--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460gg–5" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "460gg–5" heading: "Management plan for recreation area" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460gg-5" units: - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores" - "Subchapter XCI — Hells Canyon National Recreation Area" --- # §460gg–5. Management plan for recreation area - (a) **Development and submission—** Within five years from December 31, 1975, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall develop and submit to the Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States Senate and House of Representatives a comprehensive [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) which shall provide for a broad range of land uses and recreation opportunities. - (b) **Consideration of historic, archeological and paleontological resources; inventory; recommendation of areas for listing in National Register of Historic Places; recommendation for protection and research of resources—** In the development of such plan, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall consider the historic, archeological, and paleontological resources within the recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) which offer significant opportunities for anthropological research. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall inventory such resources and may recommend such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) as he deems suitable for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)’s comprehensive plan shall include recommendations for future protection and controlled research use of all such resources. - (c) **Scenic roads and other means of transit—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, as a part of his comprehensive planning process, conduct a detailed study of the need for, and alternative routes of, scenic roads and other means of transit to and within the recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). In conducting such study the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall consider the alternative for upgrading existing roads and shall, in particular, study the need for and alternative routes of roads or other means of transit providing access to scenic views of and from the Western rim of Hells Canyon. - (d) **Wilderness areas; review by Secretary; recommendations of President to Congress; notice of hearings and meetings—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall review, as to their suitability or nonsuitability for preservation as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13), the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) referred to in [section 460gg of this title](/usc/16/460gg.md) as the “Lord Flat-Somers Point Plateau [Wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) Study [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)”, and the “West Side Reservoir Face [Wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) Study [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)”, and the “Mountain Sheep [Wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) Study [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)” and report his findings to the President. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall complete his review and the President shall, within five years from December 31, 1975, advise the United States Senate and House of Representatives of his recommendations with respect to the designation of lands within such [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13). In conducting his review the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall comply with the provisions of [section 1132(d) of this title](/usc/16/1132.md?p=d) and shall give public notice at least sixty days in advance of any hearings or other public meeting concerning the [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) study [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall administer all [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) within the study [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) so as not to preclude their possible future designation by the Congress as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13). Nothing contained herein shall limit the President in proposing, as part of this recommendation to Congress, the designation as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) of any additional [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) within the recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) which is predominately of [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) value. - (e) **Public participation in reviews and preparation of plan; cooperation of other Federal agencies—** In conducting the reviews and preparing the comprehensive [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) required by this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall provide for full public participation and shall consider the views of all interested agencies, organizations, and individuals including but not limited to, the Nez Perce Tribe of Indians, and the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The [Secretaries](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) or Directors of all Federal departments, agencies, and [commissions](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) having a relevant expertise are hereby authorized and directed to cooperate with the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) in his review and to make such studies as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may request on a cost reimbursable basis. - (f) **Continuation of ongoing activities—** Such activities as are compatible with the provisions of this subchapter, but not limited to, timber harvesting by selective cutting, mining, and grazing may continue during development of the comprehensive [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k), at current levels of activity and in [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of such activity on December 31, 1975. Further, in development of the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall give full consideration to continuation of these ongoing activities in their respective [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 94–199, § 8, Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1119.) ## Notes ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Change of Name Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate abolished and replaced by Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, effective Feb. 11, 1977. See Rule XXV of Standing Rules of the Senate, as amended by Senate Resolution No. 4 (popularly cited as the “Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977”), approved Feb. 4, 1977. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives on Jan. 5, 1993, by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Third Congress.