---
kind: "section"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 100705"
title: "54"
title_heading: "National Park Service and Related Programs"
number: "100705"
heading: "Availability of System units for scientific study"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/54/100705"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — National Park System"
  - "Division A — Establishment and General Administration"
  - "Chapter 1007 — Resource Management"
  - "Subchapter I — System Resource Inventory and Management"
---

# §100705. Availability of System units for scientific study

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may solicit, receive, and consider requests from Federal or non-Federal public or private agencies, organizations, individuals, or other entities for the use of any [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) for purposes of scientific study.
- (b) **Criteria.—** A request for use of a [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) under [subsection (a)](#a) may be approved only if the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) determines that the proposed study—
  - (1) is consistent with applicable laws and [Service](/usc/54/100102.md?p=4) management policies; and
  - (2) will be conducted in a manner that poses no threat to the [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) resources or public enjoyment derived from [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) resources.
- (c) **Fee Waiver.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may waive any [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) admission or recreational use fee in order to facilitate the conduct of scientific study under this section.
- (d) **Benefit-Sharing Arrangements.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may negotiate for and enter into equitable, efficient benefit-sharing arrangements with the research community and private industry.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–287, § 3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3106.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 100705 | 16 U.S.C. 5935. | Pub. L. 105–391, title II, § 205, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3500. |