---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410aaa–26"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410aaa–26"
heading: "Utility rights-of-way"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410aaa-26"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIX–Y — California Desert Lands Parks, Preserve, and Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Areas"
  - "Part B — Joshua Tree National Park"
---

# §410aaa–26. Utility rights-of-way


Nothing in this part shall have the effect of terminating any validly issued right-of-way or customary operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement activities in such right-of-way, issued, granted, or permitted to the Metropolitan Water District pursuant to the Boulder Canyon Project Act ([43 U.S.C. 617–619b](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(/us/usc/t43/s617–619b))), which is located on lands included in the Joshua Tree National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), but outside lands designated as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) under [section 601(a)(2)](/usc/16/601.md). Such activities shall be conducted in a manner which will minimize the impact on [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) resources. Nothing in this part shall have the effect of terminating the fee title to lands or customary operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement activities on or under such lands granted to the Metropolitan Water District pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1932 (47 Stat. 324), which are located on lands included in the Joshua Tree National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), but outside lands designated as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) under [section 601(a)(2)](/usc/16/601.md). Such activities shall be conducted in a manner which will minimize the impact on [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) resources. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall prepare within one hundred and eighty days after October 31, 1994, in consultation with the Metropolitan Water District, plans for emergency access by the Metropolitan Water District to its lands and rights-of-way.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–433, title IV, § 406, Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4488.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Boulder Canyon Project Act, referred to in text, is act Dec. 21, 1928, ch. 42, 45 Stat. 1057, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 617 et seq.) of chapter 12A of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 617t of Title 43 and Tables.

Section 601(a)(2), referred to in text, is section 601(a)(2) of Pub. L. 103–433, which enacted provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title.

Act of June 18, 1932 (47 Stat. 324), referred to in text, is not classified to the Code.