Notice of Realty Action: Proposed Exchange of Federally-Owned Lands for State Owned Lands Within the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Boundary Revision at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 23668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10974]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Realty Action: Proposed Exchange of Federally-Owned 
Lands for State Owned Lands Within the Commonwealth of Virginia, and 
Boundary Revision at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County 
Battlefields National Military Park

    I. The following described Federally owned land acquired by the 
National Park Service, has been determined to be suitable for exchange. 
The authority for this exchange is the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 460l-22b).
    These selected Federal lands lie and will remain inside the 
boundaries of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields 
National Military Park (NMP), Appomattox Court House National 
Historical Park (NHP), and Colonial National Historical Park (NHP). 
There are no threatened or endangered species or other species of 
management concern. No cultural or archeological resources are known to 
exist on these properties.
    The United States-owned property to be exchanged to the 
Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is located 
in three parks. All three parks are located within the Commonwealth of 
Virginia. The first tract is at Appomattox Court House NHP. It is a 
0.89 of an acre parcel needed for the widening of Route 701. The next 
tract is located at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields 
NMP. Tract 01-159 is a 0.51 of an acre tract needed for the widening of 
Route 3. The next tract is at Colonial NHP. It is Tract 01-134 and is a 
0.51 of an acre tract needed for the widening of Route 634.
    The exchange will protect park resources and facilitate the 
administration of the park. The National Park Service will retain 
mineral rights. A reverter clause will be included in the deed to the 
Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Transportation in the 
circumstance where the roads are no longer needed.
    Title will be conveyed subject to reservations and exceptions as 
contained in the original deeds as well as existing easements for 
public roads and highways, public utilities and pipelines. VDOT is 
responsible for the provision and maintenance of the respective roads.
    The values of the properties to be exchanged were determined to be 
equal by a current fair market value appraisal.
    II. In exchange for the lands identified in Paragraph I, the United 
States will acquire Tracts 01-171, 01-172 and 06-118 at Fredericksburg 
and Spotsylvania County Battlefields NMP. Tract 01-171 is a 0.06 of an 
acre tract currently outside the boundary near the historic Salem 
Church. Tract 01-172 is a 0.63 of an acre tract near the Salem Church 
and located within the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County 
Battlefields NMP boundary. This will allow for better protection of 
this historic structure. Tract 06-118 is a 0.11 of an acre tract near 
the 15th New Jersey monument and is located within the Fredericksburg 
and Spotsylvania County Battlefields NMP boundary. This will provide a 
buffer area for this monument.
    Acquisition will include all right, title and interest to mineral 
rights. Also the Commonwealth of Virginia will convey to the National 
Park Service an easement over tract 01-135 at Colonial NHP. This is 
that portion of Old Surrender Road (Route 634) from the intersection 
with Route 704, continuing 1.5 miles north until an intersection again 
with Route 704. This will provide a tour road for the park.
    III. Section 5 of Pub. L. 95-42, dated June 10, 1977, authorizes 
the Secretary of the Interior to make minor revisions of the boundary 
of an area, whenever he determines that to do so will contribute to, 
and is necessary for, the proper preservation, interpretation, or 
management of the unit. A minor boundary revision to Fredericksburg and 
Spotsylvania County Battlefields NMP involves land that is needed to 
protect the historic Salem Church by providing sufficient land area 
between the Church and the adjacent roads to enable visitors to gain 
access. The tract proposed for addition is Tract 01-171 and contains 
0.06 of an acre of land. It is depicted on a map entitled Boundary 
Revision for Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields 
National Military Park No. 326-80,050, dated May 1998.
    This parcel of land is located near the Old Salem Church property, 
which is within the boundary of the park. Old Salem Church was the site 
of a Union and Confederate encounter that proved pivotal to Lee's 
ultimate success, believed to be the South's greatest victory, in 
Chancellorsville, just a few short miles to the west. The Church is 
surrounded in a sea of commercialism, all but destroying any historic 
scene. The park is in the process of establishing natural scenes along 
its boundary to preserve what is left of this valuable resource. This 
small tract is needed to add to this important preservation effort.
    Detailed information concerning this exchange, and boundary 
revision, including precise legal descriptions, Land Protection Plans, 
environmental assessments and cultural reports are available at the 
following parks: Superintendent, Appomattox Court House, PO Box 218, 
Route 24, Appomattox, VA 24522; or Superintendent, Fredericksburg and 
Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park, 120 Chatham 
Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22405; or Superintendent, Colonial National 
Historical Park, PO Box 210, Yorktown, VA 23690.
    Adverse comments will be evaluated and this action may be modified 
or vacated accordingly. In the absence of any action to modify or 
vacate, this realty action will become the final determination of the 
Department of the Interior.

    Dated: April 12, 1999.
Warren D. Beach,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 99-10974 Filed 4-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P