--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460lll–46" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "460lll–46" heading: "Compliance with environmental laws" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460lll-46" units: - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores" - "Subchapter CXXIII — Land Between the Lakes Protection" - "Part C — Transfer Provisions" --- # §460lll–46. Compliance with environmental laws - (a) **Documentation of existing conditions—** - (1) **In general—** Not later than 60 days after the date of transfer pursuant to [section 460lll–41](/usc/16/460lll–41.md) of this title, the [Chairman](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=3) and the [Administrator](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=1) shall provide the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) all documentation and information that exists on the environmental condition of the land and waters comprising the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) property. - (2) **Additional documentation—** The [Chairman](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=3) and the [Administrator](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=1) shall provide the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) with any additional documentation and information regarding the environmental condition of the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) property as such documentation and information becomes available. - (b) **Action required—** - (1) **Assessment—** Not later than 120 days after the date of transfer pursuant to [section 460lll–41](/usc/16/460lll–41.md) of this title, the [Chairman](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=3) shall provide to the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) an assessment indicating what action, if any, is required under any [environmental law](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=5-A) on [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) property. - (2) **Memorandum of understanding—** If the assessment concludes action is required under any [environmental law](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=5-A) with respect to any portion of the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) property, the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) and the [Chairman](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=3) shall enter into a [memorandum of understanding](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=5) that— - (A) provides for the performance by the [Chairman](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=3) of the required actions identified in the assessment; and - (B) includes a schedule providing for the prompt completion of the required actions to the satisfaction of the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1). - (c) **Documentation demonstrating action—** On the transfer of jurisdiction over the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) from the Tennessee Valley Authority to the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1), the [Chairman](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=3) shall provide the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) with documentation demonstrating that all actions required under any [environmental law](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=5-A) have been taken, including all [response actions](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=14) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ([42 U.S.C. 9601](/usc/42/9601.md) et seq.) that are necessary to protect human health and the environment with respect to any [hazardous substance](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=8), pollutant, contaminant, hazardous waste, hazardous material, or petroleum product or derivative of a petroleum product on [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) property. - (d) **Continuation of responsibilities and liabilities—** - (1) **In general—** The transfer of the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) property under this subchapter, and the requirements of this section, shall not in any way affect the responsibilities and liabilities of the Tennessee Valley Authority at the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ([42 U.S.C. 9601](/usc/42/9601.md) et seq.) or any other [environmental law](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=5-A). - (2) **Access—** After transfer of the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) property, the [Chairman](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=3) shall be accorded any access to the property that may be reasonably required to carry out the responsibility or satisfy the liability referred to in [paragraph (1)](#d-1). - (3) **No liability—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall not be liable under any [environmental law](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=5-A) for matters that are related directly or indirectly to present or past activities of the Tennessee Valley Authority on the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) property, including liability for— - (A) costs or performance of [response actions](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=14) required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ([42 U.S.C. 9601](/usc/42/9601.md) et seq.) at or related to the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12); or - (B) costs, penalties, fines, or performance of actions related to noncompliance with any [environmental law](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=5-A) at or related to the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) or related to the presence, [release](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=13), or threat of [release](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=13) of any [hazardous substance](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=8), pollutant, or contaminant, hazardous waste, hazardous material, or petroleum product or derivative of a petroleum product of any kind at or related to the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12), including contamination resulting from migration. - (4) **No effect on responsibilities or liabilities—** Except as provided in [paragraph (3)](#d-3), nothing in this subchapter affects, modifies, amends, repeals, alters, limits or otherwise changes, directly or indirectly, the responsibilities or liabilities under any [environmental law](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=5-A) with respect to the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1). - (e) **Other Federal agencies—** Subject to the other provisions of this section, a Federal agency that carried or carries out operations at the [Recreation Area](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=12) resulting in the [release](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=13) or threatened [release](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=13) of a [hazardous substance](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=8), pollutant, or contaminant, hazardous waste, hazardous material, or petroleum product or derivative of a petroleum product for which that agency would be liable under any [environmental law](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=5-A) shall pay the costs of related [response actions](/usc/16/460lll.md?p=14) and shall pay the costs of related actions to remediate petroleum products or their derivatives. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(e) [title V, § 546], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–231, 2681–320.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, referred to in subsecs. (c) and (d)(1), (3)(A), is Pub. L. 96–510, Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2767, which is classified principally to chapter 103 (§ 9601 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9601 of Title 42 and Tables.