---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460k"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460k"
heading: "Public recreation use of fish and wildlife conservation areas; compatibility with conservation purposes; appropriate incidental or secondary use; consistency with other Federal operations and primary objectives of particular areas; curtailment; forms of recreation not directly related to primary purposes of individual areas; repeal or amendment of provisions for particular areas"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460k"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LXVIII — National Conservation Recreational Areas"
---

# §460k. Public recreation use of fish and wildlife conservation areas; compatibility with conservation purposes; appropriate incidental or secondary use; consistency with other Federal operations and primary objectives of particular areas; curtailment; forms of recreation not directly related to primary purposes of individual areas; repeal or amendment of provisions for particular areas


In recognition of mounting public demands for recreational opportunities on [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) within the National Wildlife Refuge System, national fish hatcheries, and other conservation [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior for [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) purposes; and in recognition also of the resulting imperative need, if such recreational opportunities are provided, to assure that any present or future recreational use will be compatible with, and will not prevent accomplishment of, the primary purposes for which the said conservation [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) were acquired or established, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior is authorized, as an appropriate incidental or secondary use, to administer such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) or parts thereof for public recreation when in his judgment public recreation can be an appropriate incidental or secondary use: Provided, That such public recreation use shall be permitted only to the extent that is practicable and not inconsistent with other previously authorized Federal operations or with the primary objectives for which each particular [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is established: Provided further, That in order to insure accomplishment of such primary objectives, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), after consideration of all authorized uses, purposes, and other pertinent factors relating to individual [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), shall curtail public recreation use generally or certain types of public recreation use within individual [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) or in portions thereof whenever he considers such action to be necessary: And provided further, That none of the aforesaid refuges, hatcheries, game ranges, and other conservation [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be used during any fiscal year for those forms of recreation that are not directly related to the primary purposes and functions of the individual [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) until the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall have determined—

- (a) that such recreational use will not interfere with the primary purposes for which the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) were established, and
- (b) that funds are available for the development, operation, and maintenance of these permitted forms of recreation. This section shall not be construed to repeal or amend previous enactments relating to particular [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 87–714, § 1, Sept. 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 653; Pub. L. 89–669, § 9, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 930.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1966—Pub. L. 89–669 substituted “areas within the National Wildlife Refuge System” for “national wildlife refuges, game ranges” in introductory text.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

Pub. L. 87–714, which enacted this subchapter, is popularly known as the “Refuge Recreation Act”.