---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460eeee"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460eeee"
heading: "Vinagre Wash Special Management Area"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460eeee"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter CXLII — Vinagre Wash Special Management Area"
---

# §460eeee. Vinagre Wash Special Management Area

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Management area—** The term “Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)” means the Vinagre Wash Special Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) established by [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (2) **Map—** The term “[map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1)” means the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “Proposed Vinagre Wash Special Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) and Proposed [Wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13)” and dated December 4, 2018.
  - (3) **Public land—** The term “public land” has the meaning given the term “[public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7)” in section 103 of the [Federal Land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) Policy and Management Act of 1976 ([43 U.S.C. 1702](/usc/43/1702.md)).
  - (4) **State—** The term “[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)” means the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of California.
- (b) **Establishment—** There is established the Vinagre Wash Special Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), to be managed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1).
- (c) **Purpose—** The purpose of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is to conserve, protect, and enhance—
  - (1) the plant and wildlife values of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); and
  - (2) the outstanding and nationally significant ecological, geological, scenic, recreational, archaeological, cultural, historic, and other resources of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (d) **Boundaries—** The Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall consist of the public land in Imperial County, California, comprising approximately 81,880 acres, as generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) as “Proposed Special Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)”.
- (e) **Map; legal description—**
  - (1) **In general—** As soon as practicable, but not later than 3 years, after March 12, 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall submit a [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) to—
    - (A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
    - (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
  - (2) **Effect—** The [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description submitted under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this section, except that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may correct any errors in the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description.
  - (3) **Availability—** Copies of the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) submitted under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
- (f) **Management—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall manage the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)—
    - (A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the purposes for which the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is established; and
    - (B) in accordance with—
      - (i) this section;
      - (ii) 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
      - (iii) other applicable laws.
  - (2) **Uses—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall allow only those uses that are consistent with the purposes of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), including hiking, camping, hunting, and sightseeing and the use of motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses on designated routes in the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in a manner that—
    - (A) is consistent with the purpose of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) described in [subsection (c)](#c);
    - (B) ensures public health and safety; and
    - (C) is consistent with all applicable laws (including regulations), including the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.
  - (3) **Off-highway vehicle use—**
    - (A) **In general—** Subject to subparagraphs [(B)](#f-3-B) and [(C)](#f-3-C) and all other applicable laws, the use of off-highway vehicles shall be permitted on routes in the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) as generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1).
    - (B) **Closure—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may close or permanently reroute a portion of a route described in [subparagraph (A)](#f-3-A)—
      - (i) to prevent, or allow for restoration of, resource damage;
      - (ii) to protect Tribal cultural resources, including the resources identified in the Tribal cultural resources [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) developed under [section 410aaa–75(d) of this title](/usc/16/410aaa–75.md?p=d);
      - (iii) to address public safety concerns; or
      - (iv) as otherwise required by law.
    - (C) **Designation of additional routes—** During the 3-year period beginning on March 12, 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)—
      - (i) shall accept petitions from the public regarding additional routes for off-highway vehicles; and
      - (ii) may designate additional routes that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines—
        - (I) would provide significant or unique recreational opportunities; and
        - (II) are consistent with the purposes of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
  - (4) **Withdrawal—** Subject to valid existing rights, all [Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) within the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is withdrawn from—
    - (A) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws;
    - (B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
    - (C) right-of-way, leasing, or disposition under all laws relating to—
      - (i) minerals and mineral materials; or
      - (ii) solar, wind, and geothermal energy.
  - (5) **No buffer zone—** The establishment of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall not—
    - (A) create a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); or
    - (B) preclude uses or activities outside the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) that are permitted under other applicable laws, even if the uses or activities are prohibited within the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
  - (6) **Notice of available routes—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall ensure that visitors to the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) have access to adequate notice relating to the availability of designated routes in the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) through—
    - (A) the placement of appropriate signage along the designated routes;
    - (B) the distribution of [maps](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1), safety education materials, and other information that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines to be appropriate; and
    - (C) restoration of [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) that are not designated as open routes, including vertical mulching.
  - (7) **Stewardship—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in consultation with [Indian Tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g) and other interests, shall develop a program to provide opportunities for monitoring and stewardship of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) to minimize environmental impacts and prevent resource damage from recreational use, including volunteer assistance with—
    - (A) route signage;
    - (B) restoration of closed routes;
    - (C) protection of Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) resources; and
    - (D) recreation education.
  - (8) **Protection of tribal cultural resources—** Not later than 2 years after March 12, 2019, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in accordance with [chapter 2003](/usc/54/chstII/ch2003.md) of title 54 and any other applicable law, shall—
    - (A) prepare and complete a Tribal cultural resources survey of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); and
    - (B) consult with the Quechan Indian Nation and other [Indian Tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g) demonstrating ancestral, cultural, or other ties to the resources within the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) on the development and implementation of the Tribal cultural resources survey under [subparagraph (A)](#f-8-A).
  - (9) **Military use—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may authorize use of the non-[wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) portion of the Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Navy for Naval Special Warfare Tactical Training, including long-range small [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) training and navigation, vehicle concealment, and vehicle sustainment training, consistent with this section and other applicable laws.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–433, title I, § 109, as added Pub. L. 116–9, title I, § 1421, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 696.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (f)(1)(B)(ii), 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.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### “Secretary” Defined

Section 103 of Pub. L. 103–433 provided in part that in this subchapter “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.