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Public Law 113-287/Chapter 1007

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Chapter 1007—Resource Management

Subchapter I—System Resource Inventory and Management

§ 100701. Protection, interpretation, and research in System

Recognizing the ever increasing societal pressures being placed upon America’s unique natural and cultural resources contained in the System, the Secretary shall continually improve the ability of the Service to provide state-of-the-art management, protection, and interpretation of, and research on, the resources of the System.

§ 100702. Research mandate

The Secretary shall ensure that management of System units is enhanced by the availability and utilization of a broad program of the highest quality science and information.

§ 100703. Cooperative study units

The Secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including land grant schools, in partnership with other Federal and State agencies, to establish cooperative study units to conduct multi-disciplinary research and develop integrated information products on the resources of the System, or the larger region of which System units are a part.

§ 100704. Inventory and monitoring program

The Secretary shall undertake a program of inventory and monitoring of System resources to establish baseline information and to provide information on the long-term trends in the condition ​of System resources. The monitoring program shall be developed in cooperation with other Federal monitoring and information collection efforts to ensure a cost-effective approach.

§ 100705. Availability of System units for scientific study

(a) In General.—The Secretary 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 for purposes of scientific study.

(b) Criteria.—A request for use of a System unit under subsection (a) may be approved only if the Secretary determines that the proposed study—

(1) is consistent with applicable laws and Service management policies; and
(2) will be conducted in a manner that poses no threat to the System unit resources or public enjoyment derived from System unit resources.

(c) Fee Waiver.—The Secretary may waive any System unit admission or recreational use fee in order to facilitate the conduct of scientific study under this section.

(d) Benefit-Sharing Arrangements.—The Secretary may negotiate for and enter into equitable, efficient benefit-sharing arrangements with the research community and private industry.

§ 100706. Integration of study results into management decisions

The Secretary shall take such measures as are necessary to ensure the full and proper utilization of the results of scientific study for System unit management decisions. In each case in which an action undertaken by the Service may cause a significant adverse effect on a System unit resource, the administrative record shall reflect the manner in which System unit resource studies have been considered. The trend in the condition of resources of the System shall be a significant factor in the annual performance evaluation of each superintendent of a System unit.

§ 100707. Confidentiality of information

Information concerning the nature and specific location of a System resource that is endangered, threatened, rare, or commercially valuable, of mineral or paleontological objects within System units, or of objects of cultural patrimony within System units, may be withheld from the public in response to a request under section 552 of title 5 unless the Secretary determines that—

(1) disclosure of the information would further the purposes of the System unit in which the resource or object is located and would not create an unreasonable risk of harm, theft, or destruction of the resource or object, including individual organic or inorganic specimens; and
(2) disclosure is consistent with other laws protecting the resource or object.

Subchapter II—System Unit Resource Protection

§ 100721. Definitions

In this subchapter:

​

(1) Damages.—The term “damages” includes—
(A) compensation for—
(i)(I) the cost of replacing, restoring, or acquiring the equivalent of a System unit resource; and
(II) the value of any significant loss of use of a System unit resource pending its restoration or replacement or the acquisition of an equivalent resource; or
(ii) the value of the System unit resource if the System unit resource cannot be replaced or restored; and
(B) the cost of a damage assessment under section 100723(b) of this title.
(2) Response costs.—The term “response costs” means the costs of actions taken by the Secretary to—
(A) prevent or minimize destruction or loss of or injury to a System unit resource;
(B) abate or minimize the imminent risk of the destruction, loss, or injury; or
(C) monitor ongoing effects of incidents causing the destruction, loss, or injury.
(3) System unit resource.—
(A) In general.—The term “System unit resource” means any living or non-living resource that is located within the boundaries of a System unit.
(B) Exclusion.—The term “System unit resource” does not include a resource owned by a non-Federal entity.

§ 100722. Liability

(a) In General.—Subject to subsection (c), any person that destroys, causes the loss of, or injures any System unit resource is liable to the United States for response costs and damages resulting from the destruction, loss, or injury.

(b) Liability In Rem.—Any instrumentality, including a vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or other equipment, that destroys, causes the loss of, or injures any System unit resource shall be liable in rem to the United States for response costs and damages resulting from the destruction, loss, or injury to the same extent as a person is liable under subsection (a).

(c) Defenses.—A person is not liable under this section if the person establishes that—

(1) the destruction, loss of, or injury to the System unit resource was caused solely by an act of God or an act of war;
(2) the person acted with due care, and the destruction, loss of, or injury to the System unit resource was caused solely by an act or omission of a 3d party, other than an employee or agent of the person; or
(3) the destruction, loss, or injury to the System unit resource was caused by an activity authorized by Federal or State law.

(d) Scope.—Liability under this section is in addition to any other liability that may arise under Federal or State law.

§ 100723. Actions

(a) Civil Action for Response Costs and Damages.—The Attorney General, on request of the Secretary after a finding by the Secretary of destruction, loss, or injury to a System unit resource or a finding that absent the undertaking of a response action, ​destruction, loss, or injury to a System unit resource would have occurred, may bring a civil action in United States district court against any person or instrumentality that may be liable under section 100722 of this title for response costs and damages. The Secretary shall submit a request for the civil action to the Attorney General whenever a person may be liable or an instrumentality may be liable in rem for those costs and damages under section 100722 of this title.

(b) Response Actions and Assessment of Destruction, Loss, or Injury.—

(1) Actions to prevent or minimize destruction, loss, or injury.—The Secretary shall undertake all necessary actions to—
(A) prevent or minimize the destruction, loss of, or injury to System unit resources; or
(B) minimize the imminent risk of destruction, loss, or injury to System unit resources.
(2) Assessment and monitoring.—The Secretary shall assess and monitor destruction, loss, or injury to System unit resources.

§ 100724. Use of recovered amounts

(a) Limitation on Use.—Response costs and damages recovered by the Secretary under this subchapter or amounts recovered by the Federal Government under any Federal, State, or local law or regulation or otherwise as a result of destruction, loss of, or injury to any System unit resource shall be available to the Secretary and without further Congressional action may be used only as follows:

(1) Reimbursement.—To reimburse response costs and damage assessments by the Secretary or other Federal agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Restoration and replacement.—To restore, replace, or acquire the equivalent of System unit resources that were the subject of the action and to monitor and study those System unit resources. The funds may not be used to acquire any land or water, interest in land or water, or right to land or water unless the acquisition is specifically approved in advance in appropriations Acts. The acquisition shall be subject to any limitations contained in the legislation establishing the System unit.

(b) Excess Amounts.—Any amounts remaining after expenditures pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) shall be deposited in the Treasury.

§ 100725. Donations

The Secretary may accept donations of money or services for expenditure or employment to meet expected, immediate, or ongoing response costs. The donations may be expended or employed at any time after their acceptance, without further Congressional action.

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Subchapter III—Mining Activity Within System Units

§ 100731. Findings and declaration

Congress finds and declares that—

(1) the level of technology of mineral exploration and development has changed radically, and continued application of the mining laws of the United States to System units to which the mining laws apply conflicts with the purposes for which the System units were established; and
(2) all mining operations in System units should be conducted so as to prevent or minimize damage to the environment and other resource values.

§ 100732. Preservation and management of System units by Secretary; promulgation of regulations

To preserve for the benefit of present and future generations the pristine beauty of System units, and to further the purposes of section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of this title and the individual organic Acts for the System units, all activities resulting from the exercise of mineral rights on patented or unpatented mining claims within any System unit shall be subject to such regulations prescribed by the Secretary as the Secretary considers necessary or desirable for the preservation and management of the System units.

§ 100733. Recordation of mining claims; publication of notice

All mining claims under the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. chapter 2, sections 161 and 162, and chapters 12A and 16) that lie within the boundaries of System units in existence on September 28, 1976, that were not recorded with the Secretary within one year after September 28, 1976, shall be conclusively presumed to be abandoned and shall be void. The recordation does not render valid any claim that was not valid on September 28, 1976, or that becomes invalid after that date.

§ 100734. Report on finding or notification of potential damage to natural and historical landmarks

When the Secretary finds on the Secretary’s own motion or on being notified in writing by an appropriate scientific, historical, or archeological authority that a district, site, building, structure, or object that has been found to be nationally significant in illustrating natural history or the history of the United States and that has been designated as a natural or historic landmark may be irreparably lost or destroyed in whole or in part by any surface mining activity, including exploration for or removal or production of minerals or materials, the Secretary shall notify the person conducting the activity and submit a report on the findings or notification, including the basis for the Secretary’s finding that the activity may cause irreparable loss or destruction of a national landmark, to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, with a request for advice of the Council as to alternative measures that may be taken by the United States to mitigate or abate the activity.

​§ 100735. Civil actions for just compensation by mining claim holders

The holder of any patented or unpatented mining claim subject to this subchapter that believes the holder has suffered a loss by operation of this subchapter, or by orders or regulations issued pursuant to this subchapter, may bring a civil action in United States district court to recover just compensation, which shall be awarded if the court finds that the loss constitutes a taking of property compensable under the Constitution.

§ 100736. Acquisition of land by Secretary

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to acquire land and interests in land within the boundary of any System unit. The Secretary shall give prompt and careful consideration to any offer made by the owner of any valid right or other property in Glacier Bay National Monument, Death Valley National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, or Mount McKinley National Park to sell the right or other property if the owner notifies the Secretary that the continued ownership of the right or property is causing, or would result in, undue hardship.

§ 100737. Financial disclosure by officer or employee of Secretary

(a) Written Statements.—Each officer or employee of the Secretary who—

(1) performs any function or duty under this subchapter, or any Act amended by the Mining in the Parks Act (Public Law 94–429, 90 Stat. 1342) concerning the regulation of mining in the System; and
(2) has any known financial interest—
(A) in any person subject to this subchapter or any Act amended by the Mining in the Parks Act (Public Law 94–429, 90 Stat. 1342); or
(B) in any person who holds a mining claim within the boundary of any System unit;

shall annually file with the Secretary a written statement concerning all such interests held by the officer or employee during the preceding calendar year. The statement shall be available to the public.

(b) Monitoring and Enforcement Procedures.—The Secretary shall—

(1) define the term “known financial interest” for purposes of subsection (a);
(2) establish the methods by which the requirement to file written statements specified in subsection (a) will be monitored and enforced, including appropriate provisions for the filing by the officers and employees of the statements and the review by the Secretary of the statements; and
(3) submit to Congress on June 1 of each year a report with respect to the disclosures and the actions taken in regard to the disclosures during the preceding calendar year.

(c) Exemptions.—In the rules prescribed under subsection (b), the Secretary may identify specific positions within the Department of the Interior that are of a nonregulatory or nonpolicymaking nature and provide that officers or employees occupying those positions shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.

​(d) Criminal Penalties.—Criminal penalties for a violation of this section are provided by section 1865 of title 18.

Subchapter IV—Administration

§ 100751. Regulations

(a) In General.—The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as the Secretary considers necessary or proper for the use and management of System units.

(b) Boating and Other Activities on or Relating to Water.—The Secretary, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers advisable, may prescribe regulations under subsection (a) concerning boating and other activities on or relating to water located within System units, including water subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any regulation under this subsection shall be complementary to, and not in derogation of, the authority of the Coast Guard to regulate the use of water subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(c) Criminal Penalties.—Criminal penalties for a violation of a regulation prescribed under this section are provided by section 1865 of title 18.

§ 100752. Destruction of animals and plant life

The Secretary may provide for the destruction of such animals and plant life as may be detrimental to the use of any System unit.

§ 100753. Disposal of timber

The Secretary, on terms and conditions to be fixed by the Secretary, may sell or dispose of timber in cases where, in the judgment of the Secretary, the cutting of timber is required to control attacks of insects or diseases or otherwise conserve the scenery or the natural or historic objects in any System unit.

§ 100754. Relinquishment of legislative jurisdiction

(a) In General.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may relinquish to a State or a territory (including a possession) of the United States part of the legislative jurisdiction of the United States over System land or interests in land in that State or territory. Relinquishment may be accomplished—

(1) by filing with the chief executive official of the State or territory a notice of relinquishment to take effect on acceptance; or
(2) as the laws of the State or territory may otherwise provide.

(b) Submission of Agreement to Congress.—Prior to consummating a relinquishment under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit the proposed agreement to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. The Secretary shall not finalize the agreement until 60 calendar days after the submission has elapsed.

(c) Concurrent Legislative Jurisdiction.—The Secretary shall diligently pursue the consummation of arrangements with each State or territory within which a System unit is located so that insofar as practicable the United States shall exercise concurrent legislative jurisdiction within System units.

​§ 100755. Applicability of other laws

(a) In General.—This section and sections 100501, 100901(d) to (h), 101302(b)(2), 101901(c), and 102711 of this title, and the various authorities relating to the administration and protection of System units, including the provisions of law listed in subsection (b), shall, to the extent that those provisions are not in conflict with any such specific provision, be applicable to System units, and any reference in any of these provisions to a System unit does not limit those provisions to that System unit.

(b) Applicable Provisions.—The provisions of law referred to in subsection (a) are—

(1) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, 101101, 101102, 101511, 102101, 102712, 102901, 104905, and 104906, and chapter 2003 of this title;
(2) the Act of March 4, 1911 (43 U.S.C. 961); and
(3) chapter 3201 of this title.

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