§ 539. — Additions to existing national forests; administration.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC539]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 2--NATIONAL FORESTS
SUBCHAPTER I--ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 539. Additions to existing national forests; administration
(a) The following units of the National Forest System are hereby
expanded:
(1) Chugach National Forest by the addition of four areas,
Nellie Juan, College Fjord, Copper/Rude River, and Controller Bay,
containing approximately one million nine hundred thousand acres of
public land, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Chugach
National Forest additions--proposed'', and dated October 1978; and
(2) Tongass National Forest by the addition of three areas,
Kates Needle, Juneau Icefield, and Brabazon Range, containing
approximately one million four hundred and fifty thousand acres of
public lands, as generally depicted on the map entitled ``Tongass
National Forest additions--proposed'', and dated October 1978.
(b) Subject to valid existing rights, lands added to the Tongass and
Chugach National Forests by this section shall be administered by the
Secretary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Act and
the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the national forest
system: Provided, That the conservation of fish and wildlife and their
habitat shall be the primary purpose for the management of the Copper/
Rude River addition and the Copper River-Bering River portion of the
existing Chugach National Forest, as generally depicted on the map
appropriately referenced and dated October 1978: Provided, That the
taking of fish and wildlife shall be permitted within zones established
by this subsection pursuant to the provisions of this Act and other
applicable State and Federal law. Multiple use activities shall be
permitted in a manner consistent with the conservation of fish and
wildlife and their habitat as set forth in special regulations which
shall be promulgated by the Secretary.
(Pub. L. 96-487, title V, Sec. 501, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2398.)
References in Text
This Act, referred to in subsec. (b), 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 under section 3101 of this title and
Tables.
Chugach National Forest Boundary Change
Pub. L. 102-415, Sec. 6, Oct. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 2113, provided
that:
``(a) Boundary Adjustment.--The boundary of the Chugach National
Forest, Alaska, is modified to include the approximately 9,300 acres as
generally depicted on the map entitled `Official Map, Boundary
Modification, Chugach National Forest' and dated September 1988. The map
shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of
the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
``(b) Administration.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal
lands brought within the boundary of the Chugach National Forest by
subsection (a) are added to and shall be administered as part of the
Chugach National Forest.
``(c) Terms and Conditions.--(1) Nothing in this Act [see Short
Title of 1992 Amendment note set out under section 1601 of Title 43,
Public Lands] shall be construed to affect the validity of, or the terms
and conditions of, any right-of-way, easement, lease, license, or permit
on lands transferred by this section that is in existence on the date of
enactment of this Act [Oct. 14, 1992].
``(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of
the Interior shall delegate, as necessary, to the Secretary of
Agriculture the authority to renew or reissue the authorizations
described in paragraph (1). The change of administrative jurisdiction
over these lands resulting from subsection (a) shall not constitute a
ground for the denial of renewal or reissuance of the authorizations
described in paragraph (1).
``(d) Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.--For purposes of section
7 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-
9), the boundary of the Chugach National Forest, as modified by this
section, shall be treated as if it were the boundary of the Chugach
National Forest as of January 1, 1965.''
