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S. 135Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act

Sponsored by Johnny IsaksonSen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Introduced January 12, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:33 AM UTC

The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act changes the name of Ocmulgee National Monument to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and enlarges its protected area by about 2,100 acres. It restricts how the Interior Department can acquire land for the park, prohibiting condemnation and requiring owner consent for private lands. The bill also orders a study of the nearby Ocmulgee River corridor to explore further park expansion and protection measures.

Key Provisions

  • Renames Ocmulgee National Monument as Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and treats all existing references to the monument as references to the new park name.
  • Expands the park’s boundary to add roughly 2,100 acres, as shown on a specific map that will be publicly available.
  • Limits the Secretary of the Interior to acquiring land within the new boundary only through donation or land exchange—no eminent‑domain or condemnation is allowed, and private property can only be included with the owner’s written consent.
  • Specifies that the act does not create any buffer zones outside the park; activities outside the park are not restricted simply because they can be seen or heard from inside.
  • Requires the Secretary to conduct a special resource study of the Ocmulgee River corridor between Macon and Hawkinsville to assess its national significance, feasibility of adding more land to the park system, and protection options, with results to be reported to the relevant congressional committees within three years of funding.
  • Mandates that any land acquired under the act be managed according to existing National Park Service laws and regulations.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

January 12, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 12, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

January 12, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 12, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 135

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 12, 2017

Mr. Isakson (for himself and Mr. Perdue) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To redesignate Ocmulgee National Monument in the State of Georgia and revise its boundary, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act .

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Map

The term map means the map entitled Ocmulgee National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment, numbered 363/125996, and dated January 2016.

(2)

Historical park

The term Historical Park means the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in the State of Georgia, as redesignated in section 3.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

(a)

Redesignation

Ocmulgee National Monument, established pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1934 (48 Stat. 958), shall be known and designated as Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.

(b)

References

Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to Ocmulgee National Monument, other than in this Act, shall be deemed to be a reference to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.

4.

Boundary adjustment

(a)

In general

The boundary of the Historical Park is revised to include approximately 2,100 acres, as generally depicted on the map.

(b)

Availability of map

The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior.

5.

Land acquisition; no buffer zones

(a)

Land acquisition

The Secretary is authorized to acquire land and interests in land within the boundaries of the Historical Park by donation or exchange only (and in the case of an exchange, no payment may be made by the Secretary to any landowner). The Secretary may not acquire by condemnation any land or interest in land within the boundaries of the Historical Park. No private property or non-Federal public property shall be included within the boundaries of the Historical Park without the written consent of the owner of such property.

(b)

No buffer zones

Nothing in this Act, the establishment of the Historical Park, or the management of the Historical Park shall be construed to create buffer zones outside of the Historical Park. That an activity or use can be seen or heard from within the Historical Park shall not preclude the conduct of that activity or use outside the Historical Park.

6.

Administration

The Secretary shall administer any land acquired under section 5 as part of the Historical Park in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

7.

Ocmulgee River corridor special resource study

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of the Ocmulgee River corridor between the cities of Macon, Georgia, and Hawkinsville, Georgia, to determine—

(1)

the national significance of the study area;

(2)

the suitability and feasibility of adding lands in the study area to the National Park System; and

(3)

the methods and means for the protection and interpretation of the study area by the National Park Service, other Federal, State, local government entities, affiliated federally recognized Indian tribes, or private or nonprofit organizations.

(b)

Criteria

The Secretary shall conduct the study authorized by this Act in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United States Code.

(c)

Results of study

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate—

(1)

the results of the study; and

(2)

any findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Secretary.