Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§402 Existing Claims, Locations, or Entries Not Affected; Exchange of Lands

Title 16 › Chapter 1— NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter XLV— BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK › § 402

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

U.S. land claims made before June 7, 1924 stay valid and claimants keep full use and enjoyment of their land. The Secretary may exchange alienated Bryce Canyon National Park lands for unclaimed Utah public lands outside the park that are equal in value and roughly equal in area.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §402

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Nothing herein contained shall affect any valid claim, location, or entry existing under the land laws of the United States prior to June 7, 1924, whether for homestead, mineral, right-of-way, or any other purpose whatsoever, or shall affect the rights of any such claimant, locator, or entryman to the full use and enjoyment of his land. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to exchange, in his discretion, alienated lands in Bryce Canyon National Park for unappropriated and unreserved public lands of equal value and approximately equal area in the State of Utah outside of said park.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Herein, referred to in text, means act June 7, 1924, which is classified to section 346, 401 and 402 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The land laws of the United States, referred to in text, are classified generally to Title 43, Public Lands. Codification The last sentence of this section as originally enacted is expressly applicable also to Zion National Park. See section 346 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Utah National Park” changed to “Bryce Canyon National Park” by section 1 of act Feb. 25, 1928, classified to section 402a of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 402

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60