§1279 — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

Summary

Public lands inside the official boundaries of any part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, whether named in section 1274 or added after October 2, 1968, cannot be opened for new claims, sale, or other transfers under federal public land laws. This does not limit the powers in sections 1277(d) or 1285a. Land that is the riverbed or bank, or that lies within one-quarter mile of the bank for rivers listed in section 1276(a), is also closed to claims, sale, or transfer for the time periods in section 1278(b). For the river segments in paragraphs (77) through (88) of section 1276(a), the closed area reaches two miles from the bank on both sides. Those two-mile withdrawals apply only subject to valid existing rights, including valid Alaska Native selection rights under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and they bar State selections for the same periods.

Title 16, §1279

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)All public lands within the authorized boundaries of any component of the national wild and scenic rivers system which is designated in section 1274 of this title or which is designated after October 2, 1968, for inclusion in that system are hereby withdrawn from entry, sale, or other disposition under the public land laws of the United States. This subsection shall not be construed to limit the authorities granted in section 1277(d) or section 1285a of this title.

(b)All public lands which constitute the bed or bank, or are within one-quarter mile of the bank, of any river which is listed in section 1276(a) of this title are hereby withdrawn from entry, sale, or other disposition under the public land laws of the United States for the periods specified in section 1278(b) of this title. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection or any other provision of this chapter, subject only to valid existing rights, including valid Native selection rights under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], all public lands which constitute the bed or bank, or are within an area extending two miles from the bank of the river channel on both sides of the river segments referred to in paragraphs (77) through (88) of section 1276(a) of this title are hereby withdrawn from entry, sale, State selection or other disposition under the public land laws of the United States for the periods specified in section 1278(b) of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The public land laws of the United States, referred to in text, are classified generally to Title 43, Public Lands. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables.

Amendments

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–590 inserted provisions relating to

Construction

of subsec. (a) with respect to authorities granted in section 1277(d) or 1285a of this title. 1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–487 inserted provision withdrawing, subject to valid existing rights, all public lands which constitute the bed or bank, or are within an area extending two miles from the bank of the river channel on both sides of the river segments referred to in section 1276(a)(77) through (88) of this title, from entry, sale, State selection or other disposition under the public land laws for periods specified in section 1278(b) of this title.

§1279 Withdrawal of Public Lands From Entry, Sale, or Other Disposition Under Public Land Laws