§200104 — Title 54 National Park Service and Related Programs | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary must set up an interagency group called the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation. It will include representatives from eight main agencies: the National Park Service; Bureau of Land Management; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; Bureau of Reclamation; Forest Service; Army Corps of Engineers; and NOAA. The Secretary can also invite many other federal, state, local, and private groups to join meetings. The Council’s leadership changes every 2 years among the main members, unless the Secretary and the Secretaries of Agriculture, Defense, and Commerce agree on a different plan. The eight main agencies may agree to share the Council’s management and operating costs (see Public Law 117–328). The Council must meet as often as needed to coordinate outdoor recreation work. Topics include managing recreation on federal lands and waters (including fees), responding to health or other emergencies that affect recreation, directing investment money (including funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, sec. 40804(b)(7) (16 U.S.C. 6592a(b)(7))), overseeing new technologies, doing research (like economic impact studies), sharing easy-to-access public information, improving access, and working with partners to promote and support recreation. Nothing in this law changes any agency’s existing powers, rules, or policies.

Title 54, §200104

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

(a)The Secretary shall establish an interagency council, to be known as the “Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation”.

(b)(1)The Council shall be composed of representatives of each of the following agencies, to be appointed by the head of the respective agency:

(A)The National Park Service.

(B)The Bureau of Land Management.

(C)The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(D)The Bureau of Indian Affairs.

(E)The Bureau of Reclamation.

(F)The Forest Service.

(G)The Army Corps of Engineers.

(H)The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(2)In addition to the members of the Council appointed under paragraph (1), the Secretary may invite participation in the Council’s meetings or other activities from representatives of the following:

(A)The Council on Environmental Quality.

(B)The Natural Resources Conservation Service.

(C)Rural development programs of the Department of Agriculture.

(D)The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

(E)The Environmental Protection Agency.

(F)The Department of Transportation, including the Federal Highway Administration.

(G)The Tennessee Valley Authority.

(H)The Department of Commerce, including—

(i)the Bureau of Economic Analysis;

(ii)the National Travel and Tourism Office; and

(iii)the Economic Development Administration.

(I)The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

(J)An applicable State agency or office.

(K)An applicable agency or office of a local government.

(L)Other organizations or interests, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(3)In determining additional participants under this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to ensure that States are invited and represented in the Council’s meetings or other activities.

(4)The leadership of the Council shall rotate every 2 years among the Council members appointed under paragraph (1), or as otherwise determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Defense, and Commerce.

(5)Notwithstanding section 708 of title VII of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–328), the Council members appointed under paragraph (1) may enter into agreements to share the management and operational costs of the Council.

(c)The Council shall meet as frequently as appropriate for the purposes of coordinating on issues related to outdoor recreation, including—

(1)recreation programs and management policies across Federal land and water management agencies, including activities associated with the implementation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.), as appropriate;

(2)the response by Federal land and water management agencies to public health emergencies or other emergencies, including those that result in disruptions to, or closures of, Federal recreational lands and waters;

(3)investments relating to outdoor recreation on Federal recreational lands and waters, including funds made available under section 40804(b)(7) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592a(b)(7));

(4)management of emerging technologies on Federal recreational lands and waters;

(5)research activities, including quantifying the economic impacts of recreation;

(6)dissemination to the public of recreation-related information, in a manner that ensures the recreation-related information is easily accessible with modern communication devices;

(7)the improvement of access to Federal recreational lands and waters; and

(8)the identification and engagement of partners outside the Federal Government—

(A)to promote outdoor recreation;

(B)to facilitate collaborative management of outdoor recreation; and

(C)to provide additional resources relating to enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities; and

(9)any other outdoor recreation-related issues that the Council determines necessary.

(d)Nothing in this section affects the authorities, regulations, or policies of any Federal agency described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 20010416 U.S.C. 460l–2.Pub. L. 88–29, § 3, May 28, 1963, 77 Stat. 50. The word “department” is omitted as being included in “agency”. The word “independent” is omitted as unnecessary.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 708 of title VII of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), is section 708 of Pub. L. 117–328, div. E, title VII, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 4706, which is not classified to the Code. The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is title VIII of div. J of Pub. L. 108–447, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3377, which is classified principally to chapter 87 (§ 6801 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of title VIII to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6801 of Title 16 and Tables.

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 118–234 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to consultations of Secretary with administrative officers and execution of administrative responsibilities in conformity with nationwide plan.

§200104 Federal interagency council on outdoor recreation 11 So in original. Probably should be capitalized as “Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation”.