--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460nnn–23" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "460nnn–23" heading: "Land use authorities" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460nnn-23" units: - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores" - "Subchapter CXXV — Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area" - "Part A — Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area" - "Subpart 2 — management of federal lands" --- # §460nnn–23. Land use authorities - (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall allow only such uses of the [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) included in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) as the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) finds will further the purposes for which the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) is established. - (b) **Commercial timber—** - (1) **Prohibition—** The [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) included in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) shall not be made available for commercial timber harvest. - (2) **Limited exception—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) may authorize the removal of trees from [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) only if the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) determines that the removal is clearly needed for purposes of ecological restoration and maintenance or for public safety. Except in the [Wilderness Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=10) and the [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) study [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) referred to in [section 460nnn–64(a) of this title](/usc/16/460nnn–64.md?p=a), the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) may authorize the sale of products resulting from the authorized removal of trees under this paragraph. - (c) **Juniper management—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall emphasize the restoration of the historic fire regime in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) and the resulting [native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) vegetation communities through active management of Western Juniper on a landscape level. Management measures shall include the use of natural and prescribed burning. - (d) **Hunting, fishing, and trapping—** - (1) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall permit hunting, fishing, and trapping on [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) included in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) in accordance with applicable laws and regulations of the United States and the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Oregon. - (2) **Area and time limitations—** After consultation with the Oregon Department of [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17), the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) may designate zones where, and establish periods when, hunting, trapping or fishing is prohibited on [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) included in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) for reasons of public safety, administration, or public use and enjoyment. - (e) **Grazing—** - (1) **Continuation of existing law—** Except as otherwise provided in this section and part F, the laws, regulations, and executive orders otherwise applicable to the Bureau of Land Management in issuing and administering grazing leases and permits on lands under its jurisdiction shall apply in regard to the [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) included in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3). - (2) **Cancellation of certain permits—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall cancel that portion of the permitted grazing on [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) in the Fish Creek/Big Indian, East Ridge, and South Steens allotments located within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) designated as the “no livestock grazing [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)” on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) referred to in [section 460nnn–11(a) of this title](/usc/16/460nnn–11.md?p=a). Upon cancellation, future grazing use in that designated [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is prohibited. The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall be responsible for installing and maintaining any fencing required for resource protection within the designated no livestock grazing [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). - (3) **Forage replacement—** Reallocation of available forage shall be made as follows: - (A) O’Keefe pasture within the Miners Field allotment to Stafford Ranches. - (B) Fields Seeding and Bone Creek Pasture east of the county road within the Miners Field allotment to Amy Ready. - (C) Miners Field Pasture, Schouver Seeding and Bone Creek Pasture west of the county road within the Miners Field allotment to Roaring Springs Ranch. - (D) 800 animal [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) months within the Crows Nest allotment to Lowther (Clemens) Ranch. - (4) **Fencing and water systems—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall also construct fencing and develop water systems as necessary to allow reasonable and efficient livestock use of the forage resources referred to in [paragraph (3)](#e-3). - (f) **Prohibition on construction of facilities—** No new facilities may be constructed on [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) included in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Area](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) unless the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) determines that the structure— - (1) will be minimal in nature; - (2) is consistent with the purposes of this subchapter; and - (3) is necessary— - (A) for enhancing botanical, fish, wildlife, or watershed conditions; - (B) for public information, health, or safety; - (C) for the management of livestock; or - (D) for the management of recreation, but not for the promotion of recreation. - (g) **Withdrawal—** Subject to valid existing rights, the [Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) and interests in lands included in the [Cooperative Management and Protection Areas](/usc/16/460nnn.md?p=3) are hereby withdrawn from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, except in the case of land exchanges if the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) determines that the exchange furthers the purpose and objectives specified in [section 460nnn–12 of this title](/usc/16/460nnn–12.md) and so certifies to Congress. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 106–399, title I, § 113, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1661.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (f)(2), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 106–399, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1655, known as the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000, which is classified generally to this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 460nnn of this title and Tables.