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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§410aaa–82 Military overflights

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 D— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 410aaa–82

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows low-level military aircraft to fly over new national park units, new wilderness units, scenic areas, off-highway vehicle recreation areas, and special management areas created by the Act, even if those flights can be seen or heard there. It also allows creating special airspace and using or establishing military flight training routes over those new park or wilderness units. This does not change powers given by other federal laws. It also does not affect the Secretary of Defense’s authority to run military operations at installations and ranges inside the California Desert Conservation Area that are allowed by other laws.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §410aaa–82

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Nothing in this Act, the Wilderness Act [16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.], or other land management laws generally applicable to the new units of the National Park or Wilderness Preservation Systems (or any additions to existing units), scenic areas, off-highway vehicle recreation areas, or special management areas designated by this Act, shall restrict or preclude low-level overflights of military aircraft over such units, including military overflights that can be seen or heard within such units.
(b)Nothing in this Act, the Wilderness Act [16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.], or other land management laws generally applicable to the new units of the National Park or Wilderness Preservation Systems (or any additions to existing units), scenic areas, off-highway vehicle recreation areas, or special management areas designated by this Act, shall restrict or preclude the designation of new units of special airspace or the use or establishment of military flight training routes over such new park system or wilderness units.
(c)Nothing in this section shall be construed to modify, expand, or diminish any authority under other Federal law.
(d)Nothing in this Act alters any authority of the Secretary of Defense to conduct military operations at installations and ranges within the California Desert Conservation Area that are authorized under any other provision of law.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsecs. (a), (b), and (d), is defined in section 3 of Pub. L. 103–433, which is set out as a Definitions note under section 410aaa of this title. The Wilderness Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), is Pub. L. 88–577, Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 890, which is classified generally to chapter 23 (§ 1131 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1131 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2019—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 116–9, § 1460(b)(1), (2), inserted “, scenic areas, off-highway vehicle recreation areas, or special management areas” before “designated by this Act”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–9, § 1460(b)(3), added subsec. (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

and Findings Pub. L. 103–433, title VIII, § 801, Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4501, as amended by Pub. L. 116–9, title I, § 1460(a), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 718, provided that: “(a)

Short Title

.—This title [enacting this section] may be cited as the ‘California Military Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1994’. “(b) Findings.—The Congress finds that—“(1) military aircraft testing and training activities as well as demilitarization activities in California are an important part of the national defense system of the United States, and are essential in order to secure for the American people of this and future generations an enduring and viable national defense system; “(2) the National Park System units, special management areas, off-highway vehicle recreation areas, scenic areas, and wilderness areas designated by this Act [see section 3 of Pub. L. 103–433, set out as a Definitions note under section 410aaa of this title] lie within a region critical to providing training, research, and development for the Armed Forces of the United States and its allies; “(3) there is a lack of alternative sites available for these military training, testing, and research activities; “(4) continued use of the lands and airspace in the California desert region is essential for military purposes; and “(5) continuation of these military activities, under appropriate terms and conditions, is not incompatible with the protection and proper management of the natural, environmental, cultural, and other resources and values of the Federal lands in the California desert area.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 410aaa–82

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73