§200103 — Title 54 National Park Service and Related Programs | U.S. Code

Summary

Gives the Secretary the power to support and manage outdoor recreation. The Secretary can make and keep an up-to-date list of recreation needs and resources, create a way to classify those resources, and give technical help to States, local governments, private groups, and nonprofits. The Secretary can promote regional and interstate planning and work with other federal agencies to get data and coordinate activities. The Secretary can fund and do research and studies, share the results (including without regard to 39 U.S.C. 3204), and work with schools on education programs. The Secretary may make payments for research and related work without following the limits in 31 U.S.C. 3324(a) and (b) when it is in the public interest. Agencies helping may spend their own funds. The Secretary can accept donations of money, property, services, or facilities.

Title 54, §200103

National Park Service and Related Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)To carry out this chapter, the Secretary may perform the functions and activities described in this section.

(b)The Secretary may prepare and maintain a continuing inventory and evaluation of outdoor recreation needs and resources of the United States.

(c)The Secretary may prepare a system for classification of outdoor recreation resources to assist in the effective and beneficial use and management of such resources.

(d)The Secretary may provide technical assistance and advice to and cooperate with States, political subdivisions, and private interests, including nonprofit organizations, with respect to outdoor recreation.

(e)The Secretary may encourage interstate and regional cooperation in the planning, acquisition, and development of outdoor recreation resources.

(f)The Secretary may—

(1)sponsor, engage in, and assist in research relating to outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreements, and make payments for such purposes without regard to the limitations of section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31 concerning advances of funds when the Secretary considers such action to be in the public interest;

(2)undertake studies and assemble information concerning outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreement, and disseminate the information without regard to section 3204 of title 39; and

(3)cooperate with educational institutions and others to assist in establishing education programs and activities and to encourage public use and benefits from outdoor recreation.

(g)(1)The Secretary may—

(A)cooperate with and provide technical assistance to Federal agencies and obtain from them information, data, reports, advice, and assistance that are needed and can reasonably be furnished in carrying out the purposes of this chapter; and

(B)promote coordination of Federal plans and activities generally relating to outdoor recreation.

(2)An agency furnishing advice or assistance under this paragraph may expend its own funds for those purposes, with or without reimbursement, as may be agreed to by that agency.

(h)The Secretary may accept and use donations of money, property, personal services, or facilities for the purposes of this chapter.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 20010316 U.S.C. 460l–1.Pub. L. 88–29, § 2, May 28, 1963, 77 Stat. 49; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(h), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776. In subsection (d), the words “which shall be prepared as soon as practicable within 5 years on and after May 28, 1963” and “Future” are omitted as obsolete. In subsection (h), the word “department” is omitted as being included in “agency”.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsecs. (d) to (i). Pub. L. 118–234 redesignated subsecs. (e) to (i) as (d) to (h), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to formulation and maintenance of a comprehensive nationwide outdoor recreation plan.

§200103 Authority of Secretary to Carry Out Certain Functions and Activities