USC Subchapter XII

in effect

16 U.S.C. § 111 Establishment; boundaries

There is reserved from settlement, entry, sale, or other disposal and set apart as a public reservation, all those certain tracts, pieces and parcels of land lying and being situated in the State of Colorado, within the boundaries described as follows: Beginning at a point on the north boundary of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in southwestern Colorado where the north quarter corner of unsurveyed fractional section 2, township 34 north, range 15 west, “south of the Ute boundary”, intersects the same; thence south to the south quarter corner of unsurveyed section 26, said township; thence west to the southwest corner of unsurveyed section 25, township 34 north, range 16 west; thence north to the northwest corner of unsurveyed fractional section 1 said township and range; thence west to the southeast corner of fractional section 12, township 34 north, range 16 west, “north of the Ute boundary”; thence north to the northwest corner of section 19, township 35 north, range 15 west; thence east to the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 16, said township; thence north to the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of said section; thence east to the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 13, said township; thence north to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of said section; thence east to the southwest corner of section 7, township 35 north, range 14 west; thence north to the northwest corner of said section; thence east to the southwest corner of section 5, said township; thence north to the northwest corner of said section; thence east to the northeast corner of said section; thence south to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of said section; thence east to the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 4, said township; thence south to the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 16, said township; thence east to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of said section; thence south to the northwest corner of section 22, said township; thence east to the northeast corner of said section; thence south to the northwest corner of section 26, said township; thence east along the north section line of section 26 to the east bank of the Rio Mancos: thence in a southeasterly direction along the east bank of the Rio Mancos to its intersection with the northern boundary line of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, thence west along said Indian reservation boundary to its intersection with the range line between ranges 14 and 15 west, the place of beginning. Said park shall be known as Mesa Verde National Park.

16 U.S.C. § 111a Authorization for acquisition of additional lands

For the purpose of protecting the scenery along the Point Lookout Road between the north boundary of the Mesa Verde National Park and this road’s juncture with the Cortez-Mancos Road, the President of the United States is authorized, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior, to add to the said Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, by executive proclamation, a strip of land two hundred and sixty feet wide along and including said Point Lookout Road, and the triangle formed by the fork in said road and such other public land along or adjacent to said road and right-of-way and lands as may be acquired by gift or by exchanges as hereinafter provided, which lands shall thereupon become and be a part of said park subject to all laws and regulations applicable thereto.

16 U.S.C. § 111b Donations or exchanges of lands

For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section and section 111a of this title the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept donations of land or right-of-way, or to acquire title to any land along or adjacent to the said Point Lookout Road as may be deemed desirable by him for the protection of said road, by exchange for any unappropriated public lands within sections 29 and 32, township 36 north, range 14 west, New Mexico principal meridian, of equal value; the value of the lands offered for exchange hereunder and the value of the lands of the United States to be selected therefor shall be ascertained in such manner as the Secretary of the Interior may direct; and the owners of lands offered to the United States pursuant hereto shall, before the exchange is effective, furnish the Secretary of the Interior evidence satisfactory to him of title to the lands offered in exchange.

16 U.S.C. § 111c Revision of boundaries; vested rights; administration

The boundaries of Mesa Verde National Park are hereby revised to include the following described lands, which, subject to valid existing rights, shall be administered as a part of the park in accordance with the Act entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes,” approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535), as amended and supplemented (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.): 11 See References in Text note below. new mexico principal meridian, colorado Township 36 North, Range 14 West Section 29: All portions of the south half and the southeast quarter northwest quarter lying south and west of the right-of-way of United States Highway 160. Section 32: Those portions of the section lying south and west of the right-of-way of United States Highway 160, except the north entrance road to the park, the southeast quarter southwest quarter, and the southeast quarter northeast quarter southwest quarter. Section 33: That portion of the northwest quarter northwest quarter, more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point on the west line of section 33 which is 456.5 feet south of the northwest corner of section 33, thence running south along the west line of section 33 for a distance of 373.0 feet, thence running east for a distance of 516.8 feet, thence running north for a distance of 132.7 feet, thence running north 65 degrees 06 minutes west for a distance of 570.0 feet along the southwesterly right-of-way of Highway 160 to the point of beginning.

16 U.S.C. § 111d Acquisition of lands within boundaries of park

The Secretary of the Interior may acquire by purchase, with donated or appropriated funds, lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of Mesa Verde National Park as revised by section 111c of this title.

16 U.S.C. § 111e Authorization of appropriations

There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums, but not more than $193,233 as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 111c to 111e of this title.

16 U.S.C. § 112 Control; regulations; prehistoric ruins

Mesa Verde National Park shall be under the exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior, whose duty it shall be to prescribe such rules and regulations and establish such service as he may deem necessary for the care and management of the same. Such regulations shall provide specifically for the preservation from injury or spoliation of the ruins and other works and relics of prehistoric or primitive man within said park.

16 U.S.C. § 113 Examinations, excavations, and gathering objects of interest

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to permit examinations, excavations, and other gathering of objects of interest within said park by any person or persons whom he may deem properly qualified to conduct such examinations, excavations, or gatherings, subject to such rules and regulations as he may prescribe: Provided always, That the examinations, excavations, and gatherings shall be undertaken only for the benefit of some reputable museum, university, college, or other recognized scientific or educational institution, with a view to increasing the knowledge of such objects and aiding the general advancement of archaeological science.

16 U.S.C. § 114 Removal, disturbance, destruction, or molestation of ruins

Any person or persons who may otherwise in any manner willfully remove, disturb, destroy, or molest any of the ruins, mounds, buildings, graves, relics, or other evidences of an ancient civilization or other property from said park shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction before any court having jurisdiction of such offenses shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than twelve months, or such person or persons may be fined and imprisoned, at the discretion of the judge, and shall be required to restore the property disturbed, if possible.

16 U.S.C. § 115 Leases and permits; prehistoric ruins not included

The Secretary of the Interior may, upon terms and conditions to be fixed by him, grant leases and permits for the use of the land or development of the resources thereof, in the Mesa Verde National Park, and the funds derived therefrom shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States. Such leases or grants shall not include any of the prehistoric ruins in said park or exclude the public from free or convenient access thereto.

16 U.S.C. § 115a Mineral resources; exploitation

After January 26, 1931, no permit, license, lease, or other authorization for the prospecting, development, or utilization of the mineral resources within the Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, shall be granted or made.

16 U.S.C. § 117 Exclusive jurisdiction ceded to United States by Colorado; saving provisions; fugitives from justice

Sole and exclusive jurisdiction is assumed by the United States over the territory embraced and included within the Mesa Verde National Park, saving, however, to the State of Colorado the right to serve civil or criminal process within the limits of the aforesaid park in suits or prosecutions for or on account of rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed outside of said park; and saving further to the said State the right to tax persons and corporations, their franchises and property on the lands included in said tracts: and saving also to the persons residing in said park now or after April 25, 1928, the right to vote at all elections held within the county or counties in which said tracts are situated. All the laws applicable to places under the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States shall have force and effect in said park. All fugitives from justice taking refuge in said park shall be subject to the same laws as refugees from justice found in the State of Colorado.

16 U.S.C. § 117c Hunting and fishing; general rules and regulations; protection of property; violation of statutes and rules; penalties

All hunting or the killing, wounding, or capturing at any time of any wild bird or animal, except dangerous animals when it is necessary to prevent them from destroying human lives or inflicting personal injury, is prohibited within the limits of said park; nor shall any fish be taken out of the waters of the park in any other way than by hook and line, and then only at such seasons and in such times and manner as may be directed by the Secretary of the Interior. That the Secretary of the Interior shall make and publish such general rules and regulations as he may deem necessary and proper for the management and care of the park and for the protection of the property therein, especially for the preservation from injury or spoliation of the ruins and other works and relics of prehistoric or primitive man, all timber, natural curiosities, or wonderful objects within said park, and for the protection of the animals and birds in the park from capture or destruction, and to prevent their being frightened or driven from the park; and he shall make rules and regulations governing the taking of fish from the streams or lakes in the park. Possession within said park of the dead bodies, or any part thereof, of any wild bird or animal shall be prima facie evidence that the person or persons having the same are guilty of violating this Act. Any person or persons, or stage or express company, or railway company, who knows or has reason to believe that they were taken or killed contrary to the provisions of this Act and who receives for transportation any of said animals, birds, or fish so killed, caught, or taken, or who shall violate any of the provisions of this Act or any rule or regulation that may be promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior with reference to the management and care of the park or for the protection of the property therein, for the preservation from injury or spoliation of the ruins and other works and relics of prehistoric or primitive man, and timber, natural curiosities, or wonderful objects within said park, or for the protection of the animals, birds, or fish in the park, or who shall within said park commit any damage, injury, or spoliation to or upon any building, fence, hedge, gate, guidepost, tree, wood, underwood, timber, garden, crops, vegetables, plants, land, springs, natural curiosities, or other matter or thing growing or being thereon or situated therein, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both, and be adjudged to pay all costs of the proceedings: Provided, however, That any person or persons who may, without permission from the Secretary of the Interior, in any manner willfully remove, disturb, destroy, or molest any of the ruins, mounds, buildings, graves, relics, or other evidences of an ancient civilization from said park shall upon conviction before any court having jurisdiction of such offenses be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than twelve months, or such person or persons may be fined and imprisoned, at the discretion of the judge, and shall be required to restore the property disturbed, if possible.

16 U.S.C. § 117d Forfeiture of property used for unlawful purpose

All guns, traps, teams, horses, or means of transportation of every nature or description used by any person or persons within said park limits when engaged in killing, trapping, ensnaring, or capturing such wild beasts, birds, or animals shall be forfeited to the United States and may be seized by the officers in said park and held pending the prosecution of any person or persons arrested under charge of violating the provisions of this Act, and upon conviction under this Act of such person or persons using said guns, traps, teams, horses, or other means of transportation, such forfeiture shall be adjudicated as a penalty in addition to the other punishment provided in this Act. Such forfeited property shall be disposed of and accounted for by and under the authority of the Secretary of the Interior.

16 U.S.C. § 118 Appropriations; availability for operation of Aileen Nusbaum Hospital

Appropriations made for Mesa Verde National Park shall be available for the operation of the Aileen Nusbaum Hospital and the furnishing of the necessary service in connection therewith at rates to be fixed by the Secretary of the Interior.