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16 USC § 460www - Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s460www"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 460www - Red Cliffs National Conservation Area"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "460www"
section_name: "Red Cliffs National Conservation Area"
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES"
subchapter_number: "CXXXIV"
subchapter_name: "RED CLIFFS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 111–11, title I, § 1974, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1081.)"
---

# § 460www. Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

**(a)** **Purposes** The purposes of this section are—

**(1)** to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources of the National Conservation Area; and

**(2)** to protect each species that is—

**(A)** located in the National Conservation Area; and

**(B)** listed as a threatened or endangered species on the list of threatened species or the list of endangered species published under section 1533(c)(1) of this title.

**(b)** **Definitions** In this section:

**(1)** **Habitat conservation plan** February 23, 1996

The term “habitat conservation plan” means the conservation plan entitled “Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan” and dated .

**(2)** **Management plan** The term “management plan” means the management plan for the National Conservation Area developed by the Secretary under subsection (d)(1).

**(3)** **National Conservation Area** The term “National Conservation Area” means the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area that—

**(A)** consists of approximately 44,725 acres of public land in the County, as generally depicted on the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area Map; and

**(B)** is established by subsection (c).

**(4)** **Public use plan** June 12, 2000

The term “public use plan” means the use plan entitled “Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Public Use Plan” and dated , as amended.

**(5)** **Resource management plan** March 15, 1999

The term “resource management plan” means the management plan entitled “St. George Field Office Resource Management Plan” and dated , as amended.

**(c)** **Establishment** Subject to valid existing rights, there is established in the State the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

**(d)** **Management plan**

**(1)** **In general** March 30, 2009

Not later than 3 years after , and in accordance with paragraph (2), the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive plan for the long-term management of the National Conservation Area.

**(2)** **Consultation** In developing the management plan required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with—

**(A)** appropriate State, tribal, and local governmental entities; and

**(B)** members of the public.

**(3)** **Incorporation of plans** In developing the management plan required under paragraph (1), to the extent consistent with this section, the Secretary may incorporate any provision of—

**(A)** the habitat conservation plan;

**(B)** the resource management plan; and

**(C)** the public use plan.

**(e)** **Management**

**(1)** **In general** The Secretary shall manage the National Conservation Area—

**(A)** in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the resources of the National Conservation Area; and

**(B)** in accordance with—

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

**(ii)** this section; and

**(iii)** any other applicable law (including regulations).

**(2)** **Uses** The Secretary shall only allow uses of the National Conservation Area that the Secretary determines would further a purpose described in subsection (a).

**(3)** **Motorized vehicles** Except in cases in which motorized vehicles are needed for administrative purposes, or to respond to an emergency, the use of motorized vehicles in the National Conservation Area shall be permitted only on roads designated by the management plan for the use of motorized vehicles.

**(4)** **Grazing** The grazing of livestock in the National Conservation Area, where established before March 30, 2009, shall be permitted to continue—

**(A)** subject to—

**(i)** such reasonable regulations, policies, and practices as the Secretary considers necessary; and

**(ii)** applicable law; and

**(B)** in a manner consistent with the purposes described in subsection (a).

**(5)** **Wildland fire operations** Nothing in this section prohibits the Secretary, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate, from conducting wildland fire operations in the National Conservation Area, consistent with the purposes of this section.

**(f)** **Incorporation of acquired land and interests** Any land or interest in land that is located in the National Conservation Area that is acquired by the United States shall—

**(1)** become part of the National Conservation Area; and

**(2)** be managed in accordance with—

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

**(B)** this section; and

**(C)** any other applicable law (including regulations).

**(g)** **Withdrawal**

**1** **In general** Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal land located in the National Conservation Area are [^1] withdrawn from—

So in original. Probably should be “is”.

**(A)** all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;

**(B)** location, entry, and patenting under the mining laws; and

**(C)** operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.

**(2)** **Additional land** March 30, 2009

If the Secretary acquires additional land that is located in the National Conservation Area after , the land is withdrawn from operation of the laws referred to in paragraph (1) on the date of acquisition of the land.

**(h)** **Effect** Nothing in this section prohibits the authorization of the development of utilities within the National Conservation Area if the development is carried out in accordance with—

**(1)** each utility development protocol described in the habitat conservation plan; and

**(2)** any other applicable law (including regulations).

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–11, title I, § 1974, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1081.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsecs. (e)(1)(B)(i) and (f)(2)(A), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 35 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

> **“(1)** **Beaver dam wash national conservation area map.—** The term ‘Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area Map’ means the map entitled ‘Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area’ and dated September 20, 2009.
> 
> **“(2)** **Canaan mountain wilderness map.—** The term ‘Canaan Mountain Wilderness Map’ means the map entitled ‘Canaan Mountain Wilderness’ and dated June 21, 2008.
> 
> **“(3)** **County.—** The term ‘County’ means Washington County, Utah.
> 
> **“(4)** **Northeastern washington county wilderness map.—** The term ‘Northeastern Washington County Wilderness Map’ means the map entitled ‘Northeastern Washington County Wilderness’ and dated November 12, 2008.
> 
> **“(5)** **Northwestern washington county wilderness map.—** The term ‘Northwestern Washington County Wilderness Map’ means the map entitled ‘Northwestern Washington County Wilderness’ and dated June 21, 2008.
> 
> **“(6)** **Red cliffs national conservation area map.—** The term ‘Red Cliffs National Conservation Area Map’ means the map entitled ‘Red Cliffs National Conservation Area’ and dated November 12, 2008.
> 
> **“(7)** **Secretary.—** The term ‘Secretary’ means—
> 
> **“(A)** with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture; and
> 
> **“(B)** with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior.
> 
> **“(8)** **State.—** The term ‘State’ means the State of Utah.
> 
> **“(9)** **Washington county growth and conservation act map.—** The term ‘Washington County Growth and Conservation Act Map’ means the map entitled ‘Washington County Growth and Conservation Act Map’ and dated November 13, 2008.”

, , , as amended by , , , provided that: