---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3205"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3205"
heading: "General wilderness review"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3205"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation"
  - "Subchapter VI — Administrative Provisions"
---

# §3205. General wilderness review

- (a) **Suitability of lands for preservation; report to President—** Within five years from December 2, 1980, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, in accordance with the provisions of [section 1132(d) of this title](/usc/16/1132.md?p=d) relating to public notice, public hearings, and review by [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and other agencies, review, as to their suitability or nonsuitability for preservation as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13), all lands within [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) System and [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System in Alaska not designated as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) by this Act and report his findings to the President.
- (b) **Presidential recommendations to Congress—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall conduct his review, and the President shall advise the United States Senate and House of Representatives of his recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of sections[^1] 1132(c) and (d) of this title. The President shall advise the Congress of his recommendations with respect to such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) within seven years from December 2, 1980.
- (c) **Administration of units unaffected pending Congressional action—** Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the administration of any [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) System or [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of National Wildlife Refuge System in accordance with this Act or other applicable provisions of law unless and until Congress provides otherwise by [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) action on any Presidential recommendation made pursuant to [subsection (b)](#b) of this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “section”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–487, title XIII, § 1317, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2485.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), 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.