16 U.S.C. § 1283: Management policies

Summary

Federal agencies that manage land next to rivers that are in or being considered for the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System must, after November 10, 1978, change their rules, plans, contracts, and actions as needed to protect those rivers. They should, when appropriate, make written agreements with state or local officials to help plan and run federal lands inside approved river boundaries and to avoid timber cutting, road building, or similar work that could harm the rivers. Existing private rights or contracts on federal lands stay in place unless the owner agrees. Agencies that manage river units must also work with the EPA Administrator and state water pollution agencies to reduce or eliminate river pollution.

Title 16, §1283

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Action of Secretaries and heads of agencies; cooperative agreements

The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the head of any other Federal department or agency having jurisdiction over any lands which include, border upon, or are adjacent to, any river included within the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System or under consideration for such inclusion, in accordance with section 1273(a)(ii), 1274(a), or 1276(a) of this title, shall take such action respecting management policies, regulations, contracts, plans, affecting such lands, following November 10, 1978, as may be necessary to protect such rivers in accordance with the purposes of this chapter. Such Secretary or other department or agency head shall, where appropriate, enter into written cooperative agreements with the appropriate State or local official for the planning, administration, and management of Federal lands which are within the boundaries of any rivers for which approval has been granted under section 1273(a)(ii) of this title. Particular attention shall be given to scheduled timber harvesting, road construction, and similar activities which might be contrary to the purposes of this chapter.

(b)Existing rights, privileges, and contracts affecting Federal lands

Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate any existing rights, privileges, or contracts affecting Federal lands held by any private party without the consent of said party.

(c)Water pollution

The head of any agency administering a component of the national wild and scenic rivers system shall cooperate with the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency and with the appropriate State water pollution control agencies for the purpose of eliminating or diminishing the pollution of waters of the river.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1986—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–590 substituted “Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency” for “Secretary of the Interior”. 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–625 substituted provision for action to be taken by Secretaries and heads of agencies for prior provision for review by such officials, made provision applicable to rivers included within the System, included references to rivers covered in section 1273(a)(ii) and 1274(a) of this title, and required cooperative agreements with appropriate State or local officials for planning, administration, and management of Federal lands within boundaries of rivers approved under section 1273(a)(ii) of this title.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of certain

Enforcement

functions of Secretary or other official in Department of the Interior and Secretary or other official in Department of Agriculture under this chapter to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, and subsequent transfer to Secretary of Energy, then to Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, see note set out under section 1278 of this title.

§1283 Management Policies