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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§664 Administration; rules and regulations; availability of lands to State agencies

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 5A— - PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GAME, FUR-BEARING ANIMALS, AND FISH › § 664

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Areas given to the Secretary of the Interior for this law must be managed by the Secretary, either directly or through cooperative agreements. The Secretary must follow joint, approved plans with the agency that mainly manages each area and make rules to protect and care for wildlife, habitats, and other resources. Those rules must not conflict with state fish and game laws. Land that helps the National Migratory Bird Management Program can be given free to a state wildlife agency if both agree it’s in the public interest. If the state stops managing those lands, the Secretary can take back management.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §664

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Such areas as are made available to the Secretary of the Interior for the purposes of this Act, pursuant to section 661 and 663 of this title or pursuant to any other authorization, shall be administered by him directly or in accordance with cooperative agreements entered into pursuant to the provisions of section 661 of this title and in accordance with such rules and regulations for the conservation, maintenance, and management of wildlife, resources thereof, and its habitat thereon, as may be adopted by the Secretary in accordance with general plans approved jointly by the Secretary of the Interior and the head of the department or agency exercising primary administration of such areas: Provided, That such rules and regulations shall not be inconsistent with the laws for the protection of fish and game of the States in which such area is situated: Provided, further, That lands having value to the National Migratory Bird Management Program may, pursuant to general plans, be made available without cost directly to the State agency having control over wildlife resources, if it is jointly determined by the Secretary of the Interior and such State agency that this would be in the public interest: And provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior shall have the right to assume the management and administration of such lands in behalf of the National Migratory Bird Management Program if the Secretary finds that the State agency has withdrawn from or otherwise relinquished such management and administration.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is act Mar. 10, 1934, ch. 55, 48 Stat. 401, known as the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, which is classified generally to sections 661 to 666c–1 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 661(a) of this title,

Short Title

note set out under section 661 of this title, and Tables.

Amendments

1958—Pub. L. 85–624 permitted lands having value to the National Bird Management Program to be made available directly to the State agency having control over wildlife resources. 1946—Act Aug. 14, 1946, amended section generally to provide for administration of wildlife areas, and for the promulgation of

Rules and Regulations

.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

See

Transfer of Functions

note set out under section 661 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 664

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73