H.R. 986 — Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025

This section revises the boundaries of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (i.e., a unit of the National Park System in Vermont that preserves an estate demonstrating pioneering U.S. conservation stewardship) as generally depicted on the map entitled “Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Proposed Boundary Revision”, numbered 456/190,048, and dated August 2023. The park includes (1) a historic zone comprising the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion, surrounding buildings, and a portion of the area known as “Mt. Tom”; (2) a protection zone comprising the Billings Farm and Museum; and (3) the King Farm, divided between the historic and protection zones as determined appropriate by the Secretary of the Interior. The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in appropriate National Park Service offices.

This section revises land acquisition authority under the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act by (1) authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land or interests within the park boundaries by donation, purchase from a willing seller using donated or appropriated funds, transfer from a federal agency, or exchange; (2) requiring that acquisition of the King Farm (as described in section 3(b)(1)(B)(iii)) include mutual rights of access between the acquired land and the park; and (3) authorizing uses of the acquired King Farm for agricultural and forestry purposes customary in Vermont (e.g., crop and tree harvesting, animal husbandry), conservation that preserves its historic working farm and forest character, and related educational activities (e.g., natural history studies). (Thus, the King Farm may continue operating as a working landscape while integrated into the park, which interprets early U.S. conservation stewardship at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller estate in Vermont.)

This section revises the map defining the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park scenic zone to the map titled “Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Proposed Boundary Revision”, numbered 456/190,048, and dated August 2023 (from the “Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Scenic Zone Map” dated November 19, 1991).

This section establishes the National Park Service Stewardship Institute at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (i.e., a Vermont park preserving the legacy of conservation pioneers George Perkins Marsh, Frederick Billings, and Laurance Rockefeller). The Institute's purposes are to (1) advance stewardship practices through workshops, public programs, and similar activities; (2) facilitate National Park Service innovation through research, evaluation, and dialogue; and (3) exchange best practices to enhance leadership, partnerships, and community engagement in conservation and resource stewardship; it is managed as a park program.