§ 410tt. — Findings.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC410tt]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 1--NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES
SUBCHAPTER LIX-R--SALT RIVER BAY NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND ECOLOGICAL
PRESERVE AT ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS
Sec. 410tt. Findings
The Congress finds that the Salt River Bay area of the north central
coast of St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands--
(1) has been inhabited, possibly as far back as 2000 B.C., and
encompasses all major cultural periods in the United States Virgin
Islands;
(2) contains the only ceremonial ball court ever discovered in
the Lesser Antilles, village middens, and burial grounds which can
provide evidence for the interpretation of Caribbean life prior to
Columbus;
(3) is the only known site where members of the Columbus
expeditions set foot on what is now United States territory;
(4) was a focal point of various European attempts to colonize
the area during the post-Columbian period and contains sites of
Spanish, French, Dutch, English, and Danish settlements, including
Fort Sale, one of the few remaining earthwork fortifications in the
Western Hemisphere;
(5) presents an outstanding opportunity to preserve and
interpret Caribbean history and culture, including the impact of
European exploration and settlement;
(6) has been a national natural landmark since February 1980 and
has been nominated for acquisition as a nationally significant
wildlife habitat;
(7) contains the largest remaining mangrove forest in the United
States Virgin Islands and a variety of tropical marine and
terrestrial ecosystems which should be preserved and kept unimpaired
for the benefit of present and future generations; and
(8) is worthy of a comprehensive preservation effort that should
be carried out in partnership between the Federal Government and the
Government of the United States Virgin Islands.
(Pub. L. 102-247, title I, Sec. 102, Feb. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 33.)
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 102-247 provided that: ``This Act [enacting
this subchapter, sections 5204 to 5204c of Title 42, The Public Health
and Welfare, and sections 1469e and 1973 of Title 48, Territories and
Insular Possessions, amending section 5122 of Title 42 and section 1903
of Title 48, enacting provisions set out as a note under this section,
and amending provisions set out as a note under section 301 of Title 7,
Agriculture] may be cited as the `Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1992'.''
Section 101 of title I of Pub. L. 102-247 provided that: ``This
title [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the `Salt River Bay
National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve at St. Croix, Virgin
Islands, Act of 1992'.''
