Mineral rights sought for Flight 93 crash site

updated 6:50 p.m. ET April 7, 2009

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service has decided to acquire the mineral rights on a major portion of land at the Flight 93 crash site in western Pennsylvania to help ensure memorial construction isn't delayed.

Just who would retain the oil and gas rights — the landowner or the government — was one of the last open issues in negotiations.

In February, government officials and representatives of the passengers and crew killed when the plane crashed on Sept. 11, 2001, pledged to dedicate a memorial by the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The pledge was made after an agreement was reached when the owner of a key parcel of 275 acres for the site — including the impact site — agreed to allow the court to decide the value.

As part of the agreement, the government and the landowner, Svonavec Inc., were each given the option to explore the possibility of the landowner keeping the mineral rights.

The National Park Service has since decided the government should hold those rights, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. It said doing so is necessary "in order to preserve the sacred nature of the memorial," and it will ask a federal court to determine the value of the mineral rights.

Patrick White, vice president of the Families of Flight 93, said in a statement that the group is hopeful that the government will acquire the land as soon as possible.

"The NPS and the families continue to have access to the site, granted by Svonavec Inc., and we believe that the acquisition will proceed in a timely manner," the statement said.

United Flight 93 was traveling from Newark, N.J., to San Francisco when it was diverted by hijackers with the likely goal of crashing it into the White House or Capitol. The official 9/11 Commission report said the hijackers crashed the plane as passengers tried to wrest control of the cockpit.

All 33 passengers and seven crew members died.

More from msnbc.com Theater troupe makes dreams come true |   Video World Blog: What's at stake in Copenhagen? What do you remember? Take our weekly quiz ‘Three Cups of Tea’ advice for Obama Will nuclear fusion fade ... or finally flare? Giving back for the holiday season? Tell us how On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM LIFE

Life Section Front

Pearl Harbor memories still vivid for some Springsteen, De Niro among Kennedy honorees Once shy, she makes kids’ dreams come true Health reform hits doctor deficit reality   Remains of 43 horses removed after Ohio fire Church selling Tiffany window to survive 1 dead, scores injured in Wyoming bus crash 15-year-old Wis. cheddar sells for $50 per pound U.S., Cuba spar over embargo's impact Abortion doctor to expand practice Life Section Front   Add Life headlines to your news reader: