Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER CVI — EL MALPAIS NATIONAL MONUMENT AND CONSERVATION AREA › Part E — General Provisions › § 460uu–47
The Secretary must allow Indian people shared (nonexclusive) access to the monument and the conservation area for traditional cultural and religious uses, including harvesting pine nuts. That access must follow the purpose of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of August 11, 1978 and, for wilderness areas, the Wilderness Act. When making plans for the lands, the Secretary must ask the Governor of the Pueblo of Acoma and other tribal leaders for ideas on how to assure access, protect privacy during traditional activities, and protect cultural and religious sites. If a tribe asks, the Secretary may temporarily close small parts of the land to the public to protect privacy. Any closure must cover the smallest area and last the shortest time needed, and the Secretary must notify the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee in writing within seven days after the closure starts. The Secretary may also create an advisory committee that includes representatives of the Pueblo of Acoma, the Pueblo of Zuni, other tribes, and other interested people.
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Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 460uu–47
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110