§410aaa–26 — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

§410aaa–26 Utility rights-of-way

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER LIX–Y— - CALIFORNIA DESERT LANDS PARKS, PRESERVE, AND OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE RECREATION AREAS › Part Part B— - Joshua Tree National Park › § 410aaa–26

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Existing rights-of-way and land title held by the Metropolitan Water District on lands inside Joshua Tree National Park but outside designated wilderness will stay in place. This covers rights under the Boulder Canyon Project Act (43 U.S.C. 617–619b) and the Act of June 18, 1932 (47 Stat. 324). Routine operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement can continue, but must minimize harm to park resources. The Secretary must prepare emergency-access plans for the District’s lands and rights-of-way within 180 days after October 31, 1994, and must consult with the Metropolitan Water District when doing so.

Title 16, §410aaa–26

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Nothing in this part shall have the effect of terminating any validly issued right-of-way or customary operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement activities in such right-of-way, issued, granted, or permitted to the Metropolitan Water District pursuant to the Boulder Canyon Project Act (43 U.S.C. 617–619b), which is located on lands included in the Joshua Tree National Park, but outside lands designated as wilderness under section 601(a)(2). Such activities shall be conducted in a manner which will minimize the impact on park resources. Nothing in this part shall have the effect of terminating the fee title to lands or customary operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement activities on or under such lands granted to the Metropolitan Water District pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1932 (47 Stat. 324), which are located on lands included in the Joshua Tree National Park, but outside lands designated as wilderness under section 601(a)(2). Such activities shall be conducted in a manner which will minimize the impact on park resources. The Secretary shall prepare within one hundred and eighty days after October 31, 1994, in consultation with the Metropolitan Water District, plans for emergency access by the Metropolitan Water District to its lands and rights-of-way.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Boulder Canyon Project Act, referred to in text, is act Dec. 21, 1928, ch. 42, 45 Stat. 1057, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 617 et seq.) of chapter 12A of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 617t of Title 43 and Tables. section 601(a)(2), referred to in text, is section 601(a)(2) of Pub. L. 103–433, which enacted provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title. Act of June 18, 1932 (47 Stat. 324), referred to in text, is not classified to the Code.