---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 664"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "664"
heading: "Administration; rules and regulations; availability of lands to State agencies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/664"
units:
  - "Chapter 5A — Protection and Conservation of Wildlife"
  - "Subchapter I — Game, Fur-Bearing Animals, and Fish"
---

# §664. Administration; rules and regulations; availability of lands to State agencies


Such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) as are made available to the [Secretary](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=12) of the Interior for the purposes of this Act, pursuant to sections [661](/usc/16/661.md) and [663](/usc/16/663.md) of this title or pursuant to any other authorization, shall be administered by him directly or in accordance with cooperative agreements entered into pursuant to the provisions of [section 661 of this title](/usc/16/661.md) and in accordance with such rules and regulations for the [conservation](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=4), maintenance, and [management](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=4) of [wildlife](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=7), resources thereof, and its habitat thereon, as may be adopted by the [Secretary](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=12) in accordance with general plans approved jointly by the [Secretary](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=12) of the Interior and the head of the department or agency exercising primary administration of such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A): Provided, That such rules and regulations shall not be inconsistent with the laws for the protection of [fish](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=7) and game of the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) in which such [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is situated: Provided, further, That lands having value to the National Migratory Bird [Management](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=4) Program may, pursuant to general plans, be made available without cost directly to the [State](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=13) agency having control over [wildlife](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=7) resources, if it is jointly determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=12) of the Interior and such [State](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=13) agency that this would be in the public interest: And provided further, That the [Secretary](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=12) of the Interior shall have the right to assume the [management](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=4) and administration of such lands in behalf of the National Migratory Bird [Management](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=4) Program if the [Secretary](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=12) finds that the [State](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=13) agency has withdrawn from or otherwise relinquished such [management](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=4) and administration.


## Source credit

(Mar. 10, 1934, ch. 55, § 4, 48 Stat. 402; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, § 4(e), (f), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, § 3, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232; Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 965, 60 Stat. 1081; Pub. L. 85–624, § 2, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 567.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is act Mar. 10, 1934, ch. 55, 48 Stat. 401, known as the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, which is classified generally to sections 661 to 666c–1 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 661(a) of this title, Short Title note set out under section 661 of this title, and Tables.

### Amendments

1958—Pub. L. 85–624 permitted lands having value to the National Bird Management Program to be made available directly to the State agency having control over wildlife resources.

1946—Act Aug. 14, 1946, amended section generally to provide for administration of wildlife areas, and for the promulgation of rules and regulations.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

See Transfer of Functions note set out under section 661 of this title.