---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 460y–4"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "460y–4"
heading: "Authority of Secretary"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/460y-4"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LXXXIII — King Range National Conservation Area"
---

# §460y–4. Authority of Secretary


The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized—

- (1) **Conduct of public hearings—** To conduct a public hearing or hearings to receive expression of local views relating to establishment of the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (2) **Acquisition of land or interests in land by donation, by purchase with donated funds or funds specifically appropriated for such purpose, or by exchange; consent of owner; acquired lands or interests in lands as public lands—** To [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) by donation, by purchase with donated funds or with funds appropriated specifically for that purpose, or by exchange, any land or interest in land within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) described in [section 460y–8 of this title](/usc/16/460y–8.md), which the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in his judgment, determines to be desirable for consolidation of [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) within the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in order to facilitate efficient and beneficial management of the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) or otherwise to accomplish the purposes of this subchapter: Provided, That the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may not [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1), without the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4), any such lands or interests therein which are utilized on October 21, 1970, for residential, agricultural, or commercial purposes so long as he finds such property is devoted to uses compatible with the purposes of this subchapter. Any lands or interests in lands acquired by the United States under the authority of this section shall, upon acceptance of title, become [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7), and shall become a part of the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) subject to all the laws and regulations applicable thereto.
- (3) **Procedure for acquisition of land or interests in land by exchange—** In the exercise of his authority to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) land or interests in land by exchange under this subchapter, to accept title to any non-[Federal land](/usc/16/3102.md?p=2) located within the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) and to convey to the grantor of such land not to exceed an equal value of surveyed, unappropriated, and unreserved [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) or interests, in lands and appropriated funds when in his judgment the exchange will be in the public interest, and in accordance with the following:
  - (A) The [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) offered in exchange for non-[Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) or interests in non-[Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) must be in the same county or [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), and must be classified by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) as suitable for exchange. For a period of five years, any such [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) suitable for transfer to nonpublic ownership shall be classified for exchange under this subchapter.
  - (B) If the lands or interests in lands offered in exchange for [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) have a value at least equal to two-thirds of the value of the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7), the exchange may be completed upon payment to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the difference in value, or the submittal of a cash deposit or a performance bond in an amount at least equal to the difference in value assuring that additional lands acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) and at least equal to the difference in value will be conveyed to the Government within a time certain to be specified by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). Any such payment made to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall be deposited in the Treasury as a miscellaneous receipt.
  - (C) If the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) offered in exchange for non-[Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) or interests in non-[Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2) have a value at least equal to two-thirds of the value of the non-[Federal lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=2), the exchange may be completed upon payment by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the difference in value.
  - (D) Either party to an exchange under this subchapter may reserve minerals, easements, or rights of use either for its own benefit, for the benefit of third parties, or for the benefit of the general public. Any such reservation, whether in lands conveyed to or by the United States, shall be subject to such reasonable conditions respecting ingress and egress and the use of the surface of the land as may be deemed necessary by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). When minerals are reserved in a conveyance by the United States, any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who prospects for or [acquires](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) the right to mine and remove the reserved mineral deposits shall be liable to the surface [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) according to their respective interests for any actual damage to the surface or to the improvements thereon resulting from prospecting, entering, or mining operations; and such [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) shall, prior to entering, either obtain the surface [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4)’s written consent, or file with the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) a good and sufficient bond or undertaking to the United States in an amount acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) for the use and benefit of the surface [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) to secure payment of such damages as may be determined in an action brought on the bond or undertaking in a court of competent jurisdiction.
- (4) **Payment of fair market value for purchased lands; determination by independent appraisal—** In the exercise of his authority to purchase lands under this subchapter to pay for any such purchased lands their fair market value, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), who may, in his discretion, base his determination on an independent appraisal obtained by him.
- (5) **Identification of appropriate public uses of public lands and interests therein within Area; disposition of public lands within Area—** To identify the appropriate public uses of all of the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) and interests therein within the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). Disposition of the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) within the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), or any of the lands subsequently acquired as part of the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), is prohibited, and the lands in the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) described in [section 460y–8 of this title](/usc/16/460y–8.md) are hereby withdrawn from all forms of entry, selection, or location under existing or subsequent law, except as provided in [section 460y–5 of this title](/usc/16/460y–5.md). Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may (A) exchange [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) or interests therein within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for privately owned lands or interests therein also located within the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), and (B) issue leases, licenses, contracts, or permits as provided by other laws.
- (6) **Construction, operation, and maintenance of roads, trails, and other access and recreational facilities within Area—** To construct or cause to be constructed and to operate and maintain such roads, trails, and other access and recreational facilities in the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) deems necessary and desirable for the proper protection, utilization, and development of the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (7) **Reforestation and revegetation of lands within Area; installation of soil- and water-conserving works and practices—** To reforest and revegetate such lands within the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) and install such soil- and water-conserving works and practices to reduce erosion and improve forage and timber capacity as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) deems necessary and desirable.
- (8) **Cooperative arrangements with State and local governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations concerning installation, construction, maintenance, and operation of access and recreational facilities, etc.; designation of zones and establishment of periods for hunting and fishing—** To enter into such cooperative arrangements with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of California, local governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) deems necessary or desirable concerning but not limited to installation, construction, maintenance, and operation of access and recreational facilities, reforestation, revegetation, soil and moisture conservation, and management of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) including hunting and fishing and control of predators. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall permit hunting and fishing on lands and waters under the jurisdiction within the boundaries of the recreation [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in accordance with the applicable laws of the United States and the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of California, except that the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may designate zones where, and establish periods when, no hunting or fishing shall be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) management, or public use and enjoyment. Except in emergencies, any regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) pursuant to this section shall be put into effect only after consultation with the appropriate [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) fish and game department.
- (9) **Issuance of regulations—** To issue such regulations and to do such other things as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) deems necessary and desirable to carry out the terms of this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–476, § 5, Oct. 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 1068; Pub. L. 95–352, § 2(1), Aug. 20, 1978, 92 Stat. 516.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1978—Par. (3)(B). Pub. L. 95–352 inserted provisions relating to deposit of receipts into Treasury.