---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460aaa–3"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460aaa–3"
heading: "Acquisition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460aaa-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter CXII — Grand Island National Recreation Area"
---

# §460aaa–3. Acquisition

- (a) **General authority—** Subject to the provisions of [section 460aaa–2(b)(8) of this title](/usc/16/460aaa–2.md?p=b-8) and [subsection (b)](#b) of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized and directed to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by purchase, gift, exchange, or otherwise, lands, waters, structures, or interests therein, including scenic or other easements, within the boundaries of the national recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) to further the purposes of this subchapter: Provided, That the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may not [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) any privately owned lands within the national recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) other than with the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) so long as the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) agrees to the restrictions contained in [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) of this section and grants the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) a right of first refusal as provided in [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2) of this section. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) also is authorized and directed to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) lands or structures by such means on the mainland to the extent necessary for access to and administrative facilities for the national recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). In acquiring lands or structures under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is directed to give prompt and careful consideration to any offer to sell land or structures made by an individual, organization, or any legal entity owning property within the boundaries of the national recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (b) **Private lands—**
  - (1) An [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of unimproved real property within the national recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) may construct recreational residences that are architecturally compatible with other structures within the national recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), as described by the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) developed pursuant to [section 460aaa–6 of this title](/usc/16/460aaa–6.md).
  - (2) Any privately owned lands, interests in lands, or structures within the national recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall not be disposed of by donation, exchange, sale, or other conveyance without first being offered at no more than fair market value to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall be given a period of 120 days to accept an offer and, after such offer is accepted, a period of 45 days after the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the offer was accepted to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) such lands, interests in lands, or structures. No such lands, interests in lands, or structures shall be sold or conveyed at a price below the price at which they have been offered for sale to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), and if such lands, interest in lands, or structures are re­offered for sale or conveyance they shall first be reoffered to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), except that this subsection shall not apply to a change in ownership of a property within the immediate family of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of record on January 1, 1989. For the purposes of this subsection, the term “immediate family” means, with respect to any such [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of record, the spouse, siblings, children (whether natural or adopted), stepchildren, and lineal descendants of that [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–292, § 4, May 17, 1990, 104 Stat. 187.)