Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§543b Acquisition of Lands

Title 16 › Chapter 2— NATIONAL FORESTS › Subchapter II— SCENIC AREAS › § 543b

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary to buy, accept as gifts, or trade for lands inside the Scenic Area using donated or government money. Lands owned by the State of California or its local governments (including the city of Los Angeles) can only be taken by gift or trade. Lands owned by private parties can only be taken with the owner’s permission, unless the Secretary gives written notice, lets the owner comment, and finds the property is being or will be developed in a way that harms the Scenic Area or does not fit the Area’s purposes. Within six months after September 28, 1984, the Secretary must publish rules for making those harmful-development decisions. Any use that existed before June 1, 1984 cannot be called harmful under those rules. Big changes or new developments that are much different from what existed on June 1, 1984 are considered harmful. Rebuilding a private or commercial building, adding attached space up to 100% more than the original, and adding needed support like roads, parking, water, or sewer are not to be treated as harmful. For exchanges of mineral or geothermal rights, the Secretary only needs to prepare an environmental assessment.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §543b

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary is authorized to acquire all lands and interests therein within the boundary of the Scenic Area by donation, exchange in accordance with sections 543 to 543h of this title or other provisions of law, or purchase with donated or appropriated funds, except that—

(1)any lands or interests therein within the boundary of the Scenic Area which are owned by the State of California or any political subdivision thereof (including the city of Los Angeles) may be acquired only by donation or exchange; and

(2)lands or interests therein within the boundary of the Scenic Area which are not owned by the State of California or any political subdivision thereof (including the city of Los Angeles) may be acquired only with the consent of the owner thereof unless the Secretary determines, after written notice to the owner and after opportunity for comment, that the property is being developed, or proposed to be developed, in a manner which is detrimental to the integrity of the Scenic Area or which is otherwise incompatible with the purposes of sections 543 to 543h of this title.

(b)(1)Not later than six months after September 28, 1984, the Secretary shall publish specific guidelines under which determinations shall be made under paragraph (2) of subsection (a). No use which existed prior to June 1, 1984, within the area included in the Scenic Area shall be treated under such guidelines as a detrimental or incompatible use within the meaning of such paragraph (2).

(2)For purposes of subsection (a)(2), any development or proposed development of private property within the boundary of the Scenic Area that is significantly different from, or a significant expansion of, development existing as of June 1, 1984, shall be considered by the Secretary as detrimental to the integrity of the Scenic Area. No reconstruction or expansion of a private or commercial building, including—

(A)reconstruction of an existing building,

(B)construction of attached structural additions, not to exceed 100 per centum of the square footage of the original building, and

(C)construction of reasonable support development such as roads, parking, water and sewage systems shall be treated as detrimental to the integrity of the Scenic Area or as an incompatible development within the meaning of paragraph (2) of subsection (a).

(c)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall only be required to prepare an environmental assessment of any exchange of mineral or geothermal interest authorized by sections 543 to 543h of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 543b

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60