PRIA Logo™
Take the PRIA Score
Title 54 — National Park Service and Related ProgramsRelease 119-73

§101511 Authority of Secretary

Title 54 › Subtitle Subtitle I— - National Park System › Chapter CHAPTER 1015— - TRANSPORTATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ROADS AND TRAILS › § 101511

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can build, rebuild, and improve roads, trails, and bridges inside System units. The Secretary can also name certain roads as System unit approach roads when it is in the public interest. An approach road is one whose main use is to carry people to a System unit, that goes mostly across land at least 90 percent owned by the Federal Government, and that links the unit’s highways with a convenient spot on or leading to the National Highway System. An approach road can be at most 60 miles long from a unit gateway to the nearest convenient National Highway System road, or 30 miles long if the approach road itself is on the National Highway System. No more than 40 miles of any one approach road can be in a single county. Designated approach roads are treated as part of the unit’s highway system. The Secretary can build and fix these approach roads (including bridges) and can make deals with State or county authorities for their upkeep or keep them maintained when needed. No more than $1,500,000 can be used each year for building, rebuilding, and improving System unit approach roads. If an approach road would cross or lie inside a national forest, the Secretary must get approval from the Secretary of Agriculture before starting work. The Secretary of Transportation can do any of these things if they agree with the Secretary.

Full Legal Text

Title 54, §101511

National Park Service and Related Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may construct, reconstruct, and improve roads and trails, including bridges, in System units.
(b)(1)(A)When the Secretary determines it to be in the public interest, the Secretary may designate, as System unit approach roads, roads whose primary value is to carry System unit travel and that lead across land at least 90 percent owned by the Federal Government and that will connect the highways within a System unit with a convenient point on or leading to the National Highway System.
(B)(i)A designated approach road shall not exceed—
(I)60 miles in length between a System unit gateway and a point on or leading to the nearest convenient National Highway System road; or
(II)30 miles in length if the approach road is on the National Highway System.
(ii)Not to exceed 40 miles of any one approach road shall be designated in any one county.
(C)An approach road designated for a System unit shall be treated as a supplementary part of the highway system of the System unit.
(2)(A)The Secretary may construct, reconstruct, and improve approach roads designated under paragraph (1) (including bridges) and enter into agreements for the maintenance of the approach roads by State or county authorities or to maintain the approach roads when otherwise necessary.
(B)Not more than $1,500,000 shall be allocated annually for the construction, reconstruction, and improvement of System unit approach roads.
(3)When an approach road is proposed under this section across or within any national forest, the Secretary shall secure the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture before construction begins.
(c)Under agreement with the Secretary, the Secretary of Transportation may carry out any provision of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 101511(a)16 U.S.C. 8.Apr. 9, 1924, ch. 86, § 1, 43 Stat. 90. 16 U.S.C. 8b (words after 6th comma and before semicolon, last proviso).Apr. 9, 1924, ch. 86, § 5, as added Jan. 31, 1931, ch. 79, 46 Stat. 1053. 101511(b)(1)16 U.S.C. 8a.Apr. 9, 1924, ch. 86, §§ 4, 6, as added Jan. 31, 1931, ch. 79, 46 Stat. 1053, 1054. 101511(b) (2)(A)16 U.S.C. 8b (words before 6th comma, words after semicolon and before 1st proviso). 101511(b) (2)(B)16 U.S.C. 8b (2d proviso). 101511(b)(3)16 U.S.C. 8c. 101511(c)16 U.S.C. 8b (1st proviso). In subsection (a), the text of 16 U.S.C. 8b (last proviso) and the words “in the administration of the National Park Service” in 16 U.S.C. 8 are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (b)(1)(A), the words “at least 90 percent” are substituted for “wholly or to the extent of 90 per centum” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “National Highway System” are substituted for “Federal 7 per centum highway system” to reflect the current name of the system. See 23:101(a)(16). In subsection (b)(2)(A), the words “during the fiscal years 1950 and 1951” and the text of 16 U.S.C. 8b (words after semicolon and before 1st proviso) are omitted as obsolete. In subsection (c), the words “Secretary of Transportation” are substituted for “Secretary of Commerce” because the functions of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to Public Roads Administration were transferred to the Federal Works Administrator by Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1939 (5 App. U.S.C.) and subsequently to the Administrator of General Services by section 103 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (ch. 288, 63 Stat. 380) and the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Transportation by Reorganization Plan No. 7 of 1949 (5 App. U.S.C.), as amended by section 2(b) of Public Law 97–449 (96 Stat. 2439).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

54 U.S.C. § 101511

Title 54 — National Park Service and Related Programs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73