The Natchez Trace Parkway Land Conveyance Act of 2013 is a bill that was introduced during the 113th United States Congress. The bill would require the National Park Service to convey about 67 acres of property in the Natchez Trace Parkway to the state of Mississippi. The legislation also would adjust the boundaries of the parkway to include 10 additional acres. The two pieces of land in question originally belonged to Mississippi and were donated to the National Park Service when the NPS was trying to determine where to end the Natchez Trace Parkway. Since the NPS did not choose to use either of the pieces of land, the state would like the land back.
Provisions of the bill
This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, a public domain source. The Natchez Trace Parkway Land Conveyance Act of 2013 would require the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Mississippi, by quitclaim deed and without consideration, all interest of the United States in two parcels of identified land totaling approximately 67 acres. The bill would require the deed of conveyance to the parcel of land located southeast of U.S. route 61/84, and which is commonly known as the bean field property, to reserve an easement to the United States that restricts the use of such parcel only to uses which are compatible with the Parkway. Finally, the bill would adjust the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway to exclude the conveyed land and provides for inclusion in the Parkway of the approximately 10 acres identified as the proposed addition.
S. 304 would require the National Park Service to convey about 67 acres of property in the Natchez Trace Parkway to the state of Mississippi. The legislation also would adjust the boundaries of the parkway to include 10 additional acres. Based on information provided by the NPS, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementing the act would have no significant impact on the federal budget. Enacting S. 304 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. S. 304 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The Natchez Trace Parkway Land Conveyance Act of 2013 was presented to President Barack Obama for signature or veto on September 12, 2013.
Debate and discussion
The bill was supported by the National Park Service, the State of Mississippi, and the City of Natchez. Some of the land being returned to Mississippi was adjacent to Natchez High School and the city planned to use it for recreation.
