---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410y–3"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410y–3"
heading: "Access"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410y-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LVI — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park"
---

# §410y–3. Access

- (a) **Pre-existing rights and permits—** The enactment of this subchapter shall not affect adversely any valid rights heretofore existing, or any valid permits heretofore issued, within or relating to [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) authorized for inclusion in the [park](/usc/16/410y.md?p=a).
- (b) **Issuance of permits by Secretary for use of park lands and utility, highway, and railway crossings—** Other uses of [park](/usc/16/410y.md?p=a) lands, and utility, highway, and railway crossings, may be authorized under permit by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410y.md?p=c), if such uses and crossings are not in conflict with the purposes of the [park](/usc/16/410y.md?p=a) and are in accord with any requirements found necessary to [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) [park](/usc/16/410y.md?p=a) values.
- (c) **Crossing by foot at designated locations; purposes; conduct—** Authority is hereby granted for individuals to cross the [park](/usc/16/410y.md?p=a) by foot at locations designated by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410y.md?p=c) for the purpose of gaining access to the Potomac River or to non-[Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) for hunting purposes: Provided, That while such individuals are within the boundaries of the [park](/usc/16/410y.md?p=a) firearms shall be unloaded, bows unstrung, and dogs on leash.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–664, § 5, Jan. 8, 1971, 84 Stat. 1979.)