§ 3101. — Congressional statement of purpose.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC3101]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 51--ALASKA NATIONAL INTEREST LANDS CONSERVATION
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 3101. Congressional statement of purpose
(a) Establishment of units
In order to preserve for the benefit, use, education, and
inspiration of present and future generations certain lands and waters
in the State of Alaska that contain nationally significant natural,
scenic, historic, archeological, geological, scientific, wilderness,
cultural, recreational, and wildlife values, the units described in the
following titles are hereby established.
(b) Preservation and protection of scenic, geological, etc., values
It is the intent of Congress in this Act to preserve unrivaled
scenic and geological values associated with natural landscapes; to
provide for the maintenance of sound populations of, and habitat for,
wildlife species of inestimable value to the citizens of Alaska and the
Nation, including those species dependent on vast relatively undeveloped
areas; to preserve in their natural state extensive unaltered arctic
tundra, boreal forest, and coastal rainforest ecosystems; to protect the
resources related to subsistence needs; to protect and preserve historic
and archeological sites, rivers, and lands, and to preserve wilderness
resource values and related recreational opportunities including but not
limited to hiking, canoeing, fishing, and sport hunting, within large
arctic and subarctic wildlands and on freeflowing rivers; and to
maintain opportunities for scientific research and undisturbed
ecosystems.
(c) Subsistence way of life for rural residents
It is further the intent and purpose of this Act consistent with
management of fish and wildlife in accordance with recognized scientific
principles and the purposes for which each conservation system unit is
established, designated, or expanded by or pursuant to this Act, to
provide the opportunity for rural residents engaged in a subsistence way
of life to continue to do so.
(d) Need for future legislation obviated
This Act provides sufficient protection for the national interest in
the scenic, natural, cultural and environmental values on the public
lands in Alaska, and at the same time provides adequate opportunity for
satisfaction of the economic and social needs of the State of Alaska and
its people; accordingly, the designation and disposition of the public
lands in Alaska pursuant to this Act are found to represent a proper
balance between the reservation of national conservation system units
and those public lands necessary and appropriate for more intensive use
and disposition, and thus Congress believes that the need for future
legislation designating new conservation system units, new national
conservation areas, or new national recreation areas, has been obviated
thereby.
(Pub. L. 96-487, title I, Sec. 101, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2374.)
References in Text
The following titles, referred to in subsec. (a), mean titles II to
XV of Pub. L. 96-487, Dec. 2, 1980, Secs. 201-1503, 94 Stat. 2377-2551.
For complete classification of these titles to the Code, see Tables.
This Act, referred to in subsecs. (b) to (d), is Pub. L. 96-487,
Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2371, as amended, known as the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act. For complete classification of this Act
to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 96-487 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this
chapter, sections 410hh to 410hh-5, 460mm to 460mm-4, 539 to 539e, and
1285b of this title, and sections 1631 to 1641 and 1784 of Title 43,
Public Lands, amending sections 410bb, 1274, 1276, 1279, and 1280 of
this title and sections 1602, 1606, 1607, 1611, 1613, 1614, 1620, and
1621 of Title 43, enacting provisions set out as notes under this
section and sections 431, 668dd, 1132, 1274, and 3145 of this title and
sections 1605, 1613, and 1618 of Title 43, and amending provisions set
out as notes under sections 1611 and 1613 of Title 43 and preceding
section 21 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions] may be
cited as the `Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act'.''
Act Referred to in Other Sections
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act is referred to
in sections 1248, 3911 of this title; title 43 sections 1614, 1617,
1620, 1621, 1629a; title 45 section 1212.
