Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73
§797a Congressional authorization for permits, licenses, leases, or authorizations for dams, conduits, reservoirs, etc., within national parks or monuments
Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - FEDERAL REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF POWER › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - REGULATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER POWER AND RESOURCES › § 797a
Summary
After March 3, 1921, Congress must specifically approve any authorization for water or power projects (like dams, reservoirs, powerhouses, or transmission lines) within national parks or monuments as they existed on that date.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §797a
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
On and after March 3, 1921, no permit, license, lease, or authorization for dams, conduits, reservoirs, power houses, transmission lines, or other works for storage or carriage of water, or for the development, transmission, or utilization of power within the limits as constituted, March 3, 1921, of any national park or national monument shall be granted or made without specific authority of Congress.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Provisions repealing so much of this chapter “as authorizes licensing such uses of existing national parks and national monuments by the Federal Power Commission” have been omitted. Section was not enacted as part of the Federal Power Act which generally comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Construction
Act Aug. 26, 1935, ch. 687, title II, § 212, 49 Stat. 847, provided that nothing in this chapter should be construed to repeal or amend the provisions of the act approved Mar. 3, 1921 (41 Stat. 1353) [16 U.S.C. 797a] or the provisions of any other Act relating to national parks and national monuments. See note preceding section 791 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 797a
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73