§460ooo–4 Management of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior must manage the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area to protect, conserve, and improve its natural and cultural resources under federal land laws. Only activities that support the area's purposes (as listed in the law) are allowed. Grazing is allowed if it follows all laws and rules. Motorized vehicles can be used only for administration or emergencies, or on roads and trails specifically allowed: before a new management plan takes effect, only on routes shown for motor use in the plan that applied on December 6, 2000; after a new plan takes effect, only on routes that plan allows. The FAA approved restricted military airspace (Areas 2303A and 2303B) before December 6, 2000, and the conservation designation does not change military flight restrictions or stop the military from asking the FAA for new or changed restricted airspace. Hunting is allowed under U.S. and Arizona laws, though the Secretary can, after talking with Arizona’s wildlife agency, set no-hunting zones or times for safety or public use. The Secretary may act to prevent major fires, insect outbreaks, or disease. No buffer zones around the area will be created, and uses outside the area that are not allowed inside may continue up to the boundary. Except for valid existing rights, all federal lands inside the Conservation Area and any lands the United States later acquires there are withdrawn from public land entry, mining claims, and mineral or geothermal leasing under the relevant laws. The Secretary must allow reasonable access to privately owned lands inside the area and must respect valid existing rights-of-way.