--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3101" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "3101" heading: "Congressional statement of purpose" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3101" units: - "Chapter 51 — Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation" - "Subchapter I — General Provisions" --- # §3101. Congressional statement of purpose - (a) **Establishment of units—** In order to [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) for the benefit, use, education, and inspiration of present and future generations certain lands and waters in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alaska that contain nationally significant natural, scenic, historic, archeological, geological, scientific, [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13), cultural, recreational, and wildlife values, the [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) 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](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) 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](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); to [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) in their natural [state](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) extensive unaltered arctic tundra, boreal forest, and coastal rainforest ecosystems; to protect the resources related to subsistence needs; to protect and [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) historic and archeological sites, rivers, and lands, and to [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) 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](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) in accordance with recognized scientific principles and the purposes for which each [conservation system unit](/usc/16/3102.md?p=4) 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](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) in Alaska, and at the same time provides adequate opportunity for satisfaction of the economic and social needs of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alaska and its people; accordingly, the designation and disposition of the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) in Alaska pursuant to this Act are found to represent a proper balance between the reservation of national [conservation system units](/usc/16/3102.md?p=4) and those [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) necessary and appropriate for more intensive use and disposition, and thus Congress believes that the need for future legislation designating new [conservation system units](/usc/16/3102.md?p=4), new national conservation [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), or new national recreation [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), has been obviated thereby. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 96–487, title I, § 101, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2374.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text The following titles, referred to in subsec. (a), mean titles II to XV of Pub. L. 96–487, Dec. 2, 1980, §§ 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, 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. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Short Title Pub. L. 96–487, § 1, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2371, 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’.”