---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8412"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8412"
heading: "Identifying opportunities for recreation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8412"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences"
  - "Subchapter I — Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure"
  - "Part A — Outdoor Recreation Policy"
---

# §8412. Identifying opportunities for recreation

- (a) **Inventory and assessments—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall—
    - (A) conduct an inventory and assessment of recreation resources for [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2);
    - (B) develop the inventory and assessment with support from public comment; and
    - (C) update the inventory and assessment as the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) determines appropriate.
  - (2) **Unique recreation values—** An inventory and assessment conducted under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall—
    - (A) recognize—
      - (i) any unique recreation values and recreation opportunities; and
      - (ii) [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of concentrated recreational use; and
    - (B) identify, list, and [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) recreation resources by—
      - (i) type of recreation opportunity and type of natural or artificial recreation infrastructure;
      - (ii) to the extent available, the level of use of the recreation resource as of the date of the inventory; and
      - (iii) identifying, to the extent practicable, any trend relating to recreation opportunities or use at a recreation resource identified under [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A).
  - (3) **Assessments—** For any recreation resource inventoried under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall assess—
    - (A) the maintenance needs of, and expenses necessary to administer, the recreation resource;
    - (B) the suitability for developing, expanding, or enhancing the recreation resource; and
    - (C) the adequacy of the current management of the recreation resource.
- (b) **Existing efforts—** To the extent practicable, the [Secretary concerned](/usc/16/8401.md?p=8) shall use or incorporate existing applicable research and planning decisions and processes in carrying out this section.
- (c) **Omitted—**

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 112, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2838.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section is comprised of section 112 of Pub. L. 118–234. Subsec. (c) of section 112 of Pub. L. 118–234 amended section 200103 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs.