---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 698r"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "698r"
heading: "Administration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/698r"
units:
  - "Chapter 6 — Game and Bird Preserves; Protection"
---

# §698r. Administration

- (a) **In general—** The [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) shall be administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) in accordance with sections [698q](/usc/16/698q.md) to [698t](/usc/16/698t.md) of this title and in accordance with the laws generally applicable to [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) System, including—
  - (1) the Act entitled “An Act to establish a National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service, and for other purposes”, approved August 25, 1916 ([16 U.S.C. 1](/usc/16/1.md) et seq.);[^1] and
  - (2) the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes”, approved August 21, 1935 ([16 U.S.C. 461](/usc/16/461.md) et seq.).[^1]
- (b) **Hunting and fishing—**
  - (1) **In general—** Subject to paragraphs [(2)](#b-2) and [(3)](#b-3), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall permit hunting, trapping, and fishing on lands and waters under the jurisdiction of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) within the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) in accordance with applicable Federal and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) laws.
  - (2) **Time and place restrictions—** Subject to such terms and conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) considers necessary in furtherance of sections [698q](/usc/16/698q.md) to [698t](/usc/16/698t.md) of this title, and after consultation with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alabama and [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of lands adjacent to the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may designate zones where, and establish periods when, the activities described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) will not be permitted within the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) for reasons of public safety, administration, [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) habitat, or public use and enjoyment.
  - (3) **Restrictions in boundary areas—** After consultation with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alabama and with the [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of lands adjacent to the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may restrict hunting in [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) within the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) that are adjacent to the boundaries of the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) where the restriction is necessary or appropriate to protect public safety.
  - (4) **Congressional intent—** Nothing in sections [698q](/usc/16/698q.md) to [698t](/usc/16/698t.md) of this title is intended to affect the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alabama with respect to [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17).
- (c) **Water resources projects—** Subsection (a) of [section 1278 of this title](/usc/16/1278.md) shall apply to that portion of the Little River that flows through the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) in the same manner and to the same extent as such subsection applies to the rivers referred to in such subsection. The application of such subsection to the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) shall not affect any determination of the value of the lands, waters, or interests in lands and waters within the boundaries of the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2).
- (d) **Cooperative agreements with State—**
  - (1) **Law enforcement and fire prevention—** In administering the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may enter into cooperative agreements with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alabama, or any political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), for the rendering of—
    - (A) rescue, fire fighting, and law enforcement services; and
    - (B) cooperative assistance by law enforcement and fire preventive agencies located in the vicinity of the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Preparation of management plan—** To facilitate the purposes of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may enter into cooperative agreements with the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alabama and directly affected political [subdivisions](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) to provide professional assistance in the preparation of the [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2).
- (e) **DeSoto State Park—** If lands within DeSoto [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) are acquired by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), at the request of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Alabama, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the Department for the continued management by the Department of the lodge and other facilities that, as of October 21, 1992, are part of DeSoto [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). The cooperative agreement shall provide for the management and operation of the lodge and facilities in a manner that, to the maximum extent practicable, is consistent with similar operations elsewhere in the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) System.
- (f) **Public involvement—**
  - (1) **Public awareness and participation program—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall develop and conduct a program to promote and encourage awareness of and participation in the development of the general [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k) for the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) by [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) owning property in the vicinity of the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2), other interested groups and individuals, [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), county, and municipal agencies, and the general public. Prior to final approval of the plan, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall hold public meetings in DeKalb and Cherokee [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d).
  - (2) **Consideration of public comment—** In preparing and implementing the plan described in [paragraph (1)](#f-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall give full consideration to the views and comments of the individuals, groups, and agencies described in [paragraph (1)](#f-1).
- (g) **Green Pitcher Plant—** Upon the transfer by Alabama Power Company to the United States of any lands within the boundaries of the [Preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) that contain the Green Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia oreophila), all rights and obligations of Alabama Power Company under the agreement entered into between the company and the Department of the Interior (including the United States [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service) on May 12, 1983, in settlement of the action brought on September 24, 1980, against the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) and the Director of the [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Civil Action No. CV 80–C–1242–M), shall be extinguished.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–427, § 3, Oct. 21, 1992, 106 Stat. 2179.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Act entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes”, approved August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is act Aug. 25, 1916, ch. 408, 39 Stat. 535, known as the National Park Service Organic Act, which enacted sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 100101 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs. Sections 1 to 4 of the Act were repealed and restated as section 1865(a) of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of Title 54 by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 4(a)(1), 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3260, 3272. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of former sections of this title, see Disposition Table preceding section 100101 of Title 54.

The Act entitled “An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes”, approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is act Aug. 21, 1935, ch. 593, 49 Stat. 666, known as the Historic Sites Act of 1935 and also as the Historic Sites, Buildings, and Antiquities Act, which enacted sections 461 to 467 of this title. The Act was repealed and restated as section 1866(a) of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and sections 102303 and 102304 and chapter 3201 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs, by Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 3, 4(a)(1), 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3094, 3260, 3272. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of former sections of this title, see Disposition Table preceding section 100101 of Title 54.