---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460ooo–3"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460ooo–3"
heading: "Establishment of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460ooo-3"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter CXXVI — Las Cienegas National Conservation Area"
---

# §460ooo–3. Establishment of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

- (a) **In general—** In order to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the unique and nationally important aquatic, wildlife, vegetative, archaeological, paleontological, scientific, cave, cultural, historical, recreational, educational, scenic, rangeland, and riparian resources and values of the [public lands](/usc/16/460ooo.md?p=4) described in [subsection (b)](#b) while allowing livestock grazing and recreation to continue in appropriate [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), there is hereby established the Las Cienegas National [Conservation Area](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=2) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Arizona.
- (b) **Areas included—** The [Conservation Area](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=2) shall consist of approximately 42,000 acres of [public lands](/usc/16/460ooo.md?p=4) in the Arizona [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d) of Pima and Santa Cruz, as generally depicted on the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “Sonoita Valley [Acquisition Planning District](/usc/16/460ooo.md?p=2) and Las Cienegas National [Conservation Area](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=2)” and dated October 2, 2000.
- (c) **Maps and legal description—** As soon as practicable after December 6, 2000, the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) shall submit to Congress a [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description of the [Conservation Area](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=2). In case of a conflict between the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) referred to in [subsection (b)](#b) and the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description submitted by the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1), the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) referred to in [subsection (b)](#b) shall control. The [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subchapter, except that the [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) may correct clerical and typographical errors in such [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description. Copies of the [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) and legal description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, and in the appropriate office of the Bureau of Land Management in Arizona.
- (d) **Forest lands—** Any lands included in the Coronado National Forest that are located within the boundaries of the [Conservation Area](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=2) shall be considered to be a part of the [Conservation Area](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=2). The [Secretary](/usc/16/460iii–1.md?p=1) of Agriculture shall revise the boundaries of the Coronado National Forest to reflect the exclusion of such lands from the Coronado National Forest.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–538, § 4, Dec. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 2564.)