Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§460eee–1 Administration

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER CXVI— - LAKE MEREDITH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA › § 460eee–1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must run the recreation area under the same rules that apply to national park units, including laws passed August 25, 1916, and August 7, 1946. The Secretary can use any legal powers needed to protect natural and cultural resources. The Secretary’s existing authority over Sanford Dam and Lake Meredith under the law of December 29, 1950 (Public Law 81–898) is not changed. The Secretary may buy, exchange, or accept transfers of land inside the park boundary, using donated or appropriated money, and may take land from other Federal agencies without repaying them. The Secretary must survey cultural resources near the area and may work with public or private partners, including landowners, to do that work. A report on the survey must go to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources no later than three years after money is provided. Hunting and fishing are allowed under federal and state law, but the Secretary can close zones or seasons for safety, wildlife management, or public use and must consult state agencies before new rules take effect except in emergencies. The Secretary may sign reimbursable cooperative agreements with federal or Texas authorities (including the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority) for rescue, firefighting, law enforcement, fire prevention, and similar needs, may work with the city of Fritch on a joint information center, and may spend federal funds on non‑federal lands or improvements on a 50–50 matching basis.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §460eee–1

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(a)The Secretary shall administer the recreation area in accordance with this Act and the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the national park system, including the Act entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes”, approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2–4),11 See References in Text note below. and the Act of August 7, 1946 (60 Stat. 885).1 In the administration of such recreation area, the Secretary may utilize such statutory authority as may be available to him for the protection of natural and cultural resources as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(b)Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect or interfere with the authority of the Secretary under the Act of December 29, 1950 (Public Law 81–898; 43 U.S.C. 600b et seq.), to operate Sanford Dam and Lake Meredith in accordance with and for the purposes set forth in that Act.
(c)Within the boundary of the recreation area, the Secretary may acquire lands and interests in lands by purchase with donated or appropriated funds, exchange, or transfer without reimbursement from any Federal agency.
(d)The Secretary shall conduct a survey of the cultural resources in the immediate vicinity of the recreation area. The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with public or private entities, including landowners, for the purpose of conducting the survey required by this subsection. Not later than three years after the date on which funds have been made available, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate on the results of the survey required by this subsection.
(e)(1)The Secretary shall permit hunting and fishing on lands and waters under the Secretary’s jurisdiction within the recreation area in accordance with applicable Federal and State law. The Secretary may designate zones where, and establish periods when, hunting or fishing will not be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, fish and wildlife management, or public use and enjoyment.
(2)Except in emergencies any regulations issued by the Secretary under this subsection shall be put into effect only after consultation with the appropriate State agencies responsible for hunting and fishing activities.
(f)For purposes of administering the recreation area, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with any Federal agency, the State of Texas, or any political subdivision thereof, including the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority, for the rendering, on a reimbursable basis, of rescue, firefighting, law enforcement, fire preventive assistance, and other needs. The Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with the city of Fritch, Texas, to develop and operate a joint venture information center. Federal funds may be expended on non-Federal lands and improvements through cooperative agreements for the purpose of this section on a 50–50 matching basis.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), is Pub. L. 101–628, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4469, which enacted this subchapter, subchapters CXV (§ 460ddd) and CXVII (§ 460fff et seq.) of this chapter, chapter 65 (§ 4601 et seq.) of this title, and former sections 1a–9 to 1a–13 of this title, amended section 410ee, former section 463, and section 1274 and 1276 of this title, enacted provisions set out as notes under section 1132 and 1271 of this title and section 1522 of Title 43, Public Lands, and formerly set out as notes under section 1a–5 of this title, and enacted provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Act entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes”, approved
August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2–4), referred to in subsec. (a), is act Aug. 25, 1916, ch. 408, 39 Stat. 535, known as the National Park Service Organic Act, which enacted section 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 100101 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs. Sections 1 to 4 of the Act were repealed and restated as section 1865(a) of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and section 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of Title 54 by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 4(a)(1), 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3260, 3272. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of former sections of this title, see Disposition Table preceding section 100101 of Title 54. The Act of
August 7, 1946 (60 Stat. 885), referred to in subsec. (a), is act Aug. 7, 1946, ch. 788, 60 Stat. 885, which enacted section 17j–2 of this title. Subsecs. (b) to (g), (i), and (j) of the Act were repealed and restated in section 103102 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs, by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3272. Act of
December 29, 1950, referred to in subsec. (b), is act Dec. 29, 1950, ch. 1183, 64 Stat. 1124, which enacted section 600b and 600c of Title 43 and provisions set out as a note under section 600b of Title 43. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Natural Resources” for “Interior and Insular Affairs” after “Committee on”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 460eee–1

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73