--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 425l" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "425l" heading: "Acquisitions and conveyances" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/425l" units: - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores" - "Subchapter LX — National Military Parks" --- # §425l. Acquisitions and conveyances - (a) **Acquisition—** - (1) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#a-2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) lands and interests in lands within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds or by exchange. - (2) The lands designated “P04–04” on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) referred to in [section 425k(a) of this title](/usc/16/425k.md?p=a) numbered 326–40072E/89/A and dated September 1990 may be acquired only by donation, and the lands designated “P04–01”, “P04–02”, and “P04–03” on such [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) may be acquired only by donation, purchase from willing sellers, or exchange. - (b) **Conveyance of lands excluded from park—** - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized, in accordance with applicable existing law, to exchange [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) and interests excluded from the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) pursuant to [section 425k(b) of this title](/usc/16/425k.md?p=b) for the purpose of acquiring lands within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) boundary. - (2) If any such [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) or interests are not exchanged within five years after December 11, 1989, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may sell any or all such lands or interests to the highest bidder, in accordance with such regulations as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may prescribe, but any such conveyance shall be at not less than the fair market value of the land or interest, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). - (3) All [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) and interests sold or exchanged pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to such terms and conditions as will assure the use of the property in a manner which, in the judgment of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), will protect the battlefield setting. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the net proceeds from any such sale or exchange shall be used, subject to appropriations, to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) lands and interests within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). - (c) **Alternative access—** In order to facilitate the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by the United States of existing easements or rights of access across [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) and to provide the [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of such easements or rights of access with alternative rights of access across nonpark lands, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1), by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, interests in land of similar estate across lands which are not within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). With or without the acceptance of payment of cash to equalize the values of the properties, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may convey such nonpark lands or interests in lands to the holders of such existing easements or rights of access across [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) in exchange for their conveyance to the United States of such easements or rights. Nothing in sections [425k](/usc/16/425k.md) to [425o](/usc/16/425o.md) of this title shall prohibit the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) from acquiring any outstanding easements or rights of access across [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds or by exchange. - (d) **Conservation easements—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to accept donations of conservation easements on lands adjacent to the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). Such conservation easements shall have the effect of protecting the scenic and historic resources on [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) lands and the adjacent lands or preserving the undeveloped or historic appearance of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) when viewed from within or without the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). - (e) **Other provisions—** Within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) bounded by the Orange Turnpike, the Orange Plank Road, and McLaws Drive no [improved property](/usc/16/251h.md?p=2) (as defined in [section 425m of this title](/usc/16/425m.md)) may be acquired without the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) thereof unless the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines that, in his judgment, the property is subject to, or threatened with, uses which are having, or would have, an adverse impact on the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 101–214, § 3, Dec. 11, 1989, 103 Stat. 1849; Pub. L. 106–150, § 1(b)(1), Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1730.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–150 designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary” for “The Secretary”, and added par. (2).