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

# §460hhhh. Numunaa Nobe National Conservation Area

- (1) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (A) **Conservation Area—** The term “Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)” means the Numunaa Nobe National Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) established by [paragraph (2)](#2).
  - (B) **Management plan—** The term “[management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k)” means the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) developed under [paragraph (3)(B)](#3-B).
  - (C) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)” means the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior.
- (2) **Establishment—**
  - (A) **In general—** To conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the cultural, archaeological, natural, [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13), scientific, geological, historical, biological, wildlife, educational, recreational, and scenic resources of the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), subject to valid existing rights, there is established the Numunaa Nobe National Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Nevada, to be administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1).
  - (B) **Area included—**
    - (i) **In general—** The Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall consist of approximately 160,224 acres of public land in Churchill County, Nevada, as generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “Churchill County Proposed Fallon Range Training Complex Modernization and Lands Bill” and dated November 30, 2022.
    - (ii) **Availability of map—** The [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) described in [clause (i)](#2-B-i) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
- (3) **Management—**
  - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall administer the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the resources of the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)—
    - (i) 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) any other applicable law; and
    - (ii) as a component of the National Landscape Conservation System.
  - (B) **Management plan—**
    - (i) **In general—** Not later than 2 years after December 23, 2022, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall develop a [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
    - (ii) **Consultation—** In developing the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall consult with—
      - (I) appropriate Federal, [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), Tribal, and local governmental entities; and
      - (II) members of the public.
    - (iii) **Requirements—** The [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) shall—
      - (I) describe the appropriate uses of the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A);
      - (II) in accordance with [paragraph (5)](#5), authorize the use of motor vehicles in the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), where appropriate, including for the maintenance of existing roads; and
      - (III) incorporate any provision of an applicable land and resource [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) considers to be appropriate, to include the Search and Rescue Training Cooperative Agreement between the Bureau of Land Management and the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Training Center dated July 6, 1998, and the Carson City District BLM Administrative Guide to Military Activities on and Over the [Public Lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) dated January 25, 2012.
- (4) **Uses—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall allow only those uses of the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines would further the purposes of the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (5) **Motorized vehicles—** Except as needed for administrative purposes, planned military activities authorized by [paragraph (3)(B)(iii)(III)](#3-B-iii-III), or to respond to an emergency, the use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be permitted only on roads and trails designated for the use of motorized vehicles by the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k).
- (6) **Withdrawal—**
  - (A) **In general—** Subject to valid existing rights, all public land in the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is withdrawn from—
    - (i) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;
    - (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
    - (iii) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
  - (B) **Additional land—** If the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) [acquires](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) mineral or other interests in a parcel of land within the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) after December 23, 2022, the parcel is withdrawn from operation of the laws referred to in [subparagraph (A)](#6-A) on the date of [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of the parcel.
- (7) **Hunting, fishing, and trapping—**
  - (A) **In general—** Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#7-B), nothing in this section affects the jurisdiction of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Nevada with respect to [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17), including hunting, fishing, and trapping in the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
  - (B) **Limitations—**
    - (i) **Regulations—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may designate by regulation [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in which, and establish periods during which, no hunting, fishing, or trapping will be permitted in the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), for reasons of public safety, administration, or compliance with applicable laws.
    - (ii) **Consultation required—** Except in an emergency, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall consult with the appropriate [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) agency and notify the public before [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) any action under [clause (i)](#7-B-i).
- (8) **Grazing—** In the case of land included in the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) on which the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) permitted, as of December 23, 2022, livestock grazing, the livestock grazing shall be allowed to continue, subject to applicable laws (including regulations).
- (9) **No buffer zones—**
  - (A) **In general—** Nothing in this section creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
  - (B) **Activities outside Conservation Area—** The fact that an activity or use on land outside the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) can be seen or heard within the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall not preclude the activity or use outside the boundary of the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (10) **1 Military overflights—** Nothing in this section restricts or precludes—
  - (A) low-level overflights of military aircraft over the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), including military overflights that can be seen or heard within the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A);
  - (B) flight testing and evaluation; or
  - (C) the designation or creation of new [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of special use airspace, or the establishment of military flight training routes, over the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (10) **1 Effect on water rights—** Nothing in this section constitutes an express or implied reservation of any water rights with respect to the Conservation [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Two pars. (10) have been enacted.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–263, div. B, title XXIX, § 2903(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3034.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in par. (3)(A)(i)(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.