---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3144"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3144"
heading: "Wilderness portion of study"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3144"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Federal North Slope Lands Studies, Oil and Gas Leasing Program and Mineral Assessments"
---

# §3144. Wilderness portion of study

- (a) **Suitability of lands for preservation as wilderness; report to President—** As part of the study, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall review the suitability or nonsuitability for preservation as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) of the [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) described in [section 3141 of this title](/usc/16/3141.md) and report his findings to the President.
- (b) **Presidential recommendations to Congress—** The President shall advise the Senate and the House of Representatives of his recommendations with respect to the designation of the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) or any part thereof as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) together with a [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) thereof and a definition of its boundaries.
- (c) **Preservation of wilderness character and potential—** Subject to valid existing rights and the provisions of [section 3142 of this title](/usc/16/3142.md), the [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) study [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) designated by this section shall, until Congress determines otherwise, be administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) so as to maintain presently existing [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) character and potential for inclusion in the [National Wilderness Preservation System](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13). Already established uses may be permitted to continue, subject to such restrictions as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) deems desirable, in the manner and degree in which the same were being conducted on December 2, 1980.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–487, title X, § 1004, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2452.)