SUBCHAPTER LXV—NATIONAL PARKWAYS

§460. Natchez Trace Parkway

All lands and easements heretofore and hereafter conveyed to the United States by the States of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee for the right-of-way for the projected parkway between Natchez, Mississippi, and Nashville, Tennessee, together with sites acquired or to be acquired for recreational areas in connection therewith, and a right-of-way for said parkway of a width sufficient to include the highway and all bridges, ditches, cuts, and fills appurtenant thereto, but not exceeding a maximum of two hundred feet through Government-owned lands (except that where small parcels of Government-owned lands would otherwise be isolated, or where topographic conditions or scenic requirements are such that bridges, ditches, cuts, fills, parking overlooks, and landscape development could not reasonably be confined to a width of two hundred feet, the said maximum may be increased to such width as may be necessary, with the written approval of the department or agency having jurisdiction over such lands) as designated on maps heretofore or hereafter approved by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be known as the Natchez Trace Parkway and shall be administered and maintained by the Secretary of the Interior through the National Park Service, subject to the provisions of the Act of Congress approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535), entitled "An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes",¹ the provisions of which Act, as amended and supplemented, are extended over and made applicable to said parkway: Provided, That the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Interior, to connect with said parkway such roads and trails as may be necessary for the protection, administration, or utilization of adjacent and nearby national forests and the resources thereof: And provided further, That the Forest Service and the National Park Service shall, insofar as practicable, coordinate and correlate such recreational developments as each may plan, construct, or permit to be constructed, on lands within their respective jurisdictions, which, by mutual agreement, should be given special treatment for recreational purposes.

(May 18, 1938, ch. 251, §1, 52 Stat. 407.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Act of Congress approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535), entitled "An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes", referred to in text, 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.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Functions of Federal Works Agency and of all agencies thereof, together with functions of Federal Works Administrator transferred to Administrator of General Services by section 103(a) of act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, 63 Stat. 380. Both Federal Works Agency and office of Federal Works Administrator abolished by section 103(b) of that act. See Historical and Revision Notes under section 303(b) of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works. Section 303(b) of Title 40 was amended generally by Pub. L. 109–313, §2(a)(1), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1734, and, as so amended, no longer relates to the Federal Works Agency and Commissioner of Public Buildings. See 2006 Amendment note under section 303 of Title 40.

Effective Date of Transfer of Functions

Transfer of functions by act June 30, 1949, as effective July 1, 1949, see section 605, formerly §505, of act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, 63 Stat. 403; renumbered by act Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, §6(a), (b), 64 Stat. 583.

Natchez Trace Parkway Land Conveyance

Pub. L. 113–35, Sept. 18, 2013, 127 Stat. 519, known as the Natchez Trace Parkway Land Conveyance Act of 2013, required the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the State of Mississippi, by quitclaim deed and without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the 2 parcels of land totaling approximately 67 acres generally depicted as "Proposed Conveyance" on the map entitled "Natchez Trace Parkway, Proposed Boundary Change" on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. The deed of conveyance shall reserve an easement to the United States restricting the use of the parcel commonly known as the "bean field property" to only those uses which are compatible with the Natchez Trace Parkway. On completion of the conveyance the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway shall be adjusted to exclude the conveyed land and effective on Sept. 18, 2013, said boundary is adjusted to include the approximately 10 acres of land that is generally depicted as "Proposed Addition" on the above referenced map and such 10 acres shall be administered by the Secretary as part of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Adjustment of Boundary of Parkway

Pub. L. 106–527, Nov. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 2515, provided that:

"SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

"In this Act:

"(1) Parkway.—The term 'Parkway' means the Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi.

"(2) Secretary.—The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.

"SEC. 2. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT AND LAND ACQUISITION.

"(a) In General.—The Secretary shall adjust the boundary of the Parkway to include approximately—

"(1) 150 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map entitled 'Alternative Alignments/Area', numbered 604–20062A and dated May 1998; and

"(2) 80 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map entitled 'Emerald Mound Development Concept Plan', numbered 604–20042E and dated August 1987.

"(b) Maps.—The maps referred to in subsection (a) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Director of the National Park Service.

"(c) Acquisition.—The Secretary may acquire the land described in subsection (a) by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange (including exchange with the State of Mississippi, local governments, and private persons).

"(d) Administration.—Land acquired under this section shall be administered by the Secretary as part of the Parkway.

"SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF LEASING.

"The Secretary, acting through the Superintendent of the Parkway, may lease land within the boundary of the Parkway to the city of Natchez, Mississippi, for any purpose compatible with the Parkway.

"SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

"There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act."

Relocation of Portions of Parkway

Pub. L. 85–746, Aug. 25, 1958, 72 Stat. 839, provided: "That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District which shall provide for the district, upon terms and conditions which the Secretary determines are in the public interest, to relocate those portions of sections 3–O and 3–N of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Madison County, Mississippi, required in connection with the Pearl River Reservoir.

"Sec. 2. To cooperate in the relocation, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to transfer to the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District the aforesaid portions of the existing Natchez Trace Parkway lands and roadway in exchange for the contemporaneous transfer to the United States of relocated parkway lands and roadway situated and constructed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement authorized by the first section of this Act: Provided, That such exchange shall be made on the basis of approximately equal values.

"Sec. 3. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept and to use until expended without additional authority any funds provided by the district for the purpose of this Act pursuant to agreement with the Secretary of the Interior, and any such funds shall be placed in a separate account in the Treasury which shall be available for such purpose."

Lands in French Camp

The Secretary of the Interior was authorized to relinquish or modify certain restrictions upon the use of privately owned lands in the village of French Camp along the Natchez Trace Parkway by act Jan. 7, 1941, ch. 939, 54 Stat. 1227.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Functions of Administrator of General Services transferred to Secretary of Commerce by Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949, §2, eff. Aug. 20, 1949, 14 F.R. 5228, 63 Stat. 1070, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of Commerce and other officers and offices of Department of Commerce relating generally to highways under Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949 transferred to and vested in Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89–670, §6(a)(1)(M), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 938. Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949 was amended by section 2(b) of Pub. L. 97–449, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2439, to reflect such transfer.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§460–1. Inclusion of Ackia Battleground National Monument and Meriwether Lewis National Monument

To facilitate the administration of two areas of the national park system, known as Ackia Battleground National Monument, Mississippi, and Meriwether Lewis National Monument, Tennessee, those areas are included in the Natchez Trace Parkway, which they adjoin; and they shall be administered as a part of the parkway. In order to provide continued recognition of the significance of these portions of the parkway, the Secretary of the Interior shall provide them with appropriate designations in accordance with the historical events which occurred on them.

(Pub. L. 87–131, Aug. 10, 1961, 75 Stat. 335.)

§460a. Licenses or permits for right-of-way over parkway lands

In the administration of the Natchez Trace Parkway, the Secretary of the Interior may issue revocable licenses or permits for rights-of-way over, across, and upon parkway lands, or for the use of parkway lands by the owners or lessees of adjacent lands, for such purposes and under such nondiscriminatory terms, regulations, and conditions as he may determine to be not inconsistent with the use of such lands for parkway purposes.

(May 18, 1938, ch. 251, §2, 52 Stat. 408.)

§460a–1. Acceptance of lands conveyed for Blue Ridge or Natchez Trace Parkways

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to approve and accept, on behalf of the United States, title to any lands and interests in land heretofore or hereafter conveyed to the United States for the purposes of the Blue Ridge or the Natchez Trace Parkways, or for recreational areas in connection therewith.

(June 30, 1936 ch. 883, §3, as added June 8, 1940, ch. 277, 54 Stat. 250.)

§460a–2. Blue Ridge Parkway; establishment; administration and maintenance

All lands and easements heretofore or hereafter conveyed to the United States by the States of Virginia and North Carolina for the right-of-way for the projected parkway between the Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, together with sites acquired or to be acquired for recreational areas in connection therewith, and a right-of-way for said parkway of a width sufficient to include the highway and all bridges, ditches, cuts, and fills appurtenant thereto, but not exceeding a maximum of two hundred feet through Government-owned lands (except that where small parcels of Government-owned lands would otherwise be isolated, or where topographic conditions or scenic requirements are such that bridges, ditches, cuts, fills, parking overlooks, landscape development, recreational and other facilities requisite to public use of said parkway could not reasonably be confined to a width of two hundred feet, the said maximum may be increased to such width as may be necessary, with the written approval of the department or agency having jurisdiction over such lands) as designated on maps heretofore or hereafter approved by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be known as the Blue Ridge Parkway and shall be administered and maintained by the Secretary of the Interior through the National Park Service, subject to the provisions of the Act of Congress approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535), entitled "An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes",¹ the provisions of which Act, as amended and supplemented, are extended over and made applicable to said parkway: Provided, That the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Interior, to connect with the parkway such roads and trails as may be necessary for the protection, administration, or utilization of adjacent and nearby national forests and the resources thereof: And provided further, That the Forest Service and the National Park Service shall, insofar as practicable, coordinate and correlate such recreational development as each may plan, construct, or permit to be constructed, on lands within their respective jurisdictions which, by mutual agreement, should be given special treatment for recreational purposes.

(June 30, 1936, ch. 883, §1, 49 Stat. 2041; June 8, 1940, ch. 277, 54 Stat. 249.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Act of Congress approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535), entitled "An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes", referred to in text, 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.

Amendments

1940—Act June 8, 1940, inserted exceptions set out in parentheses.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Functions of Federal Works Agency and of all agencies thereof, together with functions of Federal Works Administrator transferred to Administrator of General Services by section 103(a) of act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, 63 Stat. 380. Both Federal Works Agency and office of Federal Works Administrator abolished by section 103(b) of that act. See Historical and Revision Notes under section 303(b) of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works. Section 303(b) of Title 40 was amended generally by Pub. L. 109–313, §2(a)(1), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1734, and, as so amended, no longer relates to the Federal Works Agency and Commissioner of Public Buildings. See 2006 Amendment note under section 303 of Title 40.

Effective Date of Transfer of Functions

Transfer of functions by act June 30, 1949, as effective July 1, 1949, see section 605, formerly §505, of act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, 63 Stat. 403; renumbered by act Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, §6(a), (b), 64 Stat. 583.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Functions of Administrator of General Services transferred to Secretary of Commerce by Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949, §2, eff. Aug. 20, 1949, 14 F.R. 5228, 63 Stat. 1070, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of Commerce and other officers and offices of Department of Commerce relating generally to highways under Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949 transferred to and vested in Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89–670, §6(a)(1)(M), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 938. Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949 was amended by section 2(b) of Pub. L. 97–449, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2439, to reflect such transfer.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§460a–3. Licenses or permits to owners of adjacent lands

In the administration of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Secretary of the Interior may issue revocable licenses or permits for rights-of-way over, across, and upon parkway lands, or for the use of parkway lands by the owners or lessees of adjacent lands, for such purposes and under such nondiscriminatory terms, regulations, and conditions as he may determine to be not inconsistent with the use of such lands for parkway purposes.

(June 30, 1936, ch. 883, §2, as added June 8, 1940, ch. 277, 54 Stat. 250.)

§460a–4. Transfer of jurisdiction to Secretary of Agriculture; national forest lands

When in his judgment the public interest will be served thereby, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized, upon concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, to transfer to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture for national forest purposes lands or interests in lands acquired for or in connection with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Lands transferred under this section shall become national forest lands subject to all laws, rules, and regulations applicable to lands acquired pursuant to the Weeks Law of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 961), as amended.

(May 13, 1952, ch. 263, 66 Stat. 69.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Weeks Law of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 961), referred to in text, is act Mar. 1, 1911, ch. 186, 36 Stat. 961, which enacted former sections 513 and 514 and sections 515 to 519, 521, 552, and 563 of this title and amended sections 480 and 500 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 552 of this title and Tables.

§460a–5. Acquisition of land contiguous to Blue Ridge or Natchez Trace Parkways

In order to consolidate, on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Natchez Trace Parkway, the land forming each such parkway, to adjust ownership lines, and to eliminate hazardous crossings of and accesses to these parkways, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire, by purchase or exchange, land and interests in land contiguous to the parkways. In consummating exchanges under this section, the Secretary may transfer parkway land, interests therein, and easements: Provided, That the property rights so exchanged shall be approximately equal in value.

(Pub. L. 87–76, June 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 196.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Blue Ridge Parkway and Town of Blowing Rock Land Exchange

Pub. L. 111–167, May 24, 2010, 124 Stat. 1188, known as the Blue Ridge Parkway and Town of Blowing Rock Land Exchange Act of 2009, provided for land exchange between the National Park Service and the Town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to exchange approximately 20 acres of land within the boundary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, known as Blowing Rock Reservoir, for approximately 192 acres of land owned by the Town, known as Town of Blowing Rock Exchange Lands, not later than three years after May 24, 2010, and subject to applicable laws and certain terms and conditions and to equalization of land values, adjustment of the boundary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, administration of lands acquired by the Secretary, and future disposition of the reservoir property.

Land Exchange in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Pub. L. 108–108, title I, §138, Nov. 10, 2003, 117 Stat. 1271, known as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act of 2003, provided for land exchange between National Park Service and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, by directing Secretary of the Interior to exchange the Ravensford tract, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, for the Yellow Face tract adjacent to the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway; stated congressional findings and purposes for such land exchange; contained descriptions and provision relating to treatment of exchanged lands; set forth implementation process; and prohibited gaming on the Ravensford tract.

§460a–6. Blue Ridge Parkway extension; acceptance of lands; public use, administration, and maintenance areas; survey location of parkway extension crossing national forest land; transfer from Federal agency to administrative jurisdiction of Secretary of the Interior; national forest uses following transfer within national forest

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept, on behalf of the United States, donations of land and interests in land in the States of North Carolina and Georgia, to construct thereon an extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway from the vicinity of Beech Gap, North Carolina, to the vicinity of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park north of Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia, and to provide public use, administration, and maintenance areas in connection therewith. The lands accepted for the parkway extension may vary in width but shall average not more than one hundred and twenty-five acres per mile in fee simple plus not more than twenty-five acres per mile in scenic easements. The survey location and width of any portion of the parkway extension that crosses national forest land shall be jointly determined by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture. Where the parkway extension designated by the Secretary of the Interior traverses Federal lands, the head of the department or agency having jurisdiction over such lands is authorized to transfer to the Secretary of the Interior the part of the Federal lands mutually agreed upon as necessary for the construction, maintenance and administration of the parkway extension and public use thereof, without transfer of funds. Any such transfer within a national forest shall not preclude any national forest use that is compatible with parkway use and that is agreed upon by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture.

(Pub. L. 90–555, §1, Oct. 9, 1968, 82 Stat. 967.)

§460a–7. Coordination of recreational development on parkway and national forest lands; administration of forest land recreational facilities and access road development by Secretary of Agriculture; forest road and Appalachian Trail relocation and reconstruction and alternative forest road provision by Secretary of the Interior

To effectuate the recommendations in the report to the Congress on the North Carolina-Georgia extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway, made pursuant to the Act of August 10, 1961 (75 Stat. 337)—

(1) The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, insofar as practicable, coordinate and correlate recreational development on lands within the parkway and adjacent or related national forests land: Provided, That within national forest boundaries recreational developments and facilities on Federal lands other than those actually within the national parkway shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture;

(2) Upon the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior shall relocate and reconstruct any national forest roads that may be disturbed by the parkway extension, or provide alternative roads that are necessary to the protection, administration, or utilization of the national forests, and shall allow access to areas to be developed by the Secretary of Agriculture on adjacent national forest lands unless to do so will materially impair the primary purposes of the parkway;

(3) The Secretary of the Interior may relocate and reconstruct portions of the Appalachian Trail, including trail shelters, that may be disturbed by the parkway extension and such relocation and reconstruction may be performed (A) on non-Federal lands when the Appalachian Trail Conference obtains the consent of the owner to the use of the lands for the purpose and agrees to assume maintenance thereof, and (B) upon national forest lands with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture.

(Pub. L. 90–555, §2, Oct. 9, 1968, 82 Stat. 968.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Act of August 10, 1961, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 87–135, Aug. 10, 1961, 75 Stat. 337, which was not classified to the Code.

§460a–8. Licenses or permits for rights-of-way over parkway lands

The Secretary of the Interior may issue revocable licenses or permits for rights-of-way over, across, and upon parkway lands, or for the use of parkway lands by the owners or lessees of adjacent lands, or for such purposes and under such terms and conditions as he may determine to be consistent with the use of such lands for parkway purposes.

(Pub. L. 90–555, §3, Oct. 9, 1968, 82 Stat. 968.)

§460a–9. Part of Blue Ridge Parkway; administration and maintenance of parkway extension

The parkway extension herein authorized shall be a part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and shall be administered and maintained by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable thereto, including section 460a–4 of this title.

(Pub. L. 90–555, §4, Oct. 9, 1968, 82 Stat. 968.)

§460a–10. Transfer of national forest lands to Secretary of Agriculture

With the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture the Secretary of the Interior may transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture for national forest purposes lands or interests in lands within national forests acquired for, or in connection with, the parkway extension.

(Pub. L. 90–555, §5, Oct. 9, 1968, 82 Stat. 968.)

§460a–11. Authorization of appropriations

There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, for construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway extension, not more than $87,536,000, plus or minus such amounts, if any, as may be justified by reason of fluctuations in construction costs as indicated by engineering cost indices applicable to the type of construction involved herein.

(Pub. L. 90–555, §6, Oct. 9, 1968, 82 Stat. 968.)

§§460b, 460c. Repealed. Pub. L. 85–767, §2 [19, 21, 23, 33], Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 919

Section 460b, acts June 16, 1936, ch. 582, §5, 49 Stat. 1520; June 8, 1938, ch. 328, §8, 52 Stat. 635; Sept. 5, 1940, ch. 715, §9, 54 Stat. 870, related to determination of location of parkways upon public lands, national forests, or other Federal reservations.

Section 460c, act Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 912, §4(b), 64 Stat. 787, related to administration of parkway appropriations.