§460nnn–22 — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

§460nnn–22 Roads and travel access

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER CXXV— - STEENS MOUNTAIN COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION AREA › Part Part A— - Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area › Subpart subpart 2— - management of federal lands › § 460nnn–22

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Include a transportation plan in the management plan for the federal lands in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area. The plan must cover keeping roads and trails in good shape, making improvements, closing them, and how people can travel there. Motorized or mechanized vehicles cannot go off-road and may only use roads or trails the plan allows. Vehicles can be used when the Secretary finds they are needed for official work or emergencies, or for building or keeping farm facilities, wildlife work, or ecological restoration, except in wilderness or areas under section 1782(c) of title 43. Any permanent road closure or limit on vehicle access must be decided with the advisory council and the public. New motorized roads or trails can only be built if the Secretary says they are needed for public safety or to protect the environment, after the same consultation. The Secretary may still build or maintain trails for nonmotorized use. Landowners inside the area must be given reasonable access to their property, and valid existing rights-of-way remain in effect.

Title 16, §460nnn–22

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The management plan shall include, as an integral part, a comprehensive transportation plan for the Federal lands included in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area, which shall address the maintenance, improvement, and closure of roads and trails as well as travel access.

(b)(1)The use of motorized or mechanized vehicles on Federal lands included in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area—

(A)is prohibited off road; and

(B)is limited to such roads and trails as may be designated for their use as part of the management plan.

(2)Paragraph (1) does not prohibit the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles on Federal lands included in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area if the Secretary determines that such use—

(A)is needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency; or

(B)is appropriate for the construction or maintenance of agricultural facilities, fish and wildlife management, or ecological restoration projects, except in areas designated as wilderness or managed under the provisions of section 1782(c) of title 43.

(c)Any determination to permanently close an existing road in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area or to restrict the access of motorized or mechanized vehicles on certain roads shall be made in consultation with the advisory council and the public.

(d)(1)No new road or trail for motorized or mechanized vehicles may be constructed on Federal lands in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area unless the Secretary determines that the road or trail is necessary for public safety or protection of the environment. Any determination under this subsection shall be made in consultation with the advisory council and the public.

(2)Nothing in this subsection is intended to limit the authority of the Secretary to construct or maintain trails for nonmotorized or nonmechanized use.

(e)(1)The Secretary shall provide reasonable access to nonfederally owned lands or interests in land within the boundaries of the Cooperative Management and Protection Area and the Wilderness Area to provide the owner of the land or interest the reasonable use thereof.

(2)Nothing in this subchapter shall have the effect of terminating any valid existing right-of-way on Federal lands included in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (e)(2), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 106–399, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1655, known as the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000, which is classified generally to this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 460nnn of this title and Tables.