---
kind: "section"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 101703"
title: "54"
title_heading: "National Park Service and Related Programs"
number: "101703"
heading: "Cooperative management agreements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/54/101703"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — National Park System"
  - "Division A — Establishment and General Administration"
  - "Chapter 1017 — Financial Agreements"
---

# §101703. Cooperative management agreements

- (a) **In General.—** To facilitate the administration of the [System](/usc/54/100102.md?p=5), the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3), under such terms and conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) considers advisable, may enter into an agreement with an eligible entity managing lands and waters located near a [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) to provide for cooperative management of either a [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) or the lands and waters located near a [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) to promote more effective and efficient management of a [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6). The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may not transfer administration responsibilities for any [System unit](/usc/54/100102.md?p=6) under this paragraph.[^1]
- (b) **Provision of Goods and Services.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Under a cooperative management agreement, the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may acquire by purchase, donation, or exchange from and provide to an eligible entity on a reimbursable basis goods and [services](/usc/54/100102.md?p=4) to be used by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) or the eligible entity in the cooperative management of land and waters.
  - (2) **Retention of funds.—** Reimbursements received under this section may be credited to the appropriation current at the time reimbursements are received.
- (c) **Co-location.—** Under the cooperative management agreement, the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) and an eligible entity may co-locate in offices and facilities owned or leased by either party.
- (d) **Employees.—**
  - (1) **Assignment of employee.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may arrange an assignment under [section 3372 of title 5](/usc/5/3372.md) of a Federal employee or an employee of an eligible entity as mutually agreed upon, for work on any Federal, State, local, or Tribal land.
  - (2) **Extension of assignment.—** The assignment provided in [paragraph (1)](#d-1) may be extended for any period of time determined by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) and the eligible entity to be mutually beneficial.
- (e) **Definitions.—** In this section—
  - (1) **Eligible entity.—** The term “eligible entity” means a State or local entity or any political subdivision thereof, or an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization.
  - (2) **Indian tribe.—** The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and [Education](/usc/54/100801.md?p=2) Assistance Act ([25 U.S.C. 5304(e)](/usc/25/5304.md?p=e)).
  - (3) **State.—** The term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United States.
  - (4) **Tribal organization.—** The term “Tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and [Education](/usc/54/100801.md?p=2) Assistance Act ([25 U.S.C. 5304(1)](/usc/25/5304.md)).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “this subsection”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–287, § 3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3136; Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 152, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2867.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 101703 | 16 U.S.C. 1a–2 (matter before (a)). | Pub. L. 91–383, § 3 (matter before (a)), Aug. 18, 1970, 84 Stat. 826. |
|  | 16 U.S.C. 1a–2(l). | Pub. L. 91–383, § 3(l), as added Pub. L. 105–391, title VIII, § 802(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3523. |

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 118–234 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to cooperative management agreements.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Authorizing Cooperative Management Agreements Between the District of Columbia and the Secretary of the Interior

Pub. L. 116–9, title II, § 2403, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 747, provided that: “The Secretary [of the Interior] may enter into a cooperative management agreement with the District of Columbia in accordance with section 101703 of title 54, United States Code.”