---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 316j"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "316j"
heading: "Improvements to leasehold"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/316j"
units:
  - "Chapter 8A — Grazing Lands"
  - "Subchapter II — Alaska"
---

# §316j. Improvements to leasehold

- (a) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/316a.md?p=3) may authorize a [lessee](/usc/43/316a.md?p=4) to construct and/or maintain and utilize upon any area included within the provisions of his lease any fence, building, corral, reservoir, well or other improvements needed for the exercise of the grazing privileges of the [lessee](/usc/43/316a.md?p=4) within such area; but any such fence shall be constructed as to permit the ingress and egress of miners, prospectors for minerals, and other [persons](/usc/43/316a.md?p=1) entitled to enter such area for lawful purposes.
- (b) **Removal of improvement upon termination of lease—** The [lessee](/usc/43/316a.md?p=4) shall be given ninety days from the date of termination of his lease for any cause to remove from the area included within the provisions of his lease any fence, building, corral, or other removable range improvement owned or controlled by him.
- (c) **Payment for improvement upon termination of lease—** If such [lessee](/usc/43/316a.md?p=4) notifies the [Secretary](/usc/43/316a.md?p=3) on or before the termination of his lease of his determination to leave on the land any improvements the construction or maintenance of which has been authorized by the [Secretary](/usc/43/316a.md?p=3), no other [person](/usc/43/316a.md?p=1) shall use or occupy under any grazing lease, or entry under any public land law, the land on which any such improvements are located until there has been paid to the [person](/usc/43/316a.md?p=1) entitled thereto the value of such improvements as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/43/316a.md?p=3).

## Source credit

(Mar. 4, 1927, ch. 513, § 11, 44 Stat. 1454.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 471j of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.