Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§539m–4 Limitations on Pueblo rights and interests in the Area

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 2— - NATIONAL FORESTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION › § 539m–4

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Pueblo’s rights in the Area do not let them sell, give, lease, mortgage, or trade land or any land interest there, and any such deal would have no legal force. Those rights also do not excuse them from federal wildlife laws, do not allow uses banned by section 539m–2(e), and do not let them bar people or governments from entering the Area. People using traditional or cultural rights allowed under section 539m–3(a)(4) cannot be prosecuted for a federal wildlife offense that requires proof they violated a state law or regulation.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §539m–4

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The rights and interests of the Pueblo recognized in sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title do not include—
(1)any right to sell, grant, lease, convey, encumber, or exchange land or any interest in land in the Area (and any such conveyance shall not have validity in law or equity);
(2)any exemption from applicable Federal wildlife protection laws;
(3)any right to engage in a use prohibited by section 539m–2(e) of this title; or
(4)any right to exclude persons or governmental entities from the Area.
(b)No person who exercises traditional or cultural use rights as authorized by section 539m–3(a)(4) of this title may be prosecuted for a Federal wildlife offense requiring proof of a violation of a State law (including regulations).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this title”, meaning title IV of div. F of Pub. L. 108–7, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 279, which is classified generally to sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 539m of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 539m–4

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73