§670h Comprehensive plans for conservation and rehabilitation programs

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior must make a full plan for conservation and rehabilitation on public lands he manages, and the Secretary of Agriculture must make a similar plan for lands they manage. They must work with State agencies. When the Interior Secretary plans for land under the Atomic Energy Commission or another named Administrator, he must get written approval first and do studies and surveys, with State input, to find where work is most needed. Each plan must fit any overall land-use plans. If hunting, trapping, or fishing of resident wildlife is allowed, it must follow the State’s laws. State agencies may sign cooperative agreements with the Interior or Agriculture Secretaries to carry out these programs in their State. Agreements can be changed if both sides agree, but written approval is needed first when the land involves the Atomic Energy Commission or the named Administrator. Each agreement must name the areas, provide habitat and range improvements, protect species listed under section 1533 or considered threatened by the State, control off-road vehicle use, and include rules about any public-land area stamps if those are used (following section 670i(b)), recordkeeping, annual reports, and audit access. Unless limited by a plan or agreement, hunting, fishing, and trapping follow State law. The Secretaries must make rules to control public use that match the plans and agreements. Such agreements are not treated as cooperative agreements under chapter 63 of title 31.