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").
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.
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.
The map described in subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
Not later than 6 months after June 23, 1992, 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.
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2009-
Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (b)(3).
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.
"(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 (
"(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."