---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 423l–4"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "423l–4"
heading: "Land acquisition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/423l-4"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LX — National Military Parks"
---

# §423l–4. Land acquisition

- (a) **Acquisition authority—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) lands, waters, and interests in lands within the boundaries of the [battlefield park](/usc/16/423l–1.md?p=b-1) from willing landowners by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. In acquiring lands and interests in lands under sections [423l–1](/usc/16/423l–1.md) to [423l–6](/usc/16/423l–6.md) of this title, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) the minimum interest necessary to achieve the purposes for which the battlefield is established.
  - (2) **Special rule for private lands—** Privately owned lands or interests in lands may be acquired under sections [423l–1](/usc/16/423l–1.md) to [423l–6](/usc/16/423l–6.md) of this title only with the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4).
- (b) **Easements—**
  - (1) **Outside boundaries—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) an easement on property outside the boundaries of the [battlefield park](/usc/16/423l–1.md?p=b-1) and around the City of Richmond, with the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4), if the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines that the easement is necessary to protect core Civil War resources as identified by the Civil War Sites [Advisory Committee](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=1). Upon [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of the easement, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall revise the boundaries of the [battlefield park](/usc/16/423l–1.md?p=b-1) to include the property subject to the easement.
  - (2) **Inside boundaries—** To the extent practicable, and if preferred by a willing landowner, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall use permanent conservation easements to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) interests in land in lieu of acquiring land in fee simple and thereby removing land from non-Federal ownership.
- (c) **Visitor center—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) the Tredegar Iron Works buildings and associated land in the City of Richmond for use as a visitor center for the [battlefield park](/usc/16/423l–1.md?p=b-1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–511, title V, § 504, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2374.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Sections 423l–1 to 423l–6 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this title”, meaning title V of Pub. L. 106–511, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2373, which enacted sections 423l–1 to 423l–6 of this title and repealed sections 423j to 423l of this title. For complete classification of title V to the Code, see Tables.