§119. Establishment; notice in Federal Register; administration; exchange and acquisition of lands; remaining funds

In order to permit the establishment of the Petrified Forest National Monument, Arizona, and other lands as provided for herein, as the Petrified Forest National Park, such national park shall be established (a) after title to all of the lands described in section 119a of this title shall have been vested in the United States, with the exception of such easements and rights-of-way for railroad, public utilities, and highway purposes as may be acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior, and (b) when notification of the effective date of such establishment of the park, as determined by the said Secretary, is published in the Federal Register. Disestablishment of the Petrified Forest National Monument shall be effected concurrently with the establishment of the park.

The Petrified Forest National Park shall be preserved and administered in its natural condition by the Secretary of the Interior for the public benefit in accordance with the general laws governing areas of the National Park System and in accordance with the basic policies relating thereto as prescribed by sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this title.

The exchange authority prescribed for the Petrified Forest National Monument in sections 444 and 444a of this title, is hereby extended to all the lands within the Petrified Forest National Park as herein authorized.

For the purposes of this section and section 119a of this title, the Secretary is authorized to acquire, in such manner as he shall consider to be in the public interest, any non-Federal land or interests in land within the area hereby authorized to be established as the Petrified Forest National Park. In acquiring any State-owned land or interests therein within the aforesaid area, such property may be procured by the United States without regard to any limitations heretofore prescribed by the Congress relating to the disposal of State-owned properties.

Upon establishment of the Petrified Forest National Park, as authorized by this section and section 119a of this title, any remaining balance of funds that may be available for purposes of the Petrified Forest National Monument shall thereafter be available for expenditure for purposes of the Petrified Forest National Park.

( Pub. L. 85–358, §1, Mar. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 69 .)

Transfer of Jurisdiction, Air Force Housing at Radar Bomb Scoring Site, Holbrook, Arizona

Pub. L. 103–337, div. B, title XXVIII, §2844, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3068 , provided that:

"(a) Transfer Authorized.-As part of the closure of an Air Force Radar Bomb Scoring Site located near Holbrook, Arizona, the Secretary of the Air Force may transfer, without reimbursement, the administrative jurisdiction, accountability, and control of the housing units and associated support facilities used in connection with the site to the Secretary of the Interior for use in connection with Petrified Forest National Park.

"(b) Description of Property.-The exact acreage and legal description of the real property to be transferred under subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Interior.

"(c) Additional Terms and Conditions.-The Secretary of the Air Force may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the transfer of real property under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate."