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16 U.S.C. § 1131 — National Wilderness Preservation System
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Establishment; Congressional declaration of policy; wilderness areas; administration for public use and enjoyment, protection, preservation, and gathering and dissemination of information; provisions for designation as wilderness areas** In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness. For this purpose there is hereby established a National Wilderness Preservation System to be composed of federally owned areas designated by Congress as “wilderness areas”, and these shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness, and so as to provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character, and for the gathering and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness; and no Federal lands shall be designated as “wilderness areas” except as provided for in this chapter or by a subsequent Act.
**(b) Management of area included in System; appropriations** The inclusion of an area in the National Wilderness Preservation System notwithstanding, the area shall continue to be managed by the Department and agency having jurisdiction thereover immediately before its inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System unless otherwise provided by Act of Congress. No appropriation shall be available for the p
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-16/section-1131-national-wilderness-preservation-system--00a2b782e6.md
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Source location: Title 16, Chapter 23, § 1131; chapter-023-national-wilderness-preservation-system.md
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**(a) Establishment; Congressional declaration of policy; wilderness areas; administration for public use and enjoyment, protection, preservation, and gathering and dissemination of information; provisions for designation as wilderness areas** In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness. For this purpose there is hereby established a National Wilderness Preservation System to be composed of federally owned areas designated by Congress as “wilderness areas”, and these shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness, and so as to provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character, and for the gathering and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness; and no Federal lands shall be designated as “wilderness areas” except as provided for in this chapter or by a subsequent Act.
**(b) Management of area included in System; appropriations** The inclusion of an area in the National Wilderness Preservation System notwithstanding, the area shall continue to be managed by the Department and agency having jurisdiction thereover immediately before its inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System unless otherwise provided by Act of Congress. No appropriation shall be available for the payment of expenses or salaries for the administration of the National Wilderness Preservation System as a separate unit nor shall any appropriations be available for additional personnel stated as being required solely for the purpose of managing or administering areas solely because they are included within the National Wilderness Preservation System.
**(c) “Wilderness” defined** A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this chapter an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Public use and enjoyment of components; protection of features; management plans** Each component of the national wild and scenic rivers system shall be administered in such manner as to protect and enhance the values which caused it to be included in said system without, insofar as is consistent therewith, limiting other uses that do not substantially interfere with public use and enjoyment of these values. In such administration primary emphasis shall be given to protecting its esthetic, scenic, historic, archeologic, and scientific features. Management plans for any such component may establish varying degrees of intensity for its protection and development, based on the special attributes of the area.
**(b) Wilderness areas** Any portion of a component of the national wild and scenic rivers system that is within the national wilderness preservation system, as established by or pursuant to the Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1131](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1131&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], shall be subject to the provisions of both the Wilderness Act and this chapter with respect to preservation of such river and its immediate environment, and in case of conflict between the provisions of the Wilderness Act and this chapter the more restrictive provisions shall apply.
**(c) Areas administered by National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service** Any component of the national wild and scenic rivers system that is administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the National Park Service shall become a part of the national park system, and any such component that is administered by the Secretary through the Fish and Wildlife Service shall become a part of the national wildlife refuge system. The lands invo
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 1281
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Findings** The Congress finds that—
(1) this Nation historically has recognized the importance of protecting special areas of its public domain, but these efforts have been directed almost exclusively to land areas above the high-water mark;
(2) certain areas of the marine environment possess conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, educational, cultural, archeological, or esthetic qualities which give them special national, and in some cases international, significance;
(3) while the need to control the effects of particular activities has led to enactment of resource-specific legislation, these laws cannot in all cases provide a coordinated and comprehensive approach to the conservation and management of special areas of the marine environment; and
(4) a Federal program which establishes areas of the marine environment which have special conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, cultural, archeological, scientific, educational, or esthetic qualities as national marine sanctuaries managed as the National Marine Sanctuary System will—
(A) improve the conservation, understanding, management, and wise and sustainable use of marine resources;
(B) enhance public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the marine environment; and
(C) maintain for future generations the habitat, and ecological services, of the natural assemblage of living resources that inhabit these areas.
**(b) Purposes and policies** The purposes and policies of this chapter are—
(1) to identify and designate as national marine sanctuaries areas of the marine environment which are of special national significance and to manage these areas as the National Marine Sanctuary System;
(2) to provide authority for comprehensive and coordinated conservat
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 1431
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Findings** The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) The fish off the coasts of the United States, the highly migratory species of the high seas, the species which dwell on or in the Continental Shelf appertaining to the United States, and the anadromous species which spawn in United States rivers or estuaries, constitute valuable and renewable natural resources. These fishery resources contribute to the food supply, economy, and health of the Nation and provide recreational opportunities.
(2) Certain stocks of fish have declined to the point where their survival is threatened, and other stocks of fish have been so substantially reduced in number that they could become similarly threatened as a consequence of (A) increased fishing pressure, (B) the inadequacy of fishery resource conservation and management practices and controls, or (C) direct and indirect habitat losses which have resulted in a diminished capacity to support existing fishing levels.
(3) Commercial and recreational fishing constitutes a major source of employment and contributes significantly to the economy of the Nation. Many coastal areas are dependent upon fishing and related activities, and their economies have been badly damaged by the overfishing of fishery resources at an ever-increasing rate over the past decade. The activities of massive foreign fishing fleets in waters adjacent to such coastal areas have contributed to such damage, interfered with domestic fishing efforts, and caused destruction of the fishing gear of United States fishermen.
(4) International fishery agreements have not been effective in preventing or terminating the overfishing of these valuable fishery resources. There is danger that irreversible effects from overfishing will take place before an effectiv
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 1801
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Authority of Secretary** The National Park Service, under the direction of the Secretary, shall administer, protect, and develop the park, subject to the provisions of the Act entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes”, approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535) as amended and supplemented ([16 U.S.C. 1–4](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1–4&num=0&edition=prelim)).11 See References in Text note below.
**(b) Easements and rights-of-way** The Secretary shall grant easements and rights-of-way on a nondiscriminatory basis upon, over, under, across, or along any component of the park area unless he finds that the route of such easements and rights-of-way would have significant adverse effects on the administration of the park.
**(c) Report by Secretary** Within three years from December 18, 1971, the Secretary of the Interior shall report to the President, in accordance with subsections 3(c) and 3(d) of the Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1132](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1132&num=0&edition=prelim) (c) and (d)], his recommendations as to the suitability or nonsuitability of any area within the park for preservation as wilderness, and any designation of any such area as a wilderness shall be in accordance with said Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1131](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1131&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.].
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 273d
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
As used in this Act (except that in titles IX and XIV the following terms shall have the same meaning as they have in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [[43 U.S.C. 1601](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title43-section1601&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], and the Alaska Statehood Act)—
(1) The term “land” means lands, waters, and interests therein.
(2) The term “Federal land” means lands the title to which is in the United States after December 2, 1980.
(3) The term “public lands” means land situated in Alaska which, after December 2, 1980, are Federal lands, except—
(A) land selections of the State of Alaska which have been tentatively approved or validly selected under the Alaska Statehood Act and lands which have been confirmed to, validly selected by, or granted to the Territory of Alaska or the State under any other provision of Federal law;
(B) land selections of a Native Corporation made under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [[43 U.S.C. 1601](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title43-section1601&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] which have not been conveyed to a Native Corporation, unless any such selection is determined to be invalid or is relinquished; and
(C) lands referred to in section 19(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [[43 U.S.C. 1618(b)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title43-section1618/b&num=0&edition=prelim)].
(4) The term “conservation system unit” means any unit in Alaska of the National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems, National Trails System, National Wilderness Preservation System, or a National Forest Monument including existing units, units established, designated, or expan
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 3102
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Mineral assessments** The Secretary shall, to the full extent of his authority, assess the oil, gas, and other mineral potential on all public lands in the State of Alaska in order to expand the data base with respect to the mineral potential of such lands. The mineral assessment program may include, but shall not be limited to, techniques such as side-looking radar imagery and, on public lands other than such lands within the national park system, core and test drilling for geologic information, notwithstanding any restriction on such drilling under the Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1131](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1131&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.]. For purposes of this Act, core and test drilling means the extraction by drilling of subsurface geologic samples in order to assess the metalliferous or other mineral values of geologic terrain, but shall not be construed as including exploratory drilling of oil and gas test wells. To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consult and exchange information with the State of Alaska regarding the responsibilities of the Secretary under this section and similar programs undertaken by the State. In order to carry out mineral assessments authorized under this or any other law, including but not limited to the National Uranium Resource Evaluation program, the Secretary shall allow for access by air for assessment activities permitted in this subsection to all public lands involved in such study. He shall consult with the Secretary of Energy and heads of other Federal agencies carrying out such programs, to determine such reasonable requirements as may be necessary to protect the resources of such area, including fish and wildlife. Such requirements may provide that
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 3150
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Existing facilities** Within conservation system units established or expanded by this Act, reasonable access to, and operation and maintenance of, existing air and water navigation aids, communications sites and related facilities and existing facilities for weather, climate, and fisheries research and monitoring shall be permitted in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to units of such systems, as appropriate. Reasonable access to and operation and maintenance of facilities for national defense purposes and related air and water navigation aids within or adjacent to such areas shall continue in accordance with the laws and regulations governing such facilities notwithstanding any other provision of this Act. Nothing in the Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1131](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1131&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] shall be deemed to prohibit such access, operation and maintenance within wilderness areas designated by this Act.
**(b) New facilities** The establishment, operation, and maintenance within any conservation system unit of new air and water navigation aids and related facilities, facilities for national defense purposes, and related air and water navigation aids, and facilities for weather, climate, and fisheries research and monitoring shall be permitted but only (1) after consultation with the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate, by the head of the Federal department or agency undertaking such establishment, operation, or maintenance, and (2) in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed in order to minimize the adverse effects of such activities within such unit.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 3199
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Application only to Alaska** The provisions of this section are enacted in recognition of the unique conditions in Alaska. Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand, diminish, or modify the provisions of the Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1131](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1131&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] or the application or interpretation of such provisions with respect to lands outside of Alaska.
**(b) Aquaculture** In accordance with the goal of restoring and maintaining fish production in the State of Alaska to optimum sustained yield levels and in a manner which adequately assures protection, preservation, enhancement, and rehabilitation of the wilderness resource, the Secretary of Agriculture may permit fishery research, management, enhancement, and rehabilitation activities within national forest wilderness and national forest wilderness study areas designated by this Act. Subject to reasonable regulations, permanent improvements and facilities such as fishways, fish weirs, fish ladders, fish hatcheries, spawning channels, stream clearance, egg planting, and other accepted means of maintaining, enhancing, and rehabilitating fish stocks may be permitted by the Secretary to achieve this objective. Any fish hatchery, fishpass or other aquaculture facility authorized for any such area shall be constructed, managed, and operated in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts on the wilderness character of the area. Developments for any such activities shall involve those facilities essential to these operations and shall be constructed in such rustic manner as to blend into the natural character of the area. Reasonable access solely for the purposes of this subsection, including temporary use of motorized e
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 3203
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The Congress hereby finds that—
(1) proclamations by Presidents Herbert Hoover in 1933 and Franklin Roosevelt in 1937 established and expanded the Death Valley National Monument for the preservation of the unusual features of scenic, scientific, and educational interest therein contained;
(2) Death Valley National Monument is today recognized as a major unit of the National Park System, having extraordinary values enjoyed by millions of visitors;
(3) the monument boundaries established in the 1930’s exclude and thereby expose to incompatible development and inconsistent management, contiguous Federal lands of essential and superlative natural, ecological, geological, archeological, paleontological, cultural, historical ad 11 So in original. Probably should be “and”. wilderness values;
(4) Death Valley National Monument should be substantially enlarged by the addition of all contiguous Federal lands of national park caliber and afforded full recognition and statutory protection as a National Park; and
(5) the wilderness within Death Valley should receive maximum statutory protection by designation pursuant to the Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1131](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1131&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.].
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 410aaa
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The Congress finds that—
(1) a proclamation by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1936 established Joshua Tree National Monument to protect various objects of historical and scientific interest;
(2) Joshua Tree National Monument today is recognized as a major unit of the National Park System, having extraordinary values enjoyed by millions of visitors;
(3) the monument boundaries as modified in 1950 and 1961 exclude and thereby expose to incompatible development and inconsistent management, contiguous Federal lands of essential and superlative natural, ecological, archeological, paleontological, cultural, historical, and wilderness values;
(4) Joshua Tree National Monument should be enlarged by the addition of contiguous Federal lands of national park caliber, and afforded full recognition and statutory protection as a National Park; and
(5) the nondesignated wilderness within Joshua Tree should receive statutory protection by designation pursuant to the Wilderness Act [[16 U.S.C. 1131](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title16-section1131&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.].
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 16 U.S.C. § 410aaa–21
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