Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§3144 Wilderness Portion of Study

Title 16 › CHAPTER 51 — ALASKA NATIONAL INTEREST LANDS CONSERVATION › SUBCHAPTER III — FEDERAL NORTH SLOPE LANDS STUDIES, OIL AND GAS LEASING PROGRAM AND MINERAL ASSESSMENTS › § 3144

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must review the federal lands listed in section 3141 and decide if they are suitable to be preserved as wilderness, then send the findings to the President. The President must advise the Senate and the House of Representatives about whether to designate the area (or part of it) as wilderness and provide a map and boundary description. Until Congress decides, the Secretary must manage the area to keep its current wilderness character and potential, subject to valid existing rights and the rules in section 3142. Uses that were happening on December 2, 1980 may continue but can be limited by the Secretary.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §3144

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Suitability of lands for preservation as wilderness; report to President

As part of the study, the Secretary shall review the suitability or nonsuitability for preservation as wilderness of the Federal lands described in section 3141 of this title and report his findings to the President.

(b)Presidential recommendations to Congress

The President shall advise the Senate and the House of Representatives of his recommendations with respect to the designation of the area or any part thereof as wilderness together with a map thereof and a definition of its boundaries.

(c)Preservation of wilderness character and potential

Subject to valid existing rights and the provisions of section 3142 of this title, the wilderness study area designated by this section shall, until Congress determines otherwise, be administered by the Secretary so as to maintain presently existing wilderness character and potential for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Already established uses may be permitted to continue, subject to such restrictions as the Secretary deems desirable, in the manner and degree in which the same were being conducted on December 2, 1980.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 3144

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110