Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2025
This bill, the Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2025, would expand the boundary of Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky by about 551.14 acres. It does so by updating an existing 1942 law to adjust the price limit for land acquisitions to reflect inflation and by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the identified land (and any interests in it) shown as “Proposed Addition” on a specific map, for inclusion in the park. The land acquisition would be undertaken under the framework of the National Park System and current land-purchase authorities, though the bill does not itself appropriate funds or specify a funding source. The bill was introduced in the House on May 8, 2025, by Mr. Guthrie and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Key Points
- 1Inflation-adjusted acquisition cap: The bill updates the existing $350,000 limit in the 1942 mineral/land-acquisition framework to be adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, ensuring the cap stays current with rising land prices.
- 2Boundary expansion: Adds approximately 551.14 acres to Mammoth Cave National Park, located in southern Kentucky (Edmonson and Barren Counties), to be included as part of the park.
- 3Map-based identification: The lands to be acquired are depicted as “Proposed Addition” on the map titled “Mammoth Cave National Park Proposed Southern Boundary Expansion Edmonson and Barren Counties, Kentucky,” map number 135/177,967, dated May 2025.
- 4Authority to acquire: The Secretary of the Interior would have the authority to acquire the land and any interests in land necessary for inclusion in the park.
- 5Scope of ownership interests: “Interests in land” could include more than fee simple ownership (e.g., easements or other rights), not just outright ownership.