16 U.S.C. § 460l–31: Findings

Summary

Congress wants to update the Federal Water Project Recreation Act so the federal government can help provide and expand public recreation at federal water projects. Outdoor recreation demand and the money rules have changed. Making non‑federal groups pay all operation, maintenance, and replacement costs is often unfair, especially for old or poorly designed sites. The $100,000 limit for projects finished before 1965 prevents a proper federal share. To fix this, Congress lets the Secretary of the Interior take steps to manage Reclamation lands and work with non‑federal partners. The Bureau still must meet the original purposes of Reclamation projects.

Title 16, §460l–31

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Congress finds and declares the following:

(1)There is a Federal responsibility to provide opportunities for public recreation at Federal water projects.

(2)Some provisions of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act [16 U.S.C. 460l–12 et seq.] are outdated because of increases in demand for outdoor recreation and changes in the economic climate for recreation managing entities.

(3)Provisions of such Act relating to non-Federal responsibility for all costs of operation, maintenance, and replacement of recreation facilities result in an unfair burden, especially in cases where the facilities are old or underdesigned.

(4)Provisions of such Act that limit the Federal share of recreation facility development at water projects completed before 1965 to $100,000 preclude a responsible Federal share in providing adequate opportunities for safe outdoor recreation.

(5)There should be Federal authority to expand existing recreation facilities to meet public demand, in partnership with non-Federal interests.

(6)Nothing in this part changes the responsibility of the Bureau to meet the purposes for which Federal Reclamation projects were initially authorized and constructed.

(7)It is therefore in the best interest of the people of this Nation to amend the Federal Water Project Recreation Act [16 U.S.C. 460l–12 et seq.] to remove outdated restrictions and authorize the Secretary of the Interior to undertake specific measures for the management of Reclamation lands.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Water Project Recreation Act, referred to in pars. (2) to (4) and (7), is Pub. L. 89–72, July 9, 1965, 79 Stat. 213, which is classified principally to part C (§ 460l–12 et seq.) of this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 460l–12 of this title and Tables. This part, referred to in par. (6), was in the original “this title”, meaning title XXVIII of Pub. L. 102–575, Oct. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 4690, which enacted sections 460l–31 to 460l–34 of this title and amended sections 460l–13 to 460l–15 and 460l–18 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 102–575, title XXVIII, § 2801, Oct. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 4690, provided that: “This title [enacting this part and amending sections 460l–13 to 460l–15 and 460l–18 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Reclamation Recreation Management Act of 1992’.”

§460l–31 Findings

Summary

Title 16, §460l–31

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Short Title

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Citations & Metadata