I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5225
To revise the boundaries of the Richmond National Battlefield Park based
on the findings of the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee and the
National Park Service and to encourage cooperative management, protec-
tion, and interpretation of the resources associated with the Civil War
and the Civil War battles in and around the city of Richmond, Virginia.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 20, 2000
Mr. BLILEY (for himself and Mr. SCOTT) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Resources
A BILL
To revise the boundaries of the Richmond National Battle-
field Park based on the findings of the Civil War Sites
Advisory Committee and the National Park Service and
to encourage cooperative management, protection, and
interpretation of the resources associated with the Civil
War and the Civil War battles in and around the city
of Richmond, Virginia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Richmond National Battlefield Park Act of 2000’’.
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act:
(1) BATTLEFIELD
PARK.—The term ‘‘battle-
field park’’ means the Richmond National Battle-
field Park.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) In the Act of March 2, 1936 (Chapter 113;
49 Stat. 1155; 16 U.S.C. 423j), Congress authorized
the establishment of the Richmond National Battle-
field Park, and the boundaries of the battlefield park
were established to permit the inclusion of all mili-
tary battlefield areas related to the battles fought
during the Civil War in the vicinity of the city of
Richmond, Virginia. The battlefield park originally
included the area then known as the Richmond Bat-
tlefield State Park.
(2) The total acreage identified in 1936 for
consideration for inclusion in the battlefield park
consisted of approximately 225,000 acres in and
around the city of Richmond. A study undertaken by
the congressionally authorized Civil War Sites Advi-
sory Committee determined that of these 225,000
acres, the historically significant areas relating to
the campaigns against and in defense of Richmond
encompass approximately 38,000 acres.
(3) In a 1996 general management plan, the
National Park Service identified approximately
7,121 acres in and around the city of Richmond that
satisfy the National Park Service criteria of signifi-
cance, integrity, feasibility, and suitability for inclu-
sion in the battlefield park. The National Park Serv-
ice later identified an additional 186 acres for inclu-
sion in the battlefield park.
(4) There is a national interest in protecting
and preserving sites of historical significance associ-
ated with the Civil War and the city of Richmond.
(5) The Commonwealth of Virginia and its local
units of government have authority to prevent or
minimize adverse uses of these historic resources
and can play a significant role in the protection of
the historic resources related to the campaigns
against and in defense of Richmond.
(6) The preservation of the New Market
Heights Battlefield in the vicinity of the city of
Richmond is an important aspect of American his-
tory that can be interpreted to the public. The Bat-
tle of New Market Heights represents a premier
landmark in black military history as 14 black
Union soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor in
recognition of their valor during the battle. Accord-
ing to National Park Service historians, the sac-
rifices of the United States Colored Troops in this
battle helped to ensure the passage of the Thirteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution to
abolish slavery.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act—
(1) to revise the boundaries for the Richmond
National Battlefield Park based on the findings of
the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee and the Na-
tional Park Service; and
(2) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
work in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia, the city of Richmond, other political subdivi-
sions of the Commonwealth, other public entities,
and the private sector in the management, protec-
tion, and interpretation of the resources associated
with the Civil War and the Civil War battles in
around the city of Richmond, Virginia.
SEC. 3. RICHMOND NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK; BOUND-
ARIES.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.—For the pur-
pose of protecting, managing, and interpreting the re-
sources associated with the Civil War battles in and
around the city of Richmond, Virginia, there is established
the Richmond National Battlefield Park consisting of ap-
proximately 7,307 acres of land, as generally depicted on
the map entitled ‘‘Richmond National Battlefield Park
Boundary Revision’’, numbered 367N.E.F.A.80026A, and
dated September 2000. The map shall be on file in the
appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(b) BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS.—The Secretary may
make minor adjustments in the boundaries of the battle-
field park consistent with section 7(c) of the Land and
Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–
9(c)).
SEC. 4. LAND ACQUISITION.
(a) ACQUISITION AUTHORITY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may acquire
lands, waters, and interests in lands within the
boundaries of the battlefield park by donation, pur-
chase with donated or appropriated funds, or ex-
change. In acquiring lands and interests in lands
under this Act, the Secretary shall acquire the min-
imum interest necessary to achieve the purposes for
which the battlefield is established.
(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR PRIVATE LANDS.—Pri-
vately owned lands or interests in lands may be ac-
quired under this Act only with the consent of the
owner.
(b) EASEMENTS OUTSIDE BOUNDARIES.—The Sec-
retary may acquire an easement on property outside the
boundaries of the battlefield park and around the city of
Richmond, with the consent of the owner, if the Secretary
determines that the easement is necessary to protect core
Civil War resources as identified by the Civil War Sites
Advisory Committee. Upon acquisition of the easement,
the Secretary shall revise the boundaries of the battlefield
park to include the property subject to the easement.
(c) VISITOR CENTER.—The Secretary may acquire
the Tredegar Iron Works buildings and associated land
in the city of Richmond for use as a visitor center for the
battlefield park.
SEC. 5. PARK ADMINISTRATION.
(a) APPLICABLE
LAWS.—The Secretary, acting
through the Director of the National Park Service, shall
administer the battlefield park in accordance with this Act
and laws generally applicable to units of the National Park
System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C.
1 et seq.) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C.
461 et seq.).
(b) INTERPRETATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In administering the battle-
field park, the Secretary shall interpret, for the ben-
efit of visitors to the battlefield park and the general
public, the battles of Richmond in the larger context
of the Civil War and American history, including the
causes and consequences of the Civil War and the
effects of the war on all the American people.
(2) NEW
MARKET
HEIGHTS
BATTLEFIELD.—
The Secretary shall provide for the establishment of
a monument or memorial suitable to honor the 14
Medal of Honor recipients from the United States
Colored Troops who fought in the Battle of New
Market Heights. The Secretary shall include the
Battle of New Market Heights and the role of black
Union soldiers in the battle in historical interpreta-
tions provided to the public at the battlefield park.
(c) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary
may enter into cooperative agreements with the Common-
wealth of Virginia, its political subdivisions (including the
city of Richmond), private property owners, and other
members of the private sector to develop mechanisms to
protect and interpret the historical resources within the
battlefield park in a manner that would allow for contin-
ued private ownership and use where compatible with the
purposes for which the battlefield is established.
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may
provide technical assistance to the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia, its political subdivisions, nonprofit entities, and pri-
vate property owners for the development of comprehen-
sive plans, land use guidelines, special studies, and other
activities that are consistent with the identification, pro-
tection, interpretation, and commemoration of historically
significant Civil War resources located inside and outside
of the boundaries of the battlefield park. The technical as-
sistance does not authorize the Secretary to own or man-
age any of the resources outside the battlefield park
boundaries.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this Act.
SEC. 7. REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED LAW.
The Act of March 2, 1936 (Chapter 113; 16 U.S.C.
423j–423l) is repealed.
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