Marsh-Billings National Historical Park Establishment Act
PL 102-350 (S.2079), enacted 08/26/1992

106 STAT. 934 
PUBLIC LAW 102-350—AUG. 26,1992 
Public Law 102-350 
102d Congress 
An Act 
Aug. 26, 1992 
[S. 2079] 
Marsh-Billings 
National 
Historical Park 
Establishment 
Act 
16 use 410w 
note. 
16 u s e 410w. 
To establish the Marsh-Billings National Historical Park in the State of Vermont, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Marsh-Billings National Historical 
Park Establismnent Act*'. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to interpret the history and evolution of conservation 
stewardship in America; 
(2) to recognize and interpret the contributions and birthplace 
of Gteorge Perkins Marsh, pioneering environmentalist, author 
of Man and Nature, statesman, lawyer, and linguist; 
(3) to recognize and interpret the contributions of Frederick 
Billings, conservationist, pioneer in reforestation and scientific 
farm management, lawyer, philanthropist, and railroad builder, 
who extended the principles of land management introduced 
by Marsh; 
(4) to preserve the Marsh-Billings Mansion and its surround-
ing lands; and 
(5) to recognize the significant contributions of Julia Billings, 
Mary Billings French, Meiry French Rockefeller, and Laurance 
Spelman Rockefeller in perpetuating the Marsh-Billings herit-
age. 
SEC. 3. ESTABUSHMENT OF MARSH-BILLINGS NATIONAL HISTORICAL 
PARK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^There is established as a imit of the National 
Park System the Marsh-Billings National Historical Park in Wind-
sor Coimty, Vermont (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the 
"park"). 
(b) BOUNDARIES AND MAP.—(1) The park shall consist of a historic 
zone, including the Marsh-Billings Mansion, surroimding buildings 
and a portion of tiie area known as "Mt. Tom", comprising approxi-
mately 555 acres, and a protection zone, including the areas pres-
ently occupied by the Billings Farm and Museum, comprising 
approximately 88 acres, all as generally depicted on the map enti-
tled "Marsh-BiUings National Historical Park Boimdary Map" and 
dated November 19,1991. 
(2) The map referred to in paragraph (1) shaU be on file and 
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the 
National Park Service, Department of the Interior. 
16 u s e 410W-2. 
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF PARK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter in 
this Act referred to as the "Secretary") shall administer the park 
16 use 410W-1. 
PUBLIC LAW 102-350—AUG. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 935 
in accordance with this Act, and laws generally applicable to 
units of the National Park System, inclucnng, but not limited to 
the Act entitled "An Act to establish a NationcQ Park Service, 
and for other purposes", approved August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 
1,2-4). 
(b) ACQUISITION OP LANDS.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph 
(2), the Secretary is authorized to acquire lands or interests therein 
within the park only by donation. 
(2) If the Secretaiy determines that lands within the protection 
zone are being used, or there is an imminent threat that such 
lands will be used, for a purpose that is incompatible with the 
purposes of this Act, the Secretary may acquire such lands or 
mterests therein by means other than donation. 
(3) The Secretary may acquire lands within the historic zone 
subject to terms and easements providing for the management 
and commercisd operation of existing hiking and cross-country ski 
trails by the grantor, and the grantor's successors and assigns, 
such terms and easements shall be in a manner consistent with 
the purposes of the historic zone. Any changes in the operation 
and management of existing trails shall be subject to approval 
by the Secretary. 
(c) HISTORIC ZONE.—^The primary purposes of the historic zone 
shaU be preservation, education, and interpretation. 
(d) PROTECTION ZONE.—(1) The primary purpose of the protection 
zone shall be to preserve the general character of the settmg across 
from tile Marsh-Billings Mansion in such a manner and by such 
means as will continue to permit current and future compatible 
uses. 
(2) The Secretary shall pursue protection and preservation alter-
natives for the protection zone by working with affected State 
and loc^ governments and affected landowners to develop and 
implement land use practices consistent with this Act. 
SEC. 6. MARSH-BILLINGS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK SCENIC ZONE. 16 USC 410w-3. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^There is established the Marsh-Billings Establishment. 
National iCstorical Park Scenic Zone (hereinafter in this Act 
referred to as the "scenic zone"), which shall include those lands 
as generally depicted on tiie map entitied ''Marsh-Billings National 
Historical Park Scenic Zone Map" and dated November 19, 1991. 
(b) PURPOSE.—^The purpose of the scenic zone shall be to protect 
portions of the natural setting beyond the park boimdaries that 
are visible from tiie Marsh-BiBings Mansion, by such means and 
in such a manner as will permit current and future compatible 
uses. 
(c) ACQUISITION OF SCENIC EASEMENTS.—Within the boimdaries 
of tiie scenic zone, the Secretary is authorized only to acquire 
scenic easements by donation. 
SEC. 6. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary may enter into cooperative agree-
ments with such persons or entities as the Secretary determines 
to be appropriate for the preservation, interpretation, management, 
and providing of educational and recreational uses for the properties 
in tiie park and the scenic zone. 
(b) FACILITIES.—^The Secretary, through cooperative agreements 
with owners or operators of land and facilities in the protection 
zone, may provide for facilities in the protection zone to support 
activities within the historic zone. 
16 USC 410W-4. 
106 STAT. 936 
PUBLIC LAW 102-350—AUG. 26,1992 
16USC410W-5. SEC. 7. ENDOWMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^In accordance with the provisions of subsection 
(b), the Secretary is authorized to receive and expend funds from 
an endowment to be established with the Woodstock Foundation, 
or its successors and assigns. 
(b) CONDITIONS.—(1) Funds from the endowment referred to in 
subsection (a) shall be expended exclusively as the Woodstock 
Foundation, or its successors and assigns, in consultation with 
the Secretary, may designate for the preservation and maintenance 
of the Marsh-Billings Mansion and its immediate surrounding prop-
erty. 
(2) No expenditure shall be made pursuant to this section unless 
the Secretary determines that such expen(Uture is consistent with 
the purposes of this Act. 
16USC410W-6. 
SEC. 8. RESERVATION OF USE AND OCCUPANCY. 
In acquiring land within the historic zone, tiie Secretaiy mav 
permit an owner of improved residential property within the bound-
aries of the historic zone to retain a right of use and occupancy 
of such property for noncommercial residential purposes for a term 
not to exceed 25 years or a term en(Ung at the death of the 
owner, or the owner's spouse, whichever occurs last. TTie owner 
shall elect the term to be reserved. 
1
6 
use 
410W-7. SEC. 
9
. 
GENERAL 
MANAGEMENT 
PLAN. 
Not later than 3 complete fiscal years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and transmit a general 
management plan for the park to the Committee on Interior and 
Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives and 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of tihe United 
States Senate. 
16 u s e 410W-8. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act. 
Approved August 26, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2079: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-678 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 102-290 (eomm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
June 4, considered and passed Senate. 
July 27, considered and passed House, amended. 
Aug. 6, Senate concurred in House amendment. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 28 (1992): 
Aug. 26, I*residential statement.