16 U.S.C. § 698u — Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: findings and purposes

**(a) Findings** Congress finds that— (1) of the 400,000 square miles of tallgrass prairie that once covered the North American Continent, less than 1 percent remains, primarily in the Flint Hills of Kansas; (2) in 1991, the National Park Service conducted a special resource study of the Spring Hill Ranch, located in the Flint Hills of Kansas; (3) the study concludes that the Spring Hill Ranch— (A) is a nationally significant example of the once vast tallgrass ecosystem, and includes buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places pursuant to section 101 of the National Historic Preservation Act ([16 U.S.C. 470a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section470a&num=0&edition=prelim)) 11 See References in Text note below. that represent outstanding examples of Second Empire and other 19th Century architectural styles; and (B) is suitable and feasible as a potential addition to the National Park System; and (4) the National Park Trust, which owns the Spring Hill Ranch, has agreed to permit the National Park Service— (A) to acquire a portion of the ranch, as specified in sections 698u to 698u–7 of this title; and (B) to manage the ranch in order to— (i) conserve the scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife of the ranch; and (ii) provide for the enjoyment of the ranch in such a manner and by such means as will leave the scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. **(b) Purposes** The purposes of sections 698u to 698u–7 of this title are— (1) to preserve, protect, and interpret for the public an example of a tallgrass prairie ecosystem on the Spring Hill Ranch, located in the Flint Hills of Kansas; and (2) to preserve and interpret for the public the historic and cultural values represented on the Spring Hill Ranch.