--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460uu–47" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "460uu–47" heading: "Access" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460uu-47" units: - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores" - "Subchapter CVI — El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area" - "Part E — General Provisions" --- # §460uu–47. Access - (a) **Nonexclusive access by Indians for cultural and religious purposes—** In recognition of the past use of portions of the monument and the conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) by Indian people for traditional cultural and religious purposes, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall assure nonexclusive access to the monument and the conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) by Indian people for traditional cultural and religious purposes, including the harvesting of pine nuts. Such access shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of August 11, 1978 ([42 U.S.C. 1996](/usc/42/1996.md) [, 1996a]), and (with respect to [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) designated as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13)) the Wilderness Act (78 Stat. 890) [[16 U.S.C. 1131](/usc/16/1131.md) et seq.]. - (b) **Recommendations from Indian leaders regarding access and protection of cultural and religious sites—** In preparing the plans for the monument and the conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) pursuant to [section 460uu–41 of this title](/usc/16/460uu–41.md), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall request that the Governor of the [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10) of Acoma and the chief executive officers of other appropriate [Indian tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g) make recommendations on methods of— - (1) assuring access pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) of this section; - (2) enhancing the privacy of traditional cultural and religious activities in the monument and the conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A); and - (3) protecting traditional cultural and religious sites in the monument and the conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). - (c) **Temporary closure to public of lands for protection of religious activities—** In order to implement this section and in furtherance of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act [[42 U.S.C. 1996](/usc/42/1996.md), 1996a], the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), upon the request of an appropriate Indian tribe, may from time to time temporarily close to general public use one or more specific portions of the monument or the conservation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in order to protect the privacy of religious activities in such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) by Indian people. Any such closure shall be made so as to affect the smallest practicable [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for the minimum period necessary for such purposes. Not later than seven days after the initiation of any such closure, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall provide written notification of such action to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the United States Senate and the Natural Resources Committee of the House of Representatives. - (d) **Advisory committee; membership—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to establish an [advisory committee](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=1) to advise the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) concerning the implementation of this section. Any such [advisory committee](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=1) shall include representatives of the [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10) of Acoma, the [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10) of Zuni, other appropriate [Indian tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g) and other [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) or groups interested in the implementation of this section. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 100–225, title V, § 507, Dec. 31, 1987, 101 Stat. 1548; Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(d)(19), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4584.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text The American Indian Religious Freedom Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), is Pub. L. 95–341, Aug. 11, 1978, 92 Stat. 469, which is classified to sections 1996 and 1996a 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 1996 of Title 42 and Tables. The Wilderness Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 88–577, Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 890, which is classified generally to chapter 23 (§ 1131 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1131 of this title and Tables. ### Amendments 1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Natural Resources” for “Interior and Insular Affairs” before “Committee of the House”. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Termination of Advisory Committees Advisory committees established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.