Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act

This bill lets the U.S. Department of Agriculture approve moving a small memorial for nine Air Force crew members who died in a 1982 training crash. The memorial could be placed at the Stratton Ridge rest area at mile marker 2 on the Cherohala Skyway in Graham County, North Carolina, within the Nantahala National Forest, if the nearby private landowner agrees and the site is approved by the agency and state officials. No federal money can be used for the move or upkeep. Whoever asks for the move must pay all costs, including permits, environmental review, installation, and maintenance. The permit can also include rules to keep the memorial from getting bigger.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Families and community members honoring the nine Air Force crew members; visitors to the Cherohala Skyway and Nantahala National Forest.
• What changes: Allows the memorial to be relocated from private land to the Stratton Ridge rest area, with required approvals and at no federal expense.
• How it works: The Agriculture Department can issue a special use permit; the requester covers all costs and follows any permit conditions.