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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§460ppp–3 Management

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER CXXVII— - BLACK ROCK DESERT-HIGH ROCK CANYON EMIGRANT TRAILS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA › § 460ppp–3

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, must run the conservation area to protect and improve its natural, cultural, and recreational resources. The area must stay open enough for people to use and enjoy. Private landowners inside the area must be given reasonable access. Existing public routes can be kept if they fit the area's purpose. Only activities that help the area's goals are allowed. Motor vehicles are allowed only on roads, trails, or places the management plan names, except for official work or emergencies. Large public events may continue in defined, low-impact spots on the Black Rock Desert playa if the plan allows them. The State of Nevada keeps its role over fish and wildlife, including hunting and fishing rules. Within three years after December 21, 2000, the Secretary must write a public resource management plan that guides long-term use. Current grazing that is permitted may continue under the law. The Secretary can create visitor centers with partners and may allow gravel pits for road upkeep under the Materials Act of 1947, as long as those actions follow the rules and the management plan.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §460ppp–3

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, shall manage the conservation area in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances its resources and values, including those resources and values specified in subsection 11 So in original. Probably should be “section”. 460ppp–2(a) of this title, in accordance with this subchapter, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and other applicable provisions of law.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall maintain adequate access for the reasonable use and enjoyment of the conservation area.
(2)The Secretary shall provide reasonable access to privately owned land or interests in land within the boundaries of the conservation area.
(3)The Secretary is authorized to maintain existing public access within the boundaries of the conservation area in a manner consistent with the purposes for which the conservation area was established.
(c)(1)The Secretary shall only allow such uses of the conservation area as the Secretary finds will further the purposes for which the conservation area is established.
(2)Except where needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency, use of motorized vehicles in the conservation area shall be permitted only on roads and trails and in other areas designated for use of motorized vehicles as part of the management plan prepared pursuant to subsection (e).
(3)The Secretary may continue to permit large-scale events in defined, low impact areas of the Black Rock Desert playa in the conservation area in accordance with the management plan prepared pursuant to subsection (e).
(d)Nothing in this subchapter shall be deemed to diminish the jurisdiction of the State of Nevada with respect to fish and wildlife management, including regulation of hunting and fishing, on public lands within the conservation area.
(e)Within three years following December 21, 2000, the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive resource management plan for the long-term protection and management of the conservation area. The plan shall be developed with full public participation and shall describe the appropriate uses and management of the conservation area consistent with the provisions of this subchapter. The plan may incorporate appropriate decisions contained in any current management or activity plan for the area and may use information developed in previous studies of the lands within or adjacent to the conservation area.
(f)Where the Secretary of the Interior currently permits livestock grazing in the conservation area, such grazing shall be allowed to continue subject to all applicable laws, regulations, and executive orders.
(g)The Secretary is authorized to establish, in cooperation with other public or private entities as the Secretary may deem appropriate, visitor service facilities for the purpose of providing information about the historical, cultural, ecological, recreational, and other resources of the conservation area.
(h)Within the conservation area the Secretary may permit the use of gravel pits for the maintenance of roads within the conservation area under the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) to the extent consistent with this subchapter and subject to such regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary considers necessary.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, which is classified principally to chapter 35 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1701 of Title 43 and Tables. The Materials Act of 1947, referred to in subsec. (h), is act July 31, 1947, ch. 406, 61 Stat. 681, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 601 et seq.) of chapter 15 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 601 of Title 30 and Tables.

Amendments

2001—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–63 added subsec. (h).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 460ppp–3

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73