SUBCHAPTER XVII—BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

§156. Establishment; boundaries

When title to such lands as may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior as necessary for recreational park purposes within the boundaries to be determined by him within the area of approximately one million five hundred thousand acres, in the counties of Brewster and Presidio, in the State of Texas, known as the "Big Bend" area, shall have been vested in the United States, such lands shall be established, dedicated, and set apart as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and shall be known as the "Big Bend National Park": Provided, That the United States shall not purchase by appropriation of public moneys any land within the aforesaid area, but such lands shall be secured by the United States only by public and private donations.

(June 20, 1935, ch. 283, §1, 49 Stat. 393.)

§157. Acquisition of lands

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion and upon submission of evidence of title satisfactory to him, to accept, on behalf of the United States, title to the lands referred to in section 156 of this title as may be deemed by him necessary or desirable for national-park purposes: Provided, That no land for the Big Bend National Park shall be accepted until exclusive jurisdiction over the entire area, in form satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, shall have been ceded by the State of Texas to the United States.

(June 20, 1935, ch. 283, §2, 49 Stat. 393.)

§157a. Additional lands; aggregate cost

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire, in such manner as he shall consider to be in the public interest, any land or interests in land situated within sections 15, 22, 27, 34, block 234, Brewster County, Texas, which he shall consider to be suitable for addition to the Big Bend National Park: Provided, however, That the aggregate cost to the Federal Government of properties acquired hereafter and under the provisions hereof shall not exceed the sum of $10,000. Properties acquired pursuant to this section shall become a part of the park upon acquisition of title thereto by the United States.

(Aug. 30, 1949, ch. 522, 63 Stat. 679.)

§157b. Additional lands within park boundaries

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to procure, in such manner as he may consider to be in the public interest, the remaining non-Federal land and interests in land within the boundaries of Big Bend National Park.

(Aug. 8, 1953, ch. 385, 67 Stat. 497.)

§157c. Boundary revision; acquisition of lands and interests; authorization of appropriations

The boundary of the Big Bend National Park in the State of Texas is hereby revised to include the lands and interests therein within the area generally depicted on the map entitled "Big Bend National Park, Boundary Additions", numbered 155/80,019–A and dated June 1980 which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the local and Washington, District of Columbia, Offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The Secretary is authorized to acquire the lands and interests therein added to the park by this section by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, except that lands and interests therein owned by the State of Texas or any political subdivision thereof may be acquired only by donation or exchange. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, but not to exceed $1,500,000 for the acquisition of lands and interests therein.

(Pub. L. 96–607, title IV, §401, Dec. 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 3539.)

§157d. Additional boundary revision; acquisition of lands and interests

The boundaries of Big Bend National Park, established by the Act of June 20, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 156), are hereby revised to include the lands and interests therein, together with all improvements thereon, within the area comprising approximately sixty-seven thousand one hundred and twenty-five acres as generally depicted on the map entitled "Harte Ranch Addition, Big Bend National Park", numbered 155/80,044 and dated September 1987. Such map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire lands and interests therein, together with all improvements thereon, within the addition described in such map by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.

(Pub. L. 100–201, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1328.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Act of June 20, 1935, referred to in text, is act June 30, 1935, ch. 283, 49 Stat. 393, which is classified to sections 156, 157, and 158 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

§158. Administration, protection, and development

The administration, protection, and development of the Big Bend National Park shall be exercised under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior by the National Park Service, subject to the provisions of the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535), entitled "An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes",¹ as amended: Provided, That the provisions of the Federal Power Act [16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.] shall not apply to this park.

(June 20, 1935, ch. 283, §3, 49 Stat. 394.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Act of 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.

The Federal Power Act, referred to in text, was in the original the "Act of June 10, 1920, known as the Federal Water Power Act," and was redesignated as the Federal Power Act by section 791a of this title. The Federal Power Act is act June 10, 1920, ch. 285, 41 Stat. 1063, as amended, and is classified generally to chapter 12 (§791a et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 791a of this title and Tables.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of 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.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§§158a to 158d. Repealed. June 25, 1948, ch. 646, §39, 62 Stat. 992, eff. Sept. 1, 1948

Section 158a, act May 15, 1947, ch. 55, §1, 61 Stat. 91, related to appointment and compensation of commissioner. See provisions covering United States magistrate judges in section 631 et seq. of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Section 158b, act May 15, 1947, ch. 55, §2, 61 Stat. 91, related to jurisdiction of commissioner [now magistrate judge] over petty offenses.

Section 158c, act May 15, 1947, ch. 55, §3, 61 Stat. 91, related to jurisdiction of commissioner [now magistrate judge] over criminal offenses.

Section 158d, act May 15, 1947, ch. 55, §4, 61 Stat. 91, related to disposition of fees, costs, and expenses.