16 U.S.C. § 431 : US Code - Section 431: National monuments; reservation of lands; relinquishment of private claims

Search 16 U.S.C. § 431 : US Code - Section 431: National monuments; reservation of lands; relinquishment of private claims

The President of the United States is authorized, in his
discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks,
historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic
or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or
controlled by the Government of the United States to be national
monuments, and may reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the
limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area
compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be
protected. When such objects are situated upon a tract covered by a
bona fide unperfected claim or held in private ownership, the
tract, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the proper care
and management of the object, may be relinquished to the
Government, and the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to
accept the relinquishment of such tracts in behalf of the
Government of the United States.