16 USC 410 - Administration of historical park

Collapse to view only § 410ffff-4. Administration of historical park

§ 410ffff. Definitions
§ 410ffff-1. Findings and purposes
§ 410ffff-2. Establishment of Weir Farm National Historical Park
§ 410ffff-3. Acquisition of real and personal property and services
§ 410ffff-4. Administration of historical park
§ 410ffff-5. Authorization of appropriations

§ 410ffff. Definitions

As used in this subchapter—

(1) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

(2) The term “historical park” means the Weir Farm National Historical Park established in section 410ffff–2 of this title.

(Pub. L. 101–485, § 2, Oct. 31, 1990, 104 Stat. 1171; Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(1), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4917.)

§ 410ffff–1. Findings and purposes

(a) Findings

The Congress finds that—

(1) the Weir Farm in Connecticut is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic site associated with major American artists and several artistic developments;

(2) the Weir Farm, acquired in 1882 by J. Alden Weir, a founder and principal exponent of American Impressionism, has been continuously occupied by working artists and their families who have maintained its significance and integrity as a historic site; and

(3) the Weir Farm, including the house, barns, studios, pond, field, and woods thereon, and the approximately 113 acres of adjacent natural areas owned by the Nature Conservancy and the Town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, provide opportunities for illustrating and interpreting cultural themes of our Nation’s heritage and provide opportunities for public use and enjoyment.

(b) Purposes

The purposes of this subchapter are—

(1) to preserve a significant site of the tradition of American Impressionism;

(2) to maintain the integrity of a setting that inspired artistic expression and encourages public enjoyment; and

(3) to offer opportunities for the inspirational benefit and education of the American people.

(Pub. L. 101–485, § 3, Oct. 31, 1990, 104 Stat. 1171.)

§ 410ffff–2. Establishment of Weir Farm National Historical Park

(a) In general

There is established, as a unit of the National Park System, the Weir Farm National Historical Park in the State of Connecticut.

(b) Description

The historical park shall consist of—

(1) the approximately 2-acre core parcel containing the Weir house, studio, and barn;

(2) the approximately 60 acres and improvements thereon owned by the State of Connecticut;

(3) the approximately 2-acre parcel of land situated in the town of Wilton, Connecticut, designated as lot 18 on a map entitled “Revised Map of Section I, Thunder Lake at Wilton, Connecticut, Scale l’=100’, October 27, 1978, Ryan and Faulds Land Surveyors, Wilton, Connecticut”, that is on file in the office of the town clerk of the town of Wilton, and therein numbered 3673; and

(4) the approximately 0.9-acre western portion of a parcel of land situated in the town of Wilton, Connecticut, designated as Tall Oaks Road on the map referred to in paragraph (3).

The parcels referred to in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b) are all as generally depicted on a map entitled “Boundary Map, Weir Farm National Historic Site, Fairfield County Connecticut”, dated June 1994. Such map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

(d) Acquisition of land for visitor and administrative facilities; limitations

(1) Acquisition

(A) In general

To preserve and maintain the historic setting and character of the historical park, the Secretary may acquire not more than 15 additional acres for the development of visitor and administrative facilities for the historical park.

(B) Proximity

The property acquired under this subsection shall be within Fairfield County.

The acquired property shall be included within the boundary of the historical park and shall be managed and maintained as part of the historical park.

(2) Development

(A) Maintaining natural character

The Secretary shall keep development of the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so that the character of the acquired property will be similar to the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property described in subsection (b).

(B) Treatment of previously developed property

Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall either prevent the Secretary from acquiring property under paragraph (1) that, prior to the Secretary’s acquisition, was developed in a manner inconsistent with subparagraph (A), or require the Secretary to remediate such previously developed property to reflect the natural character described in subparagraph (A).

(3) Agreements

Prior to and as a prerequisite to any development of visitor and administrative facilities on the property acquired under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enter into one or more agreements with the local governmental entity that, in accordance with applicable State law, has jurisdiction over any property acquired under paragraph (1)(A) for the purposes of—

(A) developing the parking, visitor, and administrative facilities for the historical park; and

(B) managing bus traffic to the historical park and limiting parking for large tour buses to an offsite location.

(Pub. L. 101–485, § 4, Oct. 31, 1990, 104 Stat. 1171; Pub. L. 103–449, title II, § 203, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4756; Pub. L. 105–363, § 1(a), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3296; Pub. L. 111–11, title VII, § 7102, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1190; Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(2), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4917.)

§ 410ffff–3. Acquisition of real and personal property and services

(a) Real and personal property

The Secretary is authorized to acquire by donation, exchange, or purchase with donated or appropriated funds, the lands and improvements within the boundaries of the historical park, except that any such lands and improvements owned by the State of Connecticut may be acquired only by donation. The Secretary may also acquire by the same methods personal property associated with, and appropriate for, the interpretation of the historical park: Provided, That the Secretary may acquire works of art associated with the Weir family, J. Alden Weir, and other artists who lived at or visited the site only by donation or purchase with donated funds.

(b) Other property, funds, and services

The Secretary is authorized to accept and use donated funds, property, and services to carry out this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 101–485, § 5, Oct. 31, 1990, 104 Stat. 1172; Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(3), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4917.)

§ 410ffff–4. Administration of historical park

(a) In general

The Secretary shall administer the historical park in accordance with this subchapter and the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes”, approved August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.),1

1 See References in Text note below.

and the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national historic significance, and for other purposes”, approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.),1 except that the Secretary shall take no action with respect to the 60 acres owned by the State of Connecticut within the boundaries of the historical park until such time as the State has transferred all right, title, and interests therein to the Secretary.

(b) Cooperative agreements

(1) The Secretary may consult and enter into cooperative agreements with the Weir Farm Heritage Trust, the State of Connecticut, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and other organizations and groups in the development, presentation and funding of art exhibits, resident artist programs, and other appropriate activities related to the preservation, development, and use of the historical park.

(2) The Secretary may consult and enter into cooperative agreements with the Nature Conservancy and the towns of Ridgefield and Wilton for the purpose of coordinating activities on the historical park with activities on the Nature Conservancy’s Weir Preserve and lands adjoining the historical park owned by the towns.

The Secretary may display, and accept for the purpose of display, works of art associated with J. Alden Weir, the Weir Farm, and the American Impressionist movement, as may be necessary for the interpretation of the historical park.

(d) General management plan

Within 2 complete fiscal years after October 31, 1990, the Secretary shall submit 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 the United States Senate a general management plan for the historical park. The plan shall be prepared in accordance with section 100502 of title 54 and other applicable law.

(Pub. L. 101–485, § 6, Oct. 31, 1990, 104 Stat. 1172; Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(4), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4917.)

§ 410ffff–5. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, except that not more than $4,000,000 may be appropriated for the acquisition of real and personal property.

(Pub. L. 101–485, § 7, Oct. 31, 1990, 104 Stat. 1173; Pub. L. 105–363, § 1(b), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3296.)