---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 160a–1"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "160a–1"
heading: "Boundaries"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/160a-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter XIX — Voyageurs National Park"
---

# §160a–1. Boundaries

- (a) **Lands and waters included; legal description; revision—** Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b) of this section, the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) shall include the lands and waters within the boundaries as generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “Voyageurs National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), Proposed Land Transfer & Boundary Adjustment”, numbered 172/80,056, and dated June 2009 (22 sheets), which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service, Department of the Interior. Within one year after [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of the lands owned by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Minnesota and its political [subdivisions](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) within the boundaries of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall affix to such [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) an exact legal description of said boundaries. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may revise the boundaries of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) from time to time by publishing in the Federal Register a revised [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) or other boundary description, but such revisions shall not increase the land acreage within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) by more than one thousand acres.
- (b) **Additional revisions; procedures applicable; failure to comply with procedures—**
  - (1) In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to such revisions as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may make in the boundaries of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) from time to time pursuant to other provisions of law, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may, according to the provisions of [subsection (a)](#a)—
    - (A) delete approximately 782 acres in the Neil Point [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3);
    - (B) add approximately 180 acres in the Black Bay Narrows [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3);
    - (C) add approximately 18.45 acres owned by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Minnesota at the Kabetogama Forestry Station;
    - (D) add approximately 120 acres owned by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Minnesota, being a strip of land through that portion of [section 1](/usc/16/1.md), township 68 north, range 20 west, fourth principal meridian, which is parallel to and 400 feet on both sides of the unimproved road extending northward from the Ash River Trail as such road crosses each section; and
    - (E) subject to the provisions of [paragraph (2)](#b-2), delete approximately 1,000 acres at Black Bay and convey such lands to the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Minnesota.

    All of the aforementioned boundary changes if accomplished shall be accomplished such that the boundary of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) shall conform to that generally depicted on the drawing entitled “Boundary, Voyageurs National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), United States Department of the Interior, National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service”, numbered 172–80, 008–MWR, and dated November 1981, which shall be on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service, Department of the Interior.

  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may not delete or convey the lands referred to in [paragraph (1)(E)](#b-1-E) unless, prior to or simultaneously with such deletion or conveyance and in consideration of such conveyance, the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Minnesota—
    - (A) tenders a conveyance of the lands described in subparagraphs [(C)](#b-1-C) and [(D)](#b-1-D) of paragraph (1) to the United States by such instrument and in such manner as are satisfactory to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), including but not limited to lease or easement: Provided, That if the interest conveyed is a lease or easement, the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Minnesota shall substitute therefore a transfer of all right, title, and interest in the land by June 30, 1987: Provided further, That if the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) does not transfer all right, title, and interest in such lands by June 30, 1987, the land described in [paragraph (1)(E)](#b-1-E) shall revert to the United States for administration by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) as part of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3); and
    - (B) enters into a recordable agreement satisfactory to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) which provides that—
      - (i) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) has established a wildlife management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) authorized to be deleted and conveyed to the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) by [paragraph (1)(E)](#b-1-E);
      - (ii) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) has prepared a plan acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to manage all the waters of and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) lands riparian to Black Bay (including all of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)-owned lands and waters of Rainy Lake) to [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) the natural resources of the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) so as to complement to the fullest extent possible the purposes for which the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) was established;
      - (iii) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) shall not transfer any right, title, or interest in, or control over, any land described in [paragraph (1)(E)](#b-1-E) to any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) other than the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1); and
      - (iv) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) shall permit access by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) at reasonable times to the land described in [paragraph (1)(E)](#b-1-E).
  - (3) If at any time the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) fails to comply with the material requirements of the agreement referred to in [paragraph (2)(B)](#b-2-B), all right, title, and interest in the land described in [paragraph (1)(E)](#b-1-E) shall revert to the United States for administration by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) as part of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). Such reversion shall [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) effect upon the delivery by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of notice to the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) respecting such failure to comply without further notice or requirement for physical entry by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) unless an action for judicial review is brought in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit within ninety days following such notice. In any such action the court may issue such orders as are appropriate to carry out the requirements of this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–661, § 102, Jan. 8, 1971, 84 Stat. 1970; Pub. L. 97–405, § 1(1), (2), Jan. 3, 1983, 96 Stat. 2028; Pub. L. 116–9, title II, § 2107(a), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 727.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Provisions of section 102 of Pub. L. 91–661 [this section] were formerly set out as an undesignated second paragraph in section 160a of this title prior to amendment by Pub. L. 97–405.

### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–9, § 2107(a)(1), substituted “the map entitled ‘Voyageurs National Park, Proposed Land Transfer & Boundary Adjustment’, numbered 172/80,056, and dated June 2009 (22 sheets)” for “the drawing entitled ‘A Proposed Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota,’ numbered LNPMW–VOYA–1001, dated February 1969”, “such map” for “such drawing”, and “revised map” for “revised drawing”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 116–9, § 2107(a)(2), substituted “subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (1)” for “paragraph (1)(C) and (D)” and “paragraph (1)(E)” for “paragraph 1(E)”.

1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–405, § 1(1), substituted “(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the park” for “The park”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–405, § 1(2), added subsec. (b).