---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410hhh–3"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410hhh–3"
heading: "Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, Colorado"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410hhh-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIX–FF — Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve"
---

# §410hhh–3. Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, Colorado

- (a) **Establishment of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve—**
  - (1) There is hereby established the Great Sand Dunes National [Preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Colorado, as generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=3), as a [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) System.
  - (2) Administrative jurisdiction of lands and interests therein administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) of Agriculture within the boundaries of the [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) is transferred to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) of the Interior, to be administered as part of the [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7). The [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) of Agriculture shall modify the boundaries of the Rio Grande National Forest to exclude the transferred lands from the forest boundaries.
  - (3) Any lands within the [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) boundaries which were designated as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) prior to November 22, 2000, shall remain subject to the Wilderness Act ([16 U.S.C. 1131](/usc/16/1131.md) et seq.) and the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–767; [16 U.S.C. 539i](/usc/16/539i.md) note).
- (b) **Map and legal description—**
  - (1) As soon as practicable after the establishment of the [national park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) and the [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) shall file [maps](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=3) and a legal description of the [national park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) and the [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) with the Committee on Energy and Natural [Resources](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=8) of the Senate and the Committee on [Resources](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=8) of the House of Representatives.
  - (2) The [map](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=3) and legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter, except that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) may correct clerical and typographical errors in the legal description and [maps](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=3).
  - (3) The [map](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=3) and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) Service.
- (c) **Boundary survey—** As soon as practicable after the establishment of the [national park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) and [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) and subject to the availability of funds, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=9) shall complete an official boundary survey.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–530, § 5, Nov. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 2529.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Wilderness Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is Pub. L. 88–577, Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 890, which is classified generally to chapter 23 (§ 1131 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1131 of this title and Tables.

The Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is Pub. L. 103–77, Aug. 13, 1993, 107 Stat. 756. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 539i of this title and Tables.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.