16 U.S.C. § 460rr–2: Administration

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must run the Pine Ridge National Recreation Area like other national forests, subject to valid existing rights. Management must keep primitive-style recreation, protect forest, water, and grassland habitats and special places with scientific, cultural, historical, or recreational value, allow current livestock grazing, and control harmful weeds, insects, and wildfires so they do not spread to nearby private or federal lands. Hunting, fishing, and trapping are allowed under U.S. and Nebraska law. Federal lands in the area are withdrawn from location, entry, and patent under U.S. mining laws and from mineral and geothermal leasing laws. The Secretary must make a Memorandum of Agreement with local and State firefighting agencies and people to use nearby firefighting resources. Within eighteen months after October 20, 1986, the Secretary must prepare and send a comprehensive management plan to the House Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs and on Agriculture and to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The public and interested agencies, organizations, and individuals must be allowed to take part and have their views considered. Nebraska’s authority over fish and wildlife is not changed.

Title 16, §460rr–2

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Objectives

Subject to valid existing rights, the Pine Ridge National Recreation Area designated by this subchapter shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the national forests in a manner compatible with the following objectives:

(1)the continuation of existing primitive and semiprimitive recreational use in a natural environment;

(2)preservation and protection of forest, aquatic and grassland habitat;

(3)protection and conservation of special areas having uncommon or outstanding wilderness, biological, geological, recreational, cultural, historical or archeological, and scientific, or other values contributing to the public benefit;

(4)the continuation of existing livestock grazing uses;

(5)the control of noxious weeds and insects and prevention of their spreading onto the nearby private and Federal lands; and

(6)the control of fires and prevention of their spreading onto nearby private and Federal lands.

(b)Fire control; Memorandum of Agreement

The Secretary shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with local and State firefighting agencies and individuals to assure the best utilization of the firefighting resources available in the nearby communities for control of fire in the national recreation area.

(c)Hunting, fishing, and trapping

The Secretary shall permit hunting, fishing, and trapping on lands and waters under the Secretary’s jurisdiction within the boundaries of the national recreation area designated by this subchapter in accordance with applicable laws of the United States and the State of Nebraska.

(d)Mining and mineral leasing laws

Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal lands within the national recreation area are hereby withdrawn from location, entry, and patent under the United States mining laws, and from disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing and all amendments thereto.

(e)State responsibilities with respect to wildlife and fish unaffected

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the State of Nebraska with respect to wildlife and fish in the national recreation area.

(f)Comprehensive management plan

Within eighteen months after October 20, 1986, the Secretary shall develop and submit to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture of the United States House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate a comprehensive management plan for the national recreation area designated by this subchapter.

(g)Public participation in development of management plan

In conducting the reviews and preparing the comprehensive management plan required by subsection (d), the Secretary shall provide for full public participation, and shall consider the views of all interested agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (e), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 99–504, Oct. 20, 1986, 100 Stat. 1802, known as the Nebraska Wilderness Act of 1985, which enacted this subchapter and provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives on Jan. 5, 1993, by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Third Congress.

§460rr–2 Administration