---
kind: "section"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 200103"
title: "54"
title_heading: "National Park Service and Related Programs"
number: "200103"
heading: "Authority of Secretary to carry out certain functions and activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/54/200103"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Outdoor Recreation Programs"
  - "Chapter 2001 — Coordination of Programs"
---

# §200103. Authority of Secretary to carry out certain functions and activities

- (a) **In General.—** To carry out this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may perform the functions and activities described in this section.
- (b) **Inventory and Evaluation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may prepare and maintain a continuing inventory and evaluation of outdoor recreation needs and resources of the [United States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=5).
- (c) **Classification System.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may prepare a [system](/usc/54/100102.md?p=5) for classification of outdoor recreation resources to assist in the effective and beneficial use and management of such resources.
- (d) **Technical Assistance and Advice.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may provide technical assistance and advice to and cooperate with [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4), political subdivisions, and private interests, including nonprofit organizations, with respect to outdoor recreation.
- (e) **Interstate and Regional Cooperation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may encourage interstate and regional cooperation in the planning, acquisition, and development of outdoor recreation resources.
- (f) **Research, Information, and Education Programs and Activities.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may—
  - (1) sponsor, engage in, and assist in research relating to outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreements, and make payments for such purposes without regard to the limitations of section 3324(a) and (b) of [title 31](/usc/31.md) concerning advances of [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) when the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) considers such action to be in the public interest;
  - (2) undertake studies and assemble information concerning outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreement, and disseminate the information without regard to [section 3204 of title 39](/usc/39/3204.md); and
  - (3) cooperate with educational institutions and others to assist in establishing education programs and activities and to encourage public use and benefits from outdoor recreation.
- (g) **Cooperation and Coordination with Federal Agencies.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may—
    - (A) cooperate with and provide technical assistance to Federal agencies and obtain from them information, data, reports, advice, and assistance that are needed and can reasonably be furnished in carrying out the purposes of this chapter; and
    - (B) promote coordination of Federal plans and activities generally relating to outdoor recreation.
  - (2) **Funding.—** An agency furnishing advice or assistance under this paragraph may expend its own [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) for those purposes, with or without reimbursement, as may be agreed to by that agency.
- (h) **Donations.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may accept and use donations of money, property, personal [services](/usc/54/100102.md?p=4), or facilities for the purposes of this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–287, § 3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3170; Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 112(c), Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2839.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 200103 | 16 U.S.C. 460l–1. | Pub. L. 88–29, § 2, May 28, 1963, 77 Stat. 49; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(h), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776. |

In subsection (d), the words “which shall be prepared as soon as practicable within 5 years on and after May 28, 1963” and “Future” are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (h), the word “department” is omitted as being included in “agency”.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsecs. (d) to (i). Pub. L. 118–234 redesignated subsecs. (e) to (i) as (d) to (h), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to formulation and maintenance of a comprehensive nationwide outdoor recreation plan.