---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460dddd–1"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460dddd–1"
heading: "Management of Recreation Area"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460dddd-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter CXLI — San Rafael Swell Recreation Area"
---

# §460dddd–1. Management of Recreation Area

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall administer the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)—
  - (1) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the purposes for which the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is established; and
  - (2) in accordance with—
    - (A) this section;
    - (B) the [Federal Land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) Policy and Management Act of 1976 ([43 U.S.C. 1701](/usc/43/1701.md) et seq.); and
    - (C) other applicable laws.
- (b) **Uses—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall allow only uses of the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) that are consistent with the purposes for which the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is established.
- (c) **Management Plan—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 5 years after March 12, 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall develop a comprehensive [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the long-term protection and management of the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
  - (2) **Requirements—** The [Management Plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) shall—
    - (A) describe the appropriate uses and management of the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A);
    - (B) be developed with extensive public input;
    - (C) [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into consideration any information developed in studies of the land within the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); and
    - (D) be developed fully consistent with the [settlement agreement](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=12) entered into on January 13, 2017, in the case in the United States District Court for the District of Utah styled “Southern Utah [Wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) Alliance, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Interior, et al.” and numbered 2:12–cv–257 DAK.
- (d) **Motorized vehicles; new roads—**
  - (1) **Motorized vehicles—** Except as needed for emergency response or administrative purposes, the use of motorized vehicles in the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be permitted only on roads and motorized routes designated in the [Management Plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the use of motorized vehicles.
  - (2) **New roads—** No new permanent or temporary roads or other motorized vehicle routes shall be constructed within the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) after March 12, 2019.
  - (3) **Existing roads—**
    - (A) **In general—** Necessary maintenance or repairs to existing roads designated in the [Management Plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the use of motorized vehicles, including necessary repairs to keep existing roads free of debris or other safety hazards, shall be permitted after March 12, 2019, consistent with the requirements of this section.
    - (B) **Effect—** Nothing in this subsection prevents the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) from rerouting an existing road or trail to protect Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) resources from degradation or to protect public safety, as determined to be appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1).
- (e) **Grazing—**
  - (1) **In general—** The grazing of livestock in the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), if established before March 12, 2019, shall be allowed to continue, subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) considers to be necessary in accordance with—
    - (A) applicable law (including regulations); and
    - (B) the purposes of the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
  - (2) **Inventory—** Not later than 5 years after March 12, 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in collaboration with any affected grazing permittee, shall carry out an inventory of facilities and improvements associated with grazing activities in the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (f) **Cold War sites—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall manage the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in a manner that educates the public about Cold War and historic uranium mine sites in the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), subject to such terms and conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) considers necessary to protect public health and safety.
- (g) **Incorporation of acquired land and interests—** Any land or interest in land located within the boundary of the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) that is acquired by the United States after March 12, 2019, shall—
  - (1) become part of the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); and
  - (2) be managed in accordance with applicable laws, including as provided in this section.
- (h) **Withdrawal—** Subject to valid existing rights, all [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) within the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), including any land or interest in land that is acquired by the United States within the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) after March 12, 2019, is withdrawn from—
  - (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
  - (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
  - (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
- (i) **Study of nonmotorized recreation opportunities—** Not later than 2 years after March 12, 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in consultation with interested parties, shall conduct a study of nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities, including bicycle trails, within the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), consistent with the purposes of the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (j) **Cooperative agreement—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may enter into a cooperative agreement with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) in accordance with section 307(b) of the [Federal Land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) Policy and Management Act of 1976 ([43 U.S.C. 1737(b)](/usc/43/1737.md?p=b)) and other applicable laws to provide for the protection, management, and maintenance of the Recreation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–9, title I, § 1222, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 668.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B), is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, which is classified principally to chapter 35 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1701 of Title 43 and Tables.