16 U.S.C. § 7913 — Closure of Federal land to hunting, fish-

Page 2717 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 7913 1 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘recreational’’. ployees, section 2412 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and section 1304 of Title 31, Money and Fi- nance. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see Tables. SUBCHAPTER II—SPORTSMEN’S ACCESS TO FEDERAL LAND § 7911. Definitions In this subchapter: (1) Federal land The term ‘‘Federal land’’ means— (A) any land in the National Forest Sys- tem (as defined in section 1609(a) of this title) that is administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service; and (B) public lands (as defined in section 1702 of title 43), the surface of which is adminis- tered by the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. (2) Secretary concerned The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means— (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re- spect to land described in paragraph (1)(A); and (B) the Secretary, with respect to land de- scribed in paragraph (1)(B). (Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, § 4101, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 757.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries DEFINITION OF ‘‘SECRETARY’’ Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, see section 2 of Pub. L. 116–9, set out as a note under sec- tion 1 of this title. § 7912. Federal land open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting (a) In general Subject to subsection (b), Federal land shall be open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shoot- ing, in accordance with applicable law, unless the Secretary concerned closes an area in ac- cordance with section 7913 of this title. (b) Effect of part Nothing in this subchapter opens to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting any land that is not open to those activities as of March 12, 2019. (Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, § 4102, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 757.) § 7913. Closure of Federal land to hunting, fish- ing, and recreational shooting (a) Authorization (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) and in accordance with section 1732(b) of title 43, the Secretary concerned may designate any area on Federal land in which, and establish any period during which, for reasons of public safety, adminis- tration, or compliance with applicable laws, no hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting shall be permitted. (2) Requirement In making a designation under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall designate the smallest area for the least amount of time that is required for public safety, administra- tion, or compliance with applicable laws. (b) Closure procedures (1) In general Except in an emergency, before permanently or temporarily closing any Federal land to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting, the Secretary concerned shall— (A) consult with State fish and wildlife agencies; and (B) provide public notice and opportunity for comment under paragraph (2). (2) Public notice and comment (A) In general Public notice and comment shall include— (i) a notice of intent— (I) published in advance of the public comment period for the closure— (aa) in the Federal Register; (bb) on the website of the applicable Federal agency; (cc) on the website of the Federal land unit, if available; and (dd) in at least 1 local newspaper; (II) made available in advance of the public comment period to local offices, chapters, and affiliate organizations in the vicinity of the closure that are sig- natories to the memorandum of under- standing entitled ‘‘Federal Lands Hunt- ing, Fishing, and Shooting Sports Roundtable Memorandum of Under- standing’’; and (III) that describes— (aa) the proposed closure; and (bb) the justification for the pro- posed closure, including an expla- nation of the reasons and necessity for the decision to close the area to hunt- ing, fishing, or recreational shooting; and (ii) an opportunity for public comment for a period of— (I) not less than 60 days for a perma- nent closure; or (II) not less than 30 days for a tem- porary closure. (B) Final decision In a final decision to permanently or tem- porarily close an area to hunting, fishing, or recreation 1 shooting, the Secretary con- cerned shall— (i) respond in a reasoned manner to the comments received; (ii) explain how the Secretary concerned resolved any significant issues raised by the comments; and (iii) show how the resolution led to the closure. (c) Temporary closures (1) In general A temporary closure under this section may not exceed a period of 180 days. Page 2718 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 7914 (2) Renewal Except in an emergency, a temporary clo- sure for the same area of land closed to the same activities— (A) may not be renewed more than 3 times after the first temporary closure; and (B) must be subject to a separate notice and comment procedure in accordance with subsection (b)(2). (3) Effect of temporary closure Any Federal land that is temporarily closed to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting under this section shall not become perma- nently closed to that activity without a sepa- rate public notice and opportunity to com- ment in accordance with subsection (b)(2). (d) Reporting On an annual basis, the Secretaries concerned shall— (1) publish on a public website a list of all areas of Federal land temporarily or perma- nently subject to a closure under this section; and (2) submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Ag- riculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen- ate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that identi- fies— (A) a list of each area of Federal land tem- porarily or permanently subject to a closure; (B) the acreage of each closure; and (C) a survey of— (i) the aggregate areas and acreage closed under this section in each State; and (ii) the percentage of Federal land in each State closed under this section with respect to hunting, fishing, and rec- reational shooting. (e) Application This section shall not apply if the closure is— (1) less than 14 days in duration; and (2) covered by a special use permit. (Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, § 4103, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 757.) § 7914. Shooting ranges (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), the Sec- retary concerned may, in accordance with this section and other applicable law, lease or permit the use of Federal land for a shooting range. (b) Exception The Secretary concerned shall not lease or permit the use of Federal land for a shooting range within— (1) a component of the National Landscape Conservation System; (2) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; (3) any area that is— (A) designated as a wilderness study area; (B) administratively classified as— (i) wilderness-eligible; or (ii) wilderness-suitable; or (C) a primitive or semiprimitive area; (4) a national monument, national volcanic monument, or national scenic area; or (5) a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (including areas des- ignated for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System). (Pub. L. 116–9, title IV, § 4104, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 759.) § 7915. Identifying opportunities for recreation, hunting, and fishing on Federal land (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Secretary The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means— (A) the Secretary, with respect to land ad- ministered by— (i) the Director of the National Park Service; (ii) the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and (iii) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management; and (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re- spect to land administered by the Chief of the Forest Service. (2) State or regional office The term ‘‘State or regional office’’ means— (A) a State office of the Bureau of Land Management; or (B) a regional office of— (i) the National Park Service; (ii) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; or (iii) the Forest Service. (3) Travel management plan The term ‘‘travel management plan’’ means a plan for the management of travel— (A) with respect to land under the jurisdic- tion of the National Park Service, on park roads and designated routes under section 4.10 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); (B) with respect to land under the jurisdic- tion of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, on the land under a comprehensive conservation plan prepared under section 668dd(e) of this title; (C) with respect to land under the jurisdic- tion of the Forest Service, on National For- est System land under part 212 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and (D) with respect to land under the jurisdic- tion of the Bureau of Land Management, under a resource management plan devel- oped under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). (b) Priority lists required (1) In general Not later than 1 year after March 12, 2019, and biennially thereafter during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which the first priority list is completed, the Secretary shall