16 USC 460qqq-3 - Management

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 22, 2026

§ 460qqq–3.

Management

(a)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall manage the Conservation Area—

(1)

in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the resources of the Conservation Area; and

(2)

in accordance with—

(A)

the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and

(B)

other applicable law, including this Act.

(b)

Management plan

(1)

In general

(2)

Requirements

The management plan shall—

(A)

describe the appropriate uses and management of the Conservation Area;

(B)

(i)

authorize the use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Area—

(I)

for installing, repairing, maintaining, and reconstructing water development projects, including guzzlers, that would enhance the Conservation Area by promoting healthy, viable, and more naturally distributed wildlife populations; and

(II)

subject to any limitations that are not more restrictive than the limitations on such uses authorized in wilderness areas under section 208; 1

 See References in Text note below.

and

(ii)

include or provide recommendations on ways of minimizing the visual impacts of such activities on the Conservation Area;

(C)

include a plan for litter cleanup and public lands awareness campaign on public lands in and around the Conservation Area; and

(D)

include a recommendation on the location for a right-of-way for a rural roadway to provide the city of Henderson with access to the Conservation Area, in accordance with the application numbered N–65874.

(c)

Uses

(d)

Motorized vehicles

(e)

Withdrawal

(1)

In general

Subject to valid existing rights, all public land in the Conservation Area is withdrawn from—

(A)

all forms of entry and appropriation under the public land laws;

(B)

location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(C)

operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.

(2)

Additional land

(f)

Hunting, fishing, and trapping

(1)

In general

(2)

Limitations

(A)

Regulations

(B)

Consultation

(g)

No buffer zones

(1)

In general

(2)

Private land

(h)

Horizon lateral pipeline right-of-way

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding sections 202 and 503 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712, 1763) and subject to valid existing rights and paragraph (3), the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (referred to in this subsection as the “Secretary”), shall, not later than 1 year after May 19, 2026, grant to the Southern Nevada Water Authority (referred to in this subsection as the “Authority”), not subject to the payment of rents or other charges, the temporary and permanent water pipeline infrastructure, and outside the boundaries of the Conservation Area, powerline, facility, and access road rights-of-way depicted on the map for the purposes of—

(A)

performing geotechnical investigations within the rights-of-way; and

(B)

constructing and operating water transmission and related facilities.

(2)

Excavation and disposal

(A)

In general

(B)

Memorandum of understanding

(3)

Requirements

A right-of-way issued under this subsection shall be subject to the following requirements:

(A)

The Secretary may include reasonable terms and conditions, consistent with section 505 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1765), as are necessary to protect Conservation Area resources.

(B)

Construction of the water pipeline shall not permanently adversely affect conservation area surface resources.

(C)

The right-of-way shall not be located through or under any area designated as wilderness.

(Pub. L. 107–282, title VI, § 605, Nov. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 2010; Pub. L. 119–91, § 3(b), May 19, 2026, 140 Stat. 822.)

cite as: 16 USC 460qqq-3