---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3126"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3126"
heading: "Closure to subsistence uses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3126"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation"
  - "Subchapter II — Subsistence Management and Use"
---

# §3126. Closure to subsistence uses

- (a) **National parks and park monuments in Alaska; authorization of subsistence uses and sport fishing—** All national [parks](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) and [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) monuments in Alaska shall be closed to the [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) of wildlife except for subsistence uses to the extent specifically permitted by this Act. Subsistence uses and sport fishing shall be authorized in such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) and carried out in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter and other applicable laws of the United States and the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alaska.
- (b) **Closure for public safety, administration, or the continued viability of fish and wildlife population—** Except as specifically provided otherwise by this section, nothing in this subchapter is intended to enlarge or diminish the authority of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to designate [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) where, and establish periods when, no [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) shall be permitted on the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) for reasons of public safety, administration, or to assure the continued viability of a particular fish or wildlife population. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or other law, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), after consultation with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and adequate notice and public hearing, may temporarily close any [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) (including those within any [conservation system unit](/usc/16/3102.md?p=4)), or any portion thereof, to subsistence uses of a particular fish or wildlife population only if necessary for reasons of public safety, administration, or to assure the continued viability of such population. If the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines that an emergency situation exists and that extraordinary measures must be taken for public safety or to assure the continued viability of a particular fish or wildlife population, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may immediately close the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7), or any portion thereof, to the subsistence uses of such population and shall publish the reasons justifying the closure in the Federal Register. Such emergency closure shall be effective when made, shall not extend for a period exceeding sixty days, and may not subsequently be extended unless the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) affirmatively establishes, after notice and public hearing, that such closure should be extended.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–487, title VIII, § 816, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2430.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, 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 under section 3101 of this title and Tables.