---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1285b"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1285b"
heading: "Establishment of boundaries for certain component rivers in Alaska; withdrawal of minerals"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1285b"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Wild and Scenic Rivers"
---

# §1285b. Establishment of boundaries for certain component rivers in Alaska; withdrawal of minerals


Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in sections [1274](/usc/16/1274.md) and [1280](/usc/16/1280.md) of this title, with respect to components of the National Wild and Scenic [Rivers](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) System in Alaska designated by paragraphs (38) through (50) of [section 1274(a) of this title](/usc/16/1274.md?p=a) —

- (1) the boundary of each such [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) shall include an average of not more than six hundred and forty acres per mile on both sides of the [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a). Such boundary shall not include any lands owned by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or a political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) nor shall such boundary extend around any [private lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=6) adjoining the [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) in such manner as to surround or effectively surround such [private lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=6); and
- (2) the withdrawal made by paragraph (iii) of [section 1280(a) of this title](/usc/16/1280.md?p=a) shall apply to the minerals in [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) which constitute the bed or bank or are situated within one-half mile of the bank of any [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) designated a wild [river](/usc/16/1286.md?p=a) by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–542, § 15, as added Pub. L. 96–487, title VI, § 606(a), Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2416.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, referred to in par. (2), is Pub. L. 96–487, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2371. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3101 of this title and Tables.