Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§460zzz–1 Dominguez-escalante National Conservation Area

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER CXXXVII — DOMINGUEZ-ESCALANTE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA › § 460zzz–1

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in the State. It covers about 209,610 acres shown on the official map. The area must be kept for people now and in the future by protecting its important resources — such as geology, cultural and archaeological sites, fossils, wildlife and plants, water areas, recreation, wilderness, history, science, education, and scenic values — and by protecting stream water needed for plants and animals. The Secretary must manage the area as part of the National Landscape Conservation System to conserve, protect, and improve those resources, following the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and other laws. Only uses that help those purposes are allowed. Motor vehicles are allowed only on roads and trails that were designated for vehicles in the plan that applied on March 30, 2009, until a new management plan takes effect, and after that only on roads and trails the new plan allows. Vehicle use for official work or emergencies is allowed anytime. The vehicle limits do not apply inside the Wilderness.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §460zzz–1

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment
(1)In general
There is established the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in the State.
(2)Area included
The Conservation Area shall consist of approximately 209,610 acres of public land, as generally depicted on the Map.
(b)Purposes
The purposes of the Conservation Area are to conserve and protect for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations—
(1)the unique and important resources and values of the land, including the geological, cultural, archaeological, paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, wilderness, wildlife, riparian, historical, educational, and scenic resources of the public land; and
(2)the water resources of area streams, based on seasonally available flows, that are necessary to support aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial species and communities.
(c)Management
(1)In general
The Secretary shall manage the Conservation Area—
(A)as a component of the National Landscape Conservation System;
(B)in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the resources and values of the Conservation Area described in subsection (b); and
(C)in accordance with—
(i)the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.);
(ii)this subchapter; and
(iii)any other applicable laws.
(2)Uses
(A)In general
The Secretary shall allow only such uses of the Conservation Area as the Secretary determines would further the purposes for which the Conservation Area is established.
(B)Use of motorized vehicles
(i)In general
Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Area shall be allowed—
(I)before the effective date of the management plan, only on roads and trails designated for use of motor vehicles in the management plan that applies on March 30, 2009, to the public land in the Conservation Area; and
(II)after the effective date of the management plan, only on roads and trails designated in the management plan for the use of motor vehicles.
(ii)Administrative and emergency response use
Clause (i) shall not limit the use of motor vehicles in the Conservation Area for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency.
(iii)Limitation
This subparagraph shall not apply to the Wilderness.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(C)(i), is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, which is classified principally to chapter 35 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1701 of Title 43 and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 460zzz–1

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110