---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 1766"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "1766"
heading: "Suspension or termination; grounds; procedures applicable"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/1766"
units:
  - "Chapter 35 — Federal Land Policy and Management"
  - "Subchapter V — Rights-Of-Way"
---

# §1766. Suspension or termination; grounds; procedures applicable


Abandonment of a [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) or noncompliance with any provision of this subchapter condition of the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f), or applicable rule or regulation of the [Secretary](/usc/43/1702.md?p=g) concerned may be grounds for suspension or termination of the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) if, after due notice to the [holder](/usc/43/1702.md?p=b) of the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) and, and[^1] with respect to easements, an appropriate administrative proceeding pursuant to [section 554 of title 5](/usc/5/554.md), the [Secretary](/usc/43/1702.md?p=g) concerned determines that any such ground exists and that suspension or termination is justified. No administrative proceeding shall be required where the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) by its terms provides that it terminates on the occurrence of a fixed or agreed-upon condition, event, or time. If the [Secretary](/usc/43/1702.md?p=g) concerned determines that an immediate temporary suspension of activities within a [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) for violation of its terms and conditions is necessary to protect public health or safety or the environment, he may abate such activities prior to an administrative proceeding. Prior to commencing any proceeding to suspend or terminate a [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) the [Secretary](/usc/43/1702.md?p=g) concerned shall give written notice to the [holder](/usc/43/1702.md?p=b) of the grounds for such action and shall give the [holder](/usc/43/1702.md?p=b) a reasonable time to resume use of the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) or to comply with this subchapter condition, rule, or regulation as the case may be. Failure of the [holder](/usc/43/1702.md?p=b) of the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) to use the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) for the purpose for which it was granted, issued, or renewed, for any continuous five-year period, shall constitute a rebuttable presumption of abandonment of the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) except that where the failure of the [holder](/usc/43/1702.md?p=b) to use the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f) for the purpose for which it was granted, issued, or renewed for any continuous five-year period is due to circumstances not within the [holder](/usc/43/1702.md?p=b)’s control, the [Secretary](/usc/43/1702.md?p=g) concerned is not required to commence proceedings to suspend or terminate the [right-of-way](/usc/43/1702.md?p=f).


## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–579, title V, § 506, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2780.)

## Notes

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

See note set out under section 1763 of this title.