16 U.S.C. § 1282 (CONSERVATION)
§ 1282. Assistance to State and local projects
(a) Assistance of Secretary of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior shall encourage and assist the States to consider, in formulating and carrying out their comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plans and proposals for financing assistance for State and local projects submitted pursuant to chapter 2003 of title 54),1 needs and opportunities for establishing State and local wild, scenic and recreational river areas.
(b) Assistance of Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, or other Federal agency heads; use of Federal facilities, equipment, etc.; conditions on permits or other authorizations
(1) The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, or the head of any other Federal agency, shall assist, advise, and cooperate with States or their political subdivisions, landowners, private organizations, or individuals to plan, protect, and manage river resources. Such assistance, advice, and cooperation may be through written agreements or otherwise. This authority applies within or outside a federally administered area and applies to rivers which are components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and to other rivers. Any agreement under this subsection may include provisions for limited financial or other assistance to encourage participation in the acquisition, protection, and management of river resources.
(2) Wherever appropriate in furtherance of this chapter, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior are authorized and encouraged to utilize the following:
(A) For activities on federally owned land, section 102301 of title 54 and the Volunteers in the Forest Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 558a–558d).2
(B) For activities on all other lands, section 6 3 of chapter 2003 of title 54 (relating to the development of statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plans).
(3) For purposes of this subsection, the appropriate Secretary or the head of any Federal agency may utilize and make available Federal facilities, equipment, tools and technical assistance to volunteers and volunteer organizations, subject to such limitations and restrictions as the appropriate Secretary or the head of any Federal agency deems necessary or desirable.
(4) No permit or other authorization provided for under provision of any other Federal law shall be conditioned on the existence of any agreement provided for in this section.
(Pub. L. 90–542, § 11, Oct. 2, 1968, 82 Stat. 916; Pub. L. 99–590, title V, § 508, Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3337; Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(31), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3267.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The Volunteers in the Forest Act of 1972, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), probably means the Volunteers in the National Forests Act of 1972, Pub. L. 92–300, May 18, 1972, 86 Stat. 147, which was classified generally to former sections 558a to 558d of this title, prior to being amended generally and renamed the Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Lands Act by Pub. L. 118–234, title III, § 341, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2913. Section 342 of Pub. L. 118–234, set out as a note under section 558a of this title, provides that a reference in any law to the Volunteers in National Forests Act of 1972 shall be deemed to be a reference to the Volunteers in the National Forests and Public Lands Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 558a of this title and Tables.
heading: Codification
text: In subsec. (b)(2)(A), the words “(16 U.S.C. 18g–j)” were omitted following “section 102301 of title 54” in view of the amendment by Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(31)(B)(i). See 2014 Amendment note below.
heading: Amendments
text: 2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(31)(A), substituted “chapter 2003 of title 54” for “the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (78 Stat. 897”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(31)(B)(i), substituted “section 102301 of title 54” for “the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(31)(B)(ii), substituted “chapter 2003 of title 54” for “the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965”.
1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–590 struck out provisions relating to provision of technical assistance and advice to and cooperation with States, etc., in establishment of areas.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–590 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “The Secretaries of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services shall likewise, in accordance with the authority vested in them assist, advise, and cooperate with State and local agencies and private interests with respect to establishing such wild, scenic and recreational river areas.”