PRIA Logo™
Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§459g–4 Administration; Public Outdoor Recreation and Enjoyment; Utilization of Authorities for Conservation and Development of Natural Resources

Title 16 › Chapter 1— NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter LXIII— NATIONAL SEASHORE RECREATIONAL AREAS › § 459g–4

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Manage Cape Lookout National Seashore for public outdoor recreation and protect the natural features people enjoy. The Secretary may use National Park Service powers and other conservation authorities as needed to run and protect the seashore. Keep a herd of free-roaming horses on the seashore of at least 110 animals, with a target of 120–130. Within 180 days after July 16, 1998, the Secretary must make a deal with the Foundation for Shackleford Horses (a North Carolina nonprofit) or another qualified nonprofit to manage the horses. That deal must be cost-effective, protect the seashore’s natural resources, and allow the nonprofit to adopt any horses the Secretary removes. Horses can be removed only if the nonprofit fails the deal after notice and a 90-day response period, as part of a herd-management plan, or in an emergency or for public health and safety. The Secretary must monitor the herd each year and publish the results. The Secretary does not have to replace horses lost to natural causes, and the United States is not liable for damage the horses cause.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §459g–4

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall administer the Cape Lookout National Seashore for the general purposes of public outdoor recreation, including conservation of natural features contributing to public enjoyment. In the administration of the seashore and the administrative site, the Secretary may utilize such statutory authorities relating to areas administered and supervised by the Secretary through the National Park Service and such statutory authorities otherwise available to him for the conservation and management of natural resources as he deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of sections 459g to 459g–7 of this title.
(b)(1)The Secretary, in accordance with this subsection, shall allow a herd of not less than 110 free roaming horses, with a target population of between 120 and 130 free roaming horses, in Cape Lookout National Seashore (hereinafter referred to as the “Seashore”): Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the Secretary from implementing or enforcing the provisions of paragraph (3).
(2)Within 180 days after July 16, 1998, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Foundation for Shackleford Horses (a nonprofit corporation established under the laws of the State of North Carolina), or another qualified nonprofit entity, to provide for management of free roaming horses in the seashore. The agreement shall—
(A)provide for cost-effective management of the horses while ensuring that natural resources within the seashore are not adversely impacted; and
(B)allow the authorized entity to adopt any of those horses that the Secretary removes from the seashore.
(3)The Secretary shall not remove, assist in, or permit the removal of any free roaming horses from Federal lands within the boundaries of the seashore—
(A)unless the entity with whom the Secretary has entered into the agreement under paragraph (2), following notice and a 90-day response period, fails to meet the terms and conditions of the agreement; or
(B)unless removal is carried out as part of a plan to maintain the viability of the herd; or
(C)except in the case of an emergency, or to protect public health and safety.
(4)The Secretary shall annually monitor, assess, and make available to the public findings regarding the population, structure, and health of the free roaming horses in the national seashore.
(5)Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the Secretary to replace horses or otherwise increase the number of horses within the boundaries of the seashore where the herd numbers fall below 110 as a result of natural causes, including, but not limited to, disease or natural disasters.
(6)Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as creating liability for the United States for any damages caused by the free roaming horses to property located inside or outside the boundaries of the seashore.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2005—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(b)(1), struck out “(a)” after “(a)”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(b)(2), struck out the subsec. (b) added by Pub. L. 105–229, which was identical to the subsec. (b) added by Pub. L. 105–202. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(a)(1), substituted “not less than 110 free roaming horses, with a target population of between 120 and 130 free roaming horses,” for “100 free roaming horses”. Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(a)(2), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “unless the number of free roaming horses on Federal lands within Cape Lookout National Seashore exceeds 110; or”. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(a)(3), substituted “110” for “100”. 1998—Pub. L. 105–229 directed an amendment identical to that in Pub. L. 105–202 resulting in the insertion of “(a)” before “(a)” in subsec. (a) and the addition of a second, identical subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–202 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 459g–4

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60