- § 410iii. Purpose
- § 410iii-1. Findings
- § 410iii-2. Definitions
- § 410iii-3. Establishment of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
- § 410iii-4. Acquisition of property
- § 410iii-5. Administration
- § 410iii-6. Management of Park
- § 410iii-7. Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Advisory Commission
- § 410iii-8. Conservation of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
- § 410iii-9. Endowment
- § 410iii-10. Cooperative agreements
- § 410iii-11. Roles of key partner organizations
- § 410iii-12. Authorization of appropriations
§ 410iii. Purpose
The purpose of this subchapter is to establish the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park in order to—
(1) help preserve, protect, and interpret a nationally significant Civil War landscape and antebellum plantation for the education, inspiration, and benefit of present and future generations;
(2) tell the rich story of Shenandoah Valley history from early settlement through the Civil War and beyond, and the Battle of Cedar Creek and its significance in the conduct of the war in the Shenandoah Valley;
(3) preserve the significant historic, natural, cultural, military, and scenic resources found in the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove Plantation areas through partnerships with local landowners and the community; and
(4) serve as a focal point to recognize and interpret important events and geographic locations within the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District representing key Civil War battles in the Shenandoah Valley, including those battlefields associated with the Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson campaign of 1862 and the decisive campaigns of 1864.
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 2, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3104.)
§ 410iii–1. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Battle of Cedar Creek, also known as the battle of Belle Grove, was a major event of the Civil War and the history of this country. It represented the end of the Civil War’s Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1864 and contributed to the reelection of President Abraham Lincoln and the eventual outcome of the war.
(2) 2,500 acres of the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove Plantation were designated a national historic landmark in 1969 because of their ability to illustrate and interpret important eras and events in the history of the United States. The Cedar Creek Battlefield, Belle Grove Manor House, the Heater House, and Harmony Hall (a National Historic Landmark) are also listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register.
(3) The Secretary of the Interior has approved the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District Management Plan and the National Park Service Special Resource Study, both of which recognized Cedar Creek Battlefield as the most significant Civil War resource within the historic district. The management plan, which was developed with extensive public participation over a 3-year period and is administered by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, recommends that Cedar Creek Battlefield be established as a new unit of the National Park System.
(4) The Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, organized in 1988 to preserve and interpret the Cedar Creek Battlefield and the 1864 Valley Campaign, has acquired 308 acres of land within the boundaries of the National Historic Landmark. The foundation annually hosts a major reenactment and living history event on the Cedar Creek Battlefield.
(5) Belle Grove Plantation is a Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that occupies 383 acres within the National Historic Landmark. The Belle Grove Manor House was built by Isaac Hite, a Revolutionary War patriot married to the sister of President James Madison, who was a frequent visitor at Belle Grove. President Thomas Jefferson assisted with the design of the house. During the Civil War Belle Grove was at the center of the decisive battle of Cedar Creek. Belle Grove is managed locally by Belle Grove, Incorporated, and has been open to the public since 1967. The house has remained virtually unchanged since it was built in 1797, offering visitors an experience of the life and times of the people who lived there in the 18th and 19th centuries.
(6) The panoramic views of the mountains, natural areas, and waterways provide visitors with an inspiring setting of great natural beauty. The historic, natural, cultural, military, and scenic resources found in the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove Plantation areas are nationally and regionally significant.
(7) The existing, independent, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to the protection and interpretation of the resources described above provide the foundation for public-private partnerships to further the success of protecting, preserving, and interpreting these resources.
(8) None of these resources, sites, or stories of the Shenandoah Valley are protected by or interpreted within the National Park System.
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 3, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3104.)
§ 410iii–2. Definitions
In this subchapter:
(1) Commission
(2) Map
(3) Park
(4) Secretary
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 4, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3105.)
§ 410iii–3. Establishment of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
(a) Establishment
(b) Availability of Map
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 5, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3106.)
§ 410iii–4. Acquisition of property
(a) Real property
(b) Boundary revision
After acquiring land for the Park, the Secretary shall—
(1) revise the boundary of the Park to include newly acquired land within the boundary; and
(2) administer newly acquired land subject to applicable laws (including regulations).
(c) Personal property
(d) Conservation easements and covenants
(e) Support facilities
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 6, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3106.)
§ 410iii–5. Administration
The Secretary shall administer the Park in accordance with this subchapter and the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including—
(1) 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(2) the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes”, approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).1
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 7, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3106.)
§ 410iii–6. Management of Park
(a) Management plan
(b) Submission of plan to Congress
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 8, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3106.)
§ 410iii–7. Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Advisory Commission
(a) Establishment
(b) Duties
The Commission shall—
(1) advise the Secretary in the preparation and implementation of a general management plan described in section 410iii–6 of this title; and
(2) advise the Secretary with respect to the identification of sites of significance outside the Park boundary deemed necessary to fulfill the purposes of this subchapter.
(c) Membership
(1) Composition
The Commission shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary so as to include the following:
(A) 1 representative from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
(B) 1 representative each from the local governments of Strasburg, Middletown, Frederick County, Shenandoah County, and Warren County.
(C) 2 representatives of private landowners within the Park.
(D) 1 representative from a citizen interest group.
(E) 1 representative from the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.
(F) 1 representative from Belle Grove, Incorporated.
(G) 1 representative from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
(H) 1 representative from the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.
(I) 1 ex-officio representative from the National Park Service.
(J) 1 ex-officio representative from the United States Forest Service.
(2) Chairperson
(3) Vacancies
(4) Terms of service
(A) In general
(B) Initial members
Of the members first appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall appoint—
(i) 4 members for a term of 1 year;
(ii) 5 members for a term of 2 years; and
(iii) 6 members for a term of 3 years.
(5) Extended service
(6) Majority rule
(7) Meetings
(8) Quorum
(d) Compensation
(e) Travel expenses
(f) Hearings; public involvement
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 9, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3107.)
§ 410iii–8. Conservation of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
(a) Encouragement of conservation
(b) Provision of technical assistance
(c) Cooperation by Federal agencies
Any Federal entity conducting or supporting activities directly affecting the Park shall consult, cooperate, and, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate its activities with the Secretary in a manner that—
(1) is consistent with the purposes of this subchapter and the standards and criteria established pursuant to the general management plan developed pursuant to section 410iii–6 of this title;
(2) is not likely to have an adverse effect on the resources of the Park; and
(3) is likely to provide for full public participation in order to consider the views of all interested parties.
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 10, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3108.)
§ 410iii–9. Endowment
(a) In general
(b) Conditions
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 11, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3108.)
§ 410iii–10. Cooperative agreements
(a) In general
(b) Technical and financial assistance
The Secretary may provide to any person, organization, or governmental entity technical and financial assistance for the purposes of this subchapter, including the following:
(1) Preserving historic structures within the Park.
(2) Maintaining the natural or cultural landscape of the Park.
(3) Local preservation planning, interpretation, and management of public visitation for the Park.
(4) Furthering the goals of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation related to the Park.
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 12, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3109.)
§ 410iii–11. Roles of key partner organizations
(a) In general
(b) Park partners
Roles of the current key partners include the following:
(1) Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation
The Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation may—
(A) continue to own, operate, and manage the lands acquired by the Foundation within the Park;
(B) continue to conduct reenactments and other events within the Park; and
(C) transfer ownership interest in portions of their land to the National Park Service by donation, sale, or other means that meet the legal requirements of National Park Service land acquisitions.
(2) National Trust for Historic Preservation and Belle Grove Incorporated
(3) Shenandoah County
(4) Park community partners
(5) Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 13, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3109.)
§ 410iii–12. Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subchapter.
(Pub. L. 107–373, § 14, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3110.)