TITLE 40 - US CODE - CHAPTER 87 - PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

TITLE 40 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - GENERAL

40 USC 8701 - Findings and purposes

(a) Findings.—
Congress finds that

(1) the location of the seat of government in the District of Columbia has brought about the development of a metropolitan region extending well into adjoining territory in Maryland and Virginia;

(2) effective comprehensive planning is necessary on a regional basis and of continuing importance to the federal establishment;

(3) the distribution of federal installations throughout the region has been and will continue to be a major influence in determining the extent and character of development;

(4) there is needed a central planning agency for the National Capital region to coordinate certain developmental activities of the many different agencies of the Federal and District of Columbia Governments so that those activities may conform with general objectives;

(5) there is an increasing mutuality of interest and responsibility between the various levels of government that calls for coordinate and unified policies in planning both federal and local development in the interest of order and economy;

(6) there are developmental problems of an interstate character, the planning of which requires collaboration between federal, state, and local governments in the interest of equity and constructive action; and

(7) the instrumentalities and procedures provided in this chapter will aid in providing Congress with information and advice requisite to legislation.

(b) Purposes.—

(1) In general.—
The purposes of this chapter (except sections 8733–8736) are

(A) to secure comprehensive planning for the physical development of the National Capital and its environs;

(B) to provide for the participation of the appropriate planning agencies of the environs in the planning; and

(C) to establish the agency and procedures requisite to the administration of the functions of the Federal and District Governments related to the planning.

(2) Objective.—
The general objective of this chapter (except sections 8733–8736) is to enable appropriate agencies to plan for the development of the federal establishment at the seat of government in a manner

(A) consistent with the nature and function of the National Capital and with due regard for the rights and prerogatives of the adjoining States and local governments to exercise control appropriate to their functions; and

(B) which will, in accordance with present and future needs, best promote public health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity, and the general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.

40 USC 8702 - Definitions

In this chapter

(1) Environs.—
The term environs means the territory surrounding the District of Columbia included in the National Capital region.

(2) National capital.—
The term National Capital means the District of Columbia and territory the Federal Government owns in the environs.

(3) National capital region.—
The term National Capital region means

(A) the District of Columbia;

(B) Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland;

(D) all cities in Maryland or Virginia in the geographic area bounded by the outer boundaries of the combined area of the counties listed in subparagraphs (B) and (C).

(4) Planning agency.—
The term planning agency means any city, county, bi-county, part-county, or regional planning agency authorized under state and local laws to make and adopt comprehensive plans.

TITLE 40 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - PLANNING AGENCIES

40 USC 8711 - National Capital Planning Commission

(a) Establishment and Purpose.—
The National Capital Planning Commission is the central federal planning agency for the Federal Government in the National Capital, created to preserve the important historical and natural features of the National Capital, except for the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds (as defined and described in sections 5101 and 5102 of this title), any extension of, or additions to, those Buildings and Grounds, and buildings and grounds under the care of the Architect of the Capitol.

(b) Composition.—

(1) Membership.—
The National Capital Planning Commission is composed of

(A) ex officio, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, the chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives, or an alternate any of those individuals designates; and

(B) five citizens with experience in city or regional planning, three of whom shall be appointed by the President and two of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor.

(2) Residency requirement.—
The citizen members appointed by the Mayor shall be residents of the District of Columbia. Of the three appointed by the President, at least one shall be a resident of Virginia and at least one shall be a resident of Maryland.

(3) Terms.—
An individual appointed by the President serves for six years. An individual appointed by the Mayor serves for four years. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of the individual being replaced.

(4) Pay and expenses.—
Citizen members are entitled to $100 a day when performing duties vested in the Commission and to reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in performing those duties.

(c) Chairman and Officers.—
The President shall designate the Chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission. The Commission may elect from among its members other officers as it considers desirable.

(d) Personnel.—
The National Capital Planning Commission may employ a Director, an executive officer, and other technical and administrative personnel as it considers necessary. Without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statues (41 U.S.C. 5) and section 3109, chapters 33 and 51, and subchapter III of chapter 53, of title 5, the Commission may employ, by contract or otherwise, the temporary or intermittent (not more than one year) services of city planners, architects, engineers, appraisers, and other experts or organizations of experts, as may be necessary to carry out its functions. The Commission shall fix the rate of compensation so as not to exceed the rate usual for similar services.

(e) Principal Duties.—
The principal duties of the National Capital Planning Commission include

(1) preparing, adopting, and amending a comprehensive plan for the federal activities in the National Capital and making related recommendations to the appropriate developmental agencies; and

(2) serving as the central planning agency for the Government within the National Capital region and reviewing the development programs of the developmental agencies to advise as to consistency with the comprehensive plan.

(f) Transfer of Other Functions, Powers, and Duties.—
The National Capital Planning Commission shall carry out all other functions, powers, and duties of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, including those formerly vested in the Highway Commission established by the Act of March 2, 1893 (ch. 197, 27 Stat. 532), and those formerly vested in the National Capital Park Commission by the Act of June 6, 1924 (ch. 270, 43 Stat. 463).

(g) Estimate.—
The National Capital Planning Commission shall submit to the Office of Management and Budget before December 16 of each year its estimate of the total amount to be appropriated for expenditure under this chapter (except sections 8732–8736) during the next fiscal year.

(h) Fees.—
The National Capital Planning Commission may charge fees to cover the full cost of Geographic Information System products and services the Commission supplies. The fees shall be credited to the applicable appropriation account as an offsetting collection and remain available until expended.

40 USC 8712 - Mayor of the District of Columbia

(a) Planning Responsibilities.—
The Mayor of the District of Columbia is the central planning agency for the government of the District of Columbia in the National Capital and is responsible for coordinating the planning activities of the District government and for preparing and implementing the District elements of the comprehensive plan for the National Capital, which may include land use elements, urban renewal and redevelopment elements, a multiyear program of public works for the District, and physical, social, economic, transportation, and population elements. The Mayors planning responsibility shall not extend to

(1) federal or international projects and developments in the District, as determined by the National Capital Planning Commission; or

(2) the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds as defined and described in sections 5101 and 5102 of this title, any extension of, or additions to, those Buildings and Grounds, and buildings and grounds under the care of the Architect of the Capitol.

(b) Participation and Consultation.—
In carrying out the responsibilities under this section and section 8721 of this title, the Mayor shall establish procedures for citizen participation in the planning process and for appropriate meaningful consultation with any state or local government or planning agency in the National Capital region affected by any aspect of a comprehensive plan, including amendments, affecting or relating to the District.

TITLE 40 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - PLANNING PROCESS

40 USC 8721 - Comprehensive plan for the National Capital

(a) Preparation and Adoption by Commission.—
The National Capital Planning Commission shall prepare and adopt a comprehensive, consistent, and coordinated plan for the National Capital. The plan shall include the Commissions recommendations or proposals for federal developments or projects in the environs and District elements of the comprehensive plan, or amendments to the elements, adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia and with respect to which the Commission has not determined a negative impact exists. Those elements or amendments shall be incorporated into the comprehensive plan without change. The Commission may include in its plan any part of a plan adopted by any planning agency in the environs and may make recommendations of collateral interest to the agencies. The Commission may adopt any part of an element. The Commission shall review and may amend or extend the plan so that its recommendations may be kept up to date.

(b) Review by District of Columbia.—
The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall submit each District element of the comprehensive plan, and any amendment, to the Council for revision or modification, and adoption, by act, following public hearings. Following adoption and prior to implementation, the Council shall submit each element or amendment to the Commission for review and comment with regard to the impact of the element or amendment on the interests or functions of the federal establishment in the National Capital.

(1) Period of review.—
Within 60 days after receiving an element or amendment from the Council, the Commission shall certify to the Council whether the element or amendment has a negative impact on the interests or functions of the federal establishment in the National Capital.

(2) No negative impact.—
If the Commission takes no action in the 60-day period, the element or amendment is deemed to have no negative impact and shall be incorporated into the comprehensive plan for the National Capital and implemented.

(3) Negative impact.—

(A) Certification to council.—
If the Commission finds a negative impact, it shall certify its findings and recommendations to the Council.

(B) Response of council.—
On receipt of the Commissions findings and recommendations, the Council may

(i) accept the findings and recommendations and modify the element or amendment accordingly; or

(ii) reject the findings and recommendations and resubmit a modified form of the element or amendment to the Commission for reconsideration.

(C) Findings and recommendations accepted.—
If the Council accepts the findings and recommendations and modifies the element or amendment, the Council shall submit the element or amendment to the Commission for the Commission to determine whether the modification has been made in accordance with the Commissions findings and recommendations. If the Commission does not act on the modified element or amendment within 30 days after receiving it, the element or amendment is deemed to have been modified in accordance with the findings and recommendations and shall be incorporated into the comprehensive plan for the National Capital and implemented. If within the 30-day period the Commission again determines the element or amendment has a negative impact on the functions or interests of the federal establishment in the National Capital, the element or amendment shall not be implemented.

(D) Findings and recommendations rejected.—
If the Council rejects the findings and recommendations and resubmits a modified element or amendment, the Commission, within 60 days after receiving it, shall decide whether the modified element or amendment has a negative impact on the interests or functions of the federal establishment within the National Capital. If the Commission does not act within the 60-day period, the modified element or amendment is deemed to have no negative impact and shall be incorporated into the comprehensive plan and implemented. If the Commission finds a negative impact, it shall certify its findings (in sufficient detail that the Council can understand the basis of the objection of the Commission) and recommendations to the Council and the element or amendment shall not be implemented.

(d) Resubmission Deemed New Element or Amendment.—
Any element or amendment which the Commission has determined has a negative impact on the federal establishment in the National Capital which is submitted again in a modified form not less than one year from the day it was last rejected by the Commission is deemed to be a new element or amendment for purposes of the review procedure specified in this section.

(e) Review, Hearings, and Citizen Advisory Councils.—

(1) Review.—
Before the comprehensive plan, any element of the plan, or any revision is adopted, the Commission shall present the plan, element, or revision to the appropriate federal or District of Columbia authorities for comment and recommendations. The Commission may present the proposed revisions annually in a consolidated form. Recommendations by federal and District of Columbia authorities are not binding on the Commission, but the Commission shall give careful consideration to any views and recommendations submitted prior to final adoption.

(2) Hearings and citizen advisory councils.—
The Commission

(A) may provide periodic opportunity for review and comments by nongovernmental agencies or groups through public hearings, meetings, or conferences, exhibitions, and publication of its plans; and

(B) in consultation with the Council, may encourage the formation of citizen advisory councils.

(f) Extension of Time Limitations.—
On request of the Commission, the Council may grant an extension of any time limitation contained in this section.

(g) Publishing Comprehensive Plan.—
As appropriate, the Commission and the Mayor jointly shall publish a comprehensive plan for the National Capital, consisting of the elements of the comprehensive plan for the federal activities in the National Capital developed by the Commission and the District elements developed by the Mayor and the Council in accordance with this section.

(h) Procedures for Consultation.—

(1) Commission and mayor.—
The Commission and the Mayor jointly shall establish procedures for appropriate meaningful continuing consultation throughout the planning process for the National Capital.

(2) Government agencies.—
In order that the National Capital may be developed in accordance with the comprehensive plan, the Commission, with the consent of each agency concerned as to its representation, may establish advisory and coordinating committees composed of representatives of agencies of the Federal and District of Columbia Governments as may be necessary or helpful to obtain the maximum amount of cooperation and correlation of effort among the various agencies. As it considers appropriate, the Commission may invite representatives of the planning and developmental agencies of the environs to participate in the work of the committees.

40 USC 8722 - Proposed federal and district developments and projects

(a) Agencies To Use Commission as Central Planning Agency.—
Agencies of the Federal Government responsible for public developments and projects shall cooperate and correlate their efforts by using the National Capital Planning Commission as the central planning agency for federal activities in the National Capital region. To aid the Commission in carrying out this function, federal and District of Columbia governmental agencies on request of the Commission shall furnish plans, data, and records the Commission requires. The Commission on request shall furnish related plans, data, and records to federal and District of Columbia governmental agencies.

(b) Consultation Between Agencies and Commission.—

(1) Before construction plans prepared.—
To ensure the comprehensive planning and orderly development of the National Capital, a federal or District of Columbia agency, before preparing construction plans the agency originates for proposed developments and projects or before making a commitment to acquire land, to be paid for at least in part from federal or District amounts, shall advise and consult with the Commission as the agency prepares plans and programs in preliminary and successive stages that affect the plan and development of the National Capital. After receiving the plans, maps, and data, the Commission promptly shall make a preliminary report and recommendations to the agency. If the agency, after considering the report and recommendations of the Commission, does not agree, it shall advise the Commission and provide the reasons why it does not agree. The Commission then shall submit a final report. After consultation and suitable consideration of the views of the Commission, the agency may proceed to take action in accordance with its legal responsibilities and authority.

(2) Exceptions.—

(A) In general.—
Paragraph (1) does not apply to projects within the Capitol grounds or to structures erected by the Department of Defense during wartime or national emergency within existing military, naval, or Air Force reservations, except that the appropriate defense agency shall consult with the Commission as to any developments which materially affect traffic or require coordinated planning of the surrounding area.

(B) Advance decisions of commission.—
The Commission shall determine in advance the type or kinds of plans, developments, projects, improvements, or acquisitions which do not need to be submitted for review by the Commission as to conformity with its plans.

(1) Submission to commission.—
Within the environs, general plans showing the location, character, and extent of, and intensity of use for, proposed federal and District developments and projects involving the acquisition of land shall be submitted to the Commission for report and recommendations before a final commitment to the acquisition is made, unless the matter specifically has been approved by law.

(2) Commission action.—
Before acting on any general plan, the Commission shall advise and consult with the appropriate planning agency having jurisdiction over the affected part of the environs. When the Commission decides that proposed developments or projects submitted to the Commission under subsection (b) involve a major change in the character or intensity of an existing use in the environs, the Commission shall advise and consult with the planning agency. The report and recommendations shall be submitted within 60 days and shall be accompanied by any reports or recommendations of the planning agency.

(3) Working with state or local authority or agency.—
In carrying out its planning functions with respect to federal developments or projects in the environs, the Commission may work with, and make agreements with, any state or local authority or planning agency as the Commission considers necessary to have a plan or proposal adopted and carried out.

(d) Approval of Federal Public Buildings.—
The provisions of the Act of June 20, 1938 (ch. 534, 52 Stat. 797) shall not apply to federal public buildings. In order to ensure the orderly development of the National Capital, the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of federal public buildings in the District of Columbia and the provision for open space in and around federal public buildings in the District of Columbia are subject to the approval of the Commission.

(e) Approval of District Government Buildings in Central Area.—
Subsection (d) is extended to include public buildings erected by any agency of the Government of the District of Columbia in the central area of the District (as defined by concurrent action of the Commission and the Council of the District of Columbia), except that the Commission shall transmit its approval or disapproval within 30 days after the day the proposal was submitted to the Commission.

40 USC 8723 - Capital improvements

(a) Six-Year Program of Public Works Projects.—
The National Capital Planning Commission shall recommend a six-year program of public works projects for the Federal Government which the Commission shall review annually with the agencies concerned. Each federal agency shall submit to the Commission in the first quarter of each fiscal year a copy of its advance program of capital improvements within the National Capital and its environs.

(b) Submission of Multiyear Capital Improvement Plan.—
By February 1 of each year, the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall submit to the Commission a copy of the multiyear capital improvements plan for the District of Columbia that the Mayor develops under section 444 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (Public Law 93198, 87 Stat. 800). The Commission has 30 days in which to comment on the plan but may not change or disapprove of the plan.

40 USC 8724 - Zoning regulations and maps

(a) Amendments of Zoning Regulations and Maps.—
The National Capital Planning Commission may make a report and recommendation to the Zoning Commission of the District of Columbia, as provided in section 5 of the Act of June 20, 1938 (ch. 534, 52 Stat. 798), on the relation, conformity, or consistency of proposed amendments of the zoning regulations and maps with the comprehensive plan for the National Capital. The Planning Commission may also submit to the Zoning Commission proposed amendments or general revisions to the zoning regulations or the zoning map for the District of Columbia.

(b) Additional Report by Planning Commission.—
When requested by an authorized representative of the Planning Commission, the Zoning Commission may recess for a reasonable period of time any public hearing it is holding to consider a proposed amendment to the zoning regulations or map so that the Planning Commission may have an opportunity to present to the Zoning Commission an additional report on the proposed amendment.

(1) Establishment and composition.—
There is a Zoning Committee of the National Capital Planning Commission. The Committee consists of at least three members of the Planning Commission the Planning Commission designates for that purpose. The number of members serving on the Committee may vary.

(2) Duties.—
The Committee shall carry out the functions vested in the Planning Commission under this section and section 8725 of this title

(A) to the extent the Planning Commission decides; and

(B) when requested by the Zoning Commission and approved by the Planning Commission.

40 USC 8725 - Recommendations on platting and subdividing land

(a) By Council of the District of Columbia.—
The Council of the District of Columbia shall submit any proposed change in, or addition to, the regulations or general orders regulating the platting and subdividing of lands and grounds in the District of Columbia to the National Capital Planning Commission for report and recommendation before the Council adopts the change or addition. The Council shall advise the Commission when it does not agree with the recommendations of the Commission and shall give the reasons why it disagrees. The Commission then shall submit a final report within 30 days. After considering the final report, the Council may act in accordance with its legal responsibilities and authority.

(b) By Planning Commission.—
The Commission shall submit to the Council any proposed change in, or amendment to, the general orders that the Commission considers appropriate. The Council shall treat the amendments proposed in the same manner as other proposed amendments.

40 USC 8726 - Authorization of appropriations

Amounts necessary to carry out this subchapter may be appropriated from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated and from any appropriate appropriation law, except the annual District of Columbia Appropriation Act.

TITLE 40 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - ACQUIRING AND DISPOSING OF LAND

40 USC 8731 - Acquiring land for park, parkway, or playground purposes

(a) Authority To Acquire Land.—
The National Capitol Planning Commission shall acquire land the Planning Commission believes is necessary and desirable in the District of Columbia and adjacent areas in Maryland and Virginia for suitable development of the National Capital park, parkway, and playground system. The acquisition must be within the limits of the appropriations made for those purposes. The Planning Commission shall request the advice of the Commission of Fine Arts in selecting land to be acquired.

(b) How Land May Be Acquired.—

(1) Purchase or condemnation proceeding.—
The National Capital Planning Commission may buy land when the land can be acquired at a price the Planning Commission considers reasonable or by a condemnation proceeding when the land cannot be bought at a reasonable price.

(2) Land in the district of columbia.—
A condemnation proceeding to acquire land in the District of Columbia shall be conducted in accordance with section 1 of the Act of December 23, 1963 (Public Law 88241, 77 Stat. 571).

(3) Land in maryland or virginia.—
The Planning Commission may acquire land in Maryland or Virginia under arrangements agreed to by the Commission and the proper officials of Maryland or Virginia.

(1) Land in the district of columbia.—
Land acquired in the District of Columbia shall be a part of the park system of the District of Columbia and be under the control of the Director of the National Park Service. The National Capital Planning Commission may assign areas suitable for playground purposes to the control of the Mayor of the District of Columbia for playground purposes.

(2) Land in maryland or virginia.—
Land acquired in Maryland or Virginia shall be controlled as determined by agreement between the Planning Commission and the proper officials of Maryland or Virginia.

(d) Presidential Approval Required.—
The designation of all land to be acquired by condemnation, all contracts to purchase land, and all agreements between the National Capital Planning Commission and the officials of Maryland and Virginia are subject to the approval of the President.

40 USC 8732 - Acquiring land subject to limited rights reserved to grantor and limited permanent rights in land adjoining park property

(a) In General.—
The National Capital Planning Commission in accordance with this chapter may acquire, for and on behalf of the Federal Government, by gift, devise, purchase, or condemnation

(1) fee title to land subject to limited rights, but not for business purposes, reserved to the grantor; and

(2) permanent rights in land adjoining park property sufficient to prevent the use of the land in certain specified ways which would essentially impair the value of the park property for its purposes.

(b) Prerequisites to Acquisition.—

(1) Fee title to land subject to limited rights.—
The reservation of rights to the grantor shall not continue beyond the life of the grantor of the fee. The Commission must decide that the permanent public park purposes for which control over the land is needed are not essentially impaired by the reserved rights and that there is a substantial saving in cost by acquiring the land subject to the limited rights as compared with the cost of acquiring unencumbered title to the land.

(2) Permanent rights in land adjoining park property.—
The Commission must decide that the protection and maintenance of the essential public values of the park can be secured more economically by acquiring the permanent rights than by acquiring the land.

(c) Presidential Approval Required.—
All contracts to acquire land or rights under this section are subject to the approval of the President.

40 USC 8733 - Lease of land acquired for park, parkway, or playground purposes

The Secretary of the Interior may lease, for not more than five years, land or an existing building or structure on land acquired for park, parkway, or playground purposes, and may renew the lease for an additional five years. A lease or renewal under this section is

(1) subject to the approval of the National Capital Planning Commission;

(2) subject to the need for the immediate use of the land, building, or structure in other ways by the public; and

(3) on terms the Administrator decides.

40 USC 8734 - Sale of land by Mayor

(a) Authority To Sell.—
With the approval of the National Capital Planning Commission, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, for the best interests of the District of Columbia, may sell to the highest bidder at public or private sale real estate in the District of Columbia owned in fee simple by the District of Columbia for municipal use that the Council of the District of Columbia and the Commission find to be no longer required for public purposes.

(b) Paying Expenses and Depositing Proceeds.—
The Mayor

(1) may pay the reasonable and necessary expenses of the sale of each parcel of land sold; and

(2) shall deposit the net proceeds of each sale in the Treasury to the credit of the District of Columbia.

40 USC 8735 - Sale of land by Secretary of the Interior

(a) Authority To Sell.—
With the approval of the National Capital Planning Commission, the Secretary of the Interior, for the best interests of the Federal Government, may sell, by deed or instrument, real estate held by the Government in the District of Columbia and under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service which may be no longer needed for public purposes. The land may be sold for cash or on a deferred-payment plan the Secretary approves, at a price not less than the Government paid for it and not less than its present appraised value as determined by the Secretary.

(b) Sale to Highest Bidder.—
In selling any parcel of land under this section, the Secretary shall have public or private solicitation for bids or offers be made as the Secretary considers appropriate. The Secretary shall sell the parcel to the party agreeing to pay the highest price if the price is otherwise satisfactory. If the price offered or bid by the owner of land abutting the land to be sold equals the highest price offered or bid by any other party, the parcel may be sold to the owner of the abutting land.

(1) may pay the reasonable and necessary expenses of the sale of each parcel of land sold; and

(2) shall deposit the net proceeds of each sale in the Treasury to the credit of the Government and the District of Columbia in the proportion that each

(A) paid the appropriations used to acquire the parcels; or

(B) was obligated to pay the appropriations, at the time of acquisition, by reimbursement.

40 USC 8736 - Execution of deeds

The Mayor of the District of Columbia may execute deeds of conveyance for real estate sold under this subchapter. The deeds shall contain a full description of the land sold as required by law.

40 USC 8737 - Authorization of appropriations

An amount equal to not more than one cent for each inhabitant of the continental United States as determined by the last preceding decennial census may be appropriated each year in the District of Columbia Appropriation Act for the National Capital Planning Commission to use for the payment of its expenses and for the acquisition of land the Commission may acquire under section 8731 of this title for the purposes named, including compensation for the land, surveys, ascertainment of title, condemnation proceedings, and necessary conveyancing. The appropriated amounts shall be paid from the revenues of the District of Columbia and the general amounts of the Treasury in the same proportion as other expenses of the District of Columbia.