§544e Administration of Scenic Area

Summary

The Commission must manage non‑Federal lands inside the scenic area under the management plan and the related rules (sections 544–544p). Within 60 days after first getting the plan, each county must send the Commission a letter saying it plans to adopt a land‑use ordinance that follows the plan. Each county must adopt that ordinance within 270 days and send it to the Commission. The Commission then has 90 days to approve the ordinance by majority vote that must include at least three members from each State; if the Commission does not act, the ordinance is treated as approved. If the Commission rejects it, it must say why and suggest changes. The county has 90 days to revise and resubmit, and the Commission then has 60 days to act; failure to act in 60 days means approval. If the Commission finds a county failed to follow these steps, the Commission has 90 days to make and publish its own land‑use ordinance for that county’s non‑Federal lands inside the scenic area, excluding the urban areas listed in section 544b(e). The Commission’s rules can be changed later. If a county later chooses to adopt its own ordinance and gets Commission approval, that county ordinance replaces the Commission’s rules, subject to any valid existing rights. The Secretary may design, build, operate, and maintain facilities listed in the recreation assessment.