16 U.S. Code § 410nnn–1 - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

(a) Establishment

In order to preserve for the education, benefit, and inspiration of present and future generations the nationally significant site of the first battle of the Mexican-American War, and to provide for its interpretation in such manner as to portray the battle and the Mexican-American War and its related political, diplomatic, military and social causes and consequences, there is hereby established the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park in the State of Texas (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the “historical park”).

(b) Boundary

(1) In general

The historical park shall consist of approximately 3,400 acres as generally depicted on the map entitled “Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park”, numbered 469–80,002, and dated March 1991. The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the Director of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

(2) Additional land

(A) In general

(i) In addition to the land described in paragraph (1), the historical park shall consist of—

(I) the approximately 34 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map entitled “Palo Alto Battlefield NHS Proposed Boundary Expansion”, numbered 469/80,012, and dated May 21, 2008; and

(II) on the date that such land is donated to the United States, the approximately 166.44 acres of land generally depicted on the map entitled “PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK Proposed Boundary Addition, Fort Brown Unit”, numbered 469/143,589, and dated April 2018.

(ii) Before accepting any donated land described in this subparagraph, the Secretary shall complete a boundary study analyzing the feasibility of adding the land to the national historical park.

(iii) If a boundary study completed under clause (ii) finds that acceptance of the donated land is feasible and appropriate, the Secretary may accept such land and administer the land as part of the historical park after providing notice of such finding to Congress.

(B) Availability of maps

The maps described in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

(3) Legal description

Not later than 6 months after the addition of lands to the historic park boundary, the Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Secretary”) shall file a legal description of the historical park with the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives and with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate. Such legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and typographic errors in such legal description and in the maps referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2). The legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The Secretary may, from time to time, make minor revisions in the boundary of the historical park.

(Pub. L. 102–304, § 3, June 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 256; Pub. L. 111–11, title VII, § 7113(a)(3), (b), Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1201, 1202; Pub. L. 117–328, div. DD, title VI, § 620, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5607.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 117–328, § 620(a), which directed amendment of section 3(b)(2) of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Act of 1991 by amending subpar. (A) generally and substituting “maps” for “map” in the heading and text of subpar. (B), was executed to subsec. (b)(2) of this section, which is section 3 of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Act of 1991, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “In addition to the land described in paragraph (1), the historical park shall consist of approximately 34 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘Palo Alto Battlefield NHS Proposed Boundary Expansion’, numbered 469/80,012, and dated May 21, 2008.”

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 117–328, § 620(b), which directed amendment of section 3(b)(3) of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Act of 1991 by substituting “after the addition of lands to the historic park boundary, the Secretary of the Interior” for “after June 23, 1992, the Secretary of the Interior”, was executed to subsec. (b)(3) of this section, which is section 3 of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Act of 1991, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

2009—Pub. L. 111–11, § 7113(a)(3)(B), substituted “National Historical Park” for “National Historic Site” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7113(a)(3)(A), (C), substituted “National Historical Park” for “National Historic Site” and “historical park” for “historic site”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7113(b)(1), inserted heading.

Pub. L. 111–11, § 7113(a)(3)(A), (C), substituted “historical park” for “historic site” and “National Historical Park” for “National Historic Site”.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7113(b)(3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

Pub. L. 111–11, § 7113(a)(3)(C), substituted “historical park” for “historic site” in two places.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7113(b)(4), inserted heading and substituted “Not later than” for “Within” and “maps referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2)” for “map referred to in paragraph (1)”.

Pub. L. 111–11, § 7113(b)(2), redesignated par. (2) as (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives on Jan. 5, 1993, by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Third Congress.

Establishment of Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site

Pub. L. 95–625, title V, § 506, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3500, provided that:

“(a) In order to preserve and commemorate for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations an area of unique historical significance as one of only two important battles of the Mexican War fought on American soil, the Secretary [of the Interior] is authorized to establish the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site [now Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park] in the State of Texas.

“(b) For the purposes of this section, the Secretary is authorized to acquire by donation, purchase, or exchange, not to exceed fifty acres of lands and interests therein, comprising the initial unit, in the vicinity of the site of the battle of Palo Alto, at the junction of Farm Roads 1847 and 511, 6.3 miles north of Brownsville, Texas. The Secretary shall complete a study and recommend to the Congress such additions as are required to fully protect the historic integrity of the battlefield by June 30, 1979. The Secretary shall establish the historic site by publication of a notice to that effect in the Federal Register at such time as he determines that sufficient property to constitute an administrable unit has been acquired. Pending such establishment and thereafter, the Secretary shall administer the property acquired pursuant to this section in accordance with this section and provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535) [see 18 U.S.C. 1865(a), 54 U.S.C. 100101(a), 100301 et seq., 100751(a), 100752, 100753, 102101] and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666) [see 18 U.S.C. 1866(a), 54 U.S.C. 102303, 102304, 320101 et seq.].

“(c) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for lands and interests in lands and $200,000 for development to carry out the provisions of this section.”