§ 410ee. Establishment

(a) Composition; boundary revisions

In order to provide for the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of the Spanish Missions of San Antonio, Texas, for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans, there is hereby established the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (hereafter in this section referred to as the “park”) consisting of Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada Missions, together with areas and features historically associated therewith, as generally depicted on the drawing entitled “Boundary Map, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park”, numbered 930–80,022–C and dated May 1978, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and in the offices of the Superintendent of the park. The park shall also consist of the lands and interests therein within the area bounded by the line depicted as “Proposed Boundary Extension” on the maps entitled “San Antonio Missions National Historical Park”, numbered 472–80,075, 472–80,076, 472–80,077, 472–80,078, 472–80,079, 472–80,080, and 472–80,081 and dated June 7, 1990, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the same manner as is such drawing. After advising the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives, in writing, the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) may make minor revisions of the boundaries of the park when necessary by publication of a revised drawing or other boundary description in the Federal Register.

(b) Acquisition of lands and interests; cooperative agreements; submittal to Department of Justice

For the purposes of this section, the Secretary is authorized—

(1) to acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, lands and interests therein constituting the following generally described areas in the historic missions district of the city of San Antonio, Texas—

(A) Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo;

(B) Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna;

(D) Espada Acequia, the section of approximately five miles along the west side of and parallel to the San Antonio River;

(E) Espada Dam and Aqueduct;

(F) Mission San Juan Capistrano;

(G) San Juan Acequia, on the east side of the San Antonio River; and

(H) such lands and interests therein which the Secretary determines are necessary or desirable to provide for public access to, and interpretation and protection of, the foregoing; and

(2) to enter cooperative agreements with the owners of any historic properties, including properties referred to in paragraph (1), in furtherance of the purposes of this section.

Each agreement under paragraph (2) shall provide among other things that the owner will hold and preserve the historic property in perpetuity and will not undertake or permit the alteration or removal of historic features or the erection of markers, structures, or buildings without the prior concurrence of the Secretary, and that the public shall have reasonable access to those portions of the property to which access is necessary in the judgment of the Secretary for the proper appreciation and interpretation of its historical and architectural value. Pursuant to such cooperative agreements and notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary the Secretary may, directly or by contract, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, or develop such buildings, structures, and related facilities including roads, trails, and other interpretive facilities on real property not in Federal ownership and may maintain and operate programs in connection therewith as he deems appropriate. Any lands or interest therein owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio, the State of Texas, or any political subdivision of such State, including the San Antonio River Authority, may be acquired by donation only: Provided, That the Secretary shall submit all proposed cooperative agreements to the Department of Justice for a determination that the proposed agreements do not violate the constitutional provisions regarding the separation of church and state.

(1) With the exception of any property deemed necessary by the Secretary for visitor facilities or administration of the park, any owner or owners of improved property on the date of its acquisition by the Secretary may, as a condition of such acquisition, retain for themselves and their successors or assigns a right of use and occupancy of the property for noncommercial residential purposes, for twenty-five years, or, in lieu thereof, for a term ending at the death of the owner or his spouse, whichever is later. The owner shall elect the term to be reserved. The Secretary shall pay to the owner the fair market value of the property on the date of such acquisition less the fair market value on such date of the right retained by the owner.

(2) A right of use and occupancy retained or enjoyed pursuant to this subsection may be terminated with respect to the entire property by the Secretary upon his determination that the property or any portion thereof had ceased to be used for noncommercial residential purposes and upon tender to the holder of a right an amount equal to the fair market value, as of the date of tender, of that portion of the right which remains unexpired on the date of termination.

(3) The term “improved property”, as used in this subsection, shall mean a detached, noncommercial residential dwelling, the construction of which was begun before January 1, 1978 (hereinafter referred to as a “dwelling”), together with so much of the land on which the dwelling is situated, the said land being in the same ownership as the dwelling, as the Secretary shall designate to be reasonably necessary for the enjoyment or ^[1] the dwelling for the sole purpose of noncommercial residential use, together with any structures accessory to the dwelling which are situated on the land so designated.

(d) Protection and preservation of historical and architectural values; administration

The Secretary is authorized and directed to take prompt and appropriate action in accordance with the provisions of this section and any cooperative agreement hereunder to assure the protection and preservation of the historical and architectural values of the missions and the areas and features historically associated therewith within the boundaries of the park. The park shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with this section and provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this title and sections 461 to 467 of this title.

(e) San Antonio Missions Advisory Commission; membership; Chairman; vacancies; compensation and expenses; meeting and consultation between Secretary and Advisory Commission; termination

(1) There is hereby authorized to be established by the Secretary, a San Antonio Missions Advisory Commission. The Commission shall be composed of eleven members, each appointed for a term of two years by the Secretary, as follows:

(A) one member to be appointed from recommendations made by the Governor of the State of Texas;

(B) one member to be appointed from recommendations made by the County Commissioners of Bexar County, Texas;

(D) one member to be appointed to represent non-Federal property owners whose property is operated and maintained in accordance with cooperative agreements with the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section;

(E) one member from the membership of a local conservation or historical organization; and

(F) six members representing the general public.

The Secretary shall designate one member to be Chairman of the Commission and may fill any vacancy in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

(2) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation as such, but the Secretary may pay expenses reasonably incurred by the Commission and may reimburse members for reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities under this section on vouchers signed by the Chairman.

(3) All appointments to the Commission shall be made by the Secretary within six months after November 10, 1978, and the Secretary, or his designee, shall from time to time, but at least semiannually, meet and consult with the Advisory Commission in matters relating to the park and with respect to carrying out the provisions of this section.

(4) Unless extended by Act of Congress, this Commission shall terminate ten years after the date of its first meeting with the Secretary or his designee.

(f) Authorization of appropriations

(1) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, but not more than $10,000,000 for the acquisition of lands and interests in lands.

(2) For the development of essential public facilities there are authorized to be appropriated not more than $15,000,000.

[1] So in original. Probably should be “of”.

U.S. Code

§ 410ee. Establishment