§698c Administration of Big Thicket Preserve

Summary

The Secretary must manage the land marked on the map as the Big Thicket National Preserve as part of the National Park System. The land must be kept in its natural and ecological condition forever, under sections 698–698e and the Act of August 25, 1916. To protect the preserve, the Secretary must limit building roads, vehicle campgrounds, employee housing, and other public or administrative facilities. The Secretary must create and publish rules to control uses of the federal lands and waters, including motorized vehicles, oil/gas/mineral exploration, new construction, grazing and farming, and any other uses that need limits. Hunting, fishing, and trapping are allowed under U.S. and Texas law, but the Secretary may set closed zones or seasons for safety, species protection, or public use. Except in emergencies, the Secretary must consult the proper State agency before putting those restrictions into effect.