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Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§6502 Designation of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska; reservation of lands; disposition and conveyance of mineral materials, lands, etc., pre­existing property rights

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 78— - NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA › § 6502

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 4 in Alaska, set up by Presidential order on February 27, 1923 (except tract Numbered 1 described in Public Land Order 2344 of April 24, 1961), is transferred to and will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior. On the date of transfer, all lands inside its outer borders are renamed the “National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska” (the “reserve”). Except for valid existing rights, the lands inside the reserve are taken away from public land entry and most mining and leasing laws. The Secretary may still allow certain actions: dispose of mineral materials under the Act of July 31, 1947 for Alaska Natives and the North Slope Borough; make other mineral disposals and grant rights-of-way, licenses, or permits needed to run the reserve; convey surface lands properly selected on or before December 18, 1975 by Native village corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; and grant rights-of-way to the North Slope Borough under title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 or section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act so the Borough can supply energy to North Slope villages. Earlier laws and actions that reserved these lands as a Naval Petroleum Reserve remain in effect unless they conflict with this transfer.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §6502

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The area known as Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 4, Alaska, established by Executive order of the President, dated February 27, 1923, except for tract Numbered 1 as described in Public Land Order 2344, dated April 24, 1961, shall be transferred to and administered by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Effective on the date of transfer all lands within such area shall be redesignated as the “National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska” (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the “reserve”). Subject to valid existing rights, all lands within the exterior boundaries of such reserve are hereby reserved and withdrawn from all forms of entry and disposition under the public land laws, including the mining and mineral leasing laws, and all other Acts; but the Secretary is authorized to (1) make dispositions of mineral materials pursuant to the Act of July 31, 1947 (61 Stat. 681), as amended [30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.], for appropriate use by Alaska Natives and the North Slope Borough, (2) make such dispositions of mineral materials and grant such rights-of-way, licenses, and permits as may be necessary to carry out his responsibilities under this Act, (3) convey the surface of lands properly selected on or before December 18, 1975, by Native village corporations pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], and (4) grant such rights-of-way to the North Slope Borough, under the provisions of title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 [43 U.S.C. 1761 et seq.] or section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act, as amended [30 U.S.C. 185], as may be necessary to permit the North Slope Borough to provide energy supplies to villages on the North Slope. All other provisions of law heretofore enacted and actions heretofore taken reserving such lands as a Naval Petroleum Reserve shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not inconsistent with this Act.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 94–258, Apr. 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 303, known as the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, which enacted this chapter and section 7420 of Title 10, Armed Forces, and amended section 6244 of this title and sections 7421 to 7436 and 7438 of Title 10. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Note set out under section 6501 of this title and Tables. Act of July 31, 1947 (61 Stat. 681), referred to in text, popularly known as the Materials Act of 1947, is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 601 et seq.) of chapter 15 of Title 30. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 601 of Title 30 and Tables. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743. Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 1761 et seq.) of chapter 35 of Title 43. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1701 of Title 43 and Tables.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–366 inserted “and the North Slope Borough” after “Alaska Natives”, struck out “and” after “responsibilities under this Act,” and inserted “, and (4) grant rights-of-way to the North Slope Borough, under the provisions of title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 or section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act, as amended, as may be necessary to permit the North Slope Borough to provide energy supplies to the villages on the North Slope”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 6502

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73