the local coordinating entity for the National Heritage Corridor), and other interested parties—
        - (I) to provide technical assistance, interpretation, and educational programs in the historic sites and districts described in [paragraph (2)(B)](#c-2-B); and
        - (II) subject to the availability of appropriations and clauses [(ii)](#c-4-D-ii) and [(iii)](#c-4-D-iii), to provide not more than 50 percent of the cost of any natural, historic, or cultural resource protection [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) in the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) that is consistent with the general [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) prepared under [subparagraph (B)](#c-4-B).
      - (ii) **Matching requirement—** As a condition of the receipt of funds under [clause (i)(II)](#c-4-D-i-II), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall require that any Federal funds made available under a cooperative agreement entered into under this paragraph are to be matched on a 1-to-1 basis by non-Federal funds.
      - (iii) **Reimbursement—** Any payment made by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) under clause (i)(ii)[^3] shall be subject to an agreement that the conversion, use, or disposal of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for purposes that are inconsistent with the purposes of this subsection, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), shall result in a right of the United States to reimbursement of the greater of—
        - (I) the amount provided by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) under [clause (i)(II)](#c-4-D-i-II); or
        - (II) an amount equal to the increase in the value of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that is attributable to the funds, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) at the time of the conversion, use, or disposal.
      - (iv) **Public access—** Any cooperative agreement entered into under this subparagraph shall provide for reasonable public access to the resources covered by the cooperative agreement.
  - (5) **Dedication; memorial—**
    - (A) **In general—** Congress dedicates the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) to John H. Chafee, the former United States Senator from Rhode Island, in recognition of—
      - (i) the role of John H. Chafee in the preservation of the resources of the Blackstone River Valley and the heritage corridor that bears the name of John H. Chafee; and
      - (ii) the decades of the service of John H. Chafee to the people of Rhode Island and the United States.
    - (B) **Memorial—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall display a [memorial](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=2) at an appropriate location in the [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) that recognizes the role of John H. Chafee in preserving the resources of the Blackstone River Valley for the people of the United States.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.
[^2]: See References in Text note below.
[^3]: So in original. Probably should be “(i)(II)”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–291, div. B, title XXX, § 3031, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3767.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (c)(4)(A)(ii)(I), is act Aug. 25, 1916, ch. 408, 39 Stat. 535, 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 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (c)(4)(A)(ii)(II), 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.

### Codification

In subsec. (c)(4)(B)(i)(II), “section 100502 of title 54” substituted for “section 12(b) of the National Park System General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a–7(b))” on authority of Pub. L. 113–287, § 6(e), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3272, which Act enacted Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs.