16 U.S.C. § 460nnn–22: Roads and travel access

§460nnn–22 Roads and Travel Access

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER CXXV — STEENS MOUNTAIN COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION AREA › Part A — Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area › subpart 2 — management of federal lands › § 460nnn–22

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The management plan must include a transportation plan for the Federal lands in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area. The plan must cover how roads and trails will be kept up, improved, closed, and how people will travel there. Motorized or mechanized vehicles are not allowed off road and may only be used on roads or trails the plan names. The Secretary can allow vehicle use for official work, emergencies, or for building or caring for farms, wildlife projects, or restoration work, except in designated wilderness or places covered by section 1782(c) of title 43. Permanent road closures or limits on vehicle access must be decided with the advisory council and the public. New motorized roads or trails cannot be built unless the Secretary finds them needed for public safety or to protect the environment, and that decision must be made with the advisory council and the public. The Secretary may still build or keep up trails for nonmotorized use. The Secretary must give reasonable access to privately owned lands inside the area so owners can use their land. Existing valid rights-of-way on Federal lands in the area remain in effect.

Title 16, §460nnn–22

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Transportation plan

The management plan shall include, as an integral part, a comprehensive transportation plan for the Federal lands included in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area, which shall address the maintenance, improvement, and closure of roads and trails as well as travel access.

(b)Prohibition on off-road motorized travel

(1)Prohibition

The use of motorized or mechanized vehicles on Federal lands included in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area—

(A)is prohibited off road; and

(B)is limited to such roads and trails as may be designated for their use as part of the management plan.

(2)Exceptions

Paragraph (1) does not prohibit the use of motorized or mechanized vehicles on Federal lands included in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area if the Secretary determines that such use—

(A)is needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency; or

(B)is appropriate for the construction or maintenance of agricultural facilities, fish and wildlife management, or ecological restoration projects, except in areas designated as wilderness or managed under the provisions of section 1782(c) of title 43.

(c)Road closures

Any determination to permanently close an existing road in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area or to restrict the access of motorized or mechanized vehicles on certain roads shall be made in consultation with the advisory council and the public.

(d)Prohibition on new construction

(1)Prohibition, exception

No new road or trail for motorized or mechanized vehicles may be constructed on Federal lands in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area unless the Secretary determines that the road or trail is necessary for public safety or protection of the environment. Any determination under this subsection shall be made in consultation with the advisory council and the public.

(2)Trails

Nothing in this subsection is intended to limit the authority of the Secretary to construct or maintain trails for nonmotorized or nonmechanized use.

(e)Access to nonfederally owned lands

(1)Reasonable access

The Secretary shall provide reasonable access to nonfederally owned lands or interests in land within the boundaries of the Cooperative Management and Protection Area and the Wilderness Area to provide the owner of the land or interest the reasonable use thereof.

(2)Effect on existing rights-of-way

Nothing in this subchapter shall have the effect of terminating any valid existing right-of-way on Federal lands included in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (e)(2), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 106–399, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1655, known as the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000, which is classified generally to this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 460nnn of this title and Tables.