An Act to establish the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in the States of Utah and Wyoming, and for other purposes
PL 90-540 (S.444), enacted 10/01/1968

904 
PUBUC LAW 90-540-OCT. 1, 1968 
[82 STAT. 
October 1, 1968 
[S. 444] 
Public Law 90-540 
AN ACT 
To establish the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in the States of Utah 
and Wyoming, and for other puri)oses. 
Flaming Gorge 
National Recre-
ation Area. 
Establishment. 
Administration 
by Secretary of 
Agriculture. 
Exception. 
Boundaries, 
publication in 
Federal Register. 
Hunting, fish-
ing, and trapping. 
Lands with-
drawn from 
location, etc< 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That in order to pro-
vide, in furtherance of the purposes of the Colorado River storage 
project, for the public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of the 
Flaming Gorge Reservoir and surrounding lands in the States of Utah 
and Wyoming and the conservation of scenic, scientific, historic, and 
other values contributing to public enjoyment of such lands and 
waters, there is hereby established, subject to valid existing rights, the 
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in the States of Utah and 
Wyoming (hereinafter referred to as the "recreation area"). The 
boundaries of the recreation area shall be those shown on the map 
entitled "Proposed Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area," which 
is on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Chief, 
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. 
SEC. 2. The administration, protection, and development of the rec-
reation area shall be by the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter 
called the "Secretary") in accordance with the laws, rules, and regu-
lations applicable to national forests, in a manner coordinated with 
the other purposes of the Colorado River storage project, and in such 
manner as in his judgment will best provide for (1) public outdoor 
recreation benefits; (2) conservation of scenic, scientific, historic, and 
other values contributing to public enjoyment; and (3) such manage-
ment, utilization, and disposal of natural resources as in his judgment 
will promote or are compatible with, and do not significantly impair 
the purposes for which the recreation area is established: Provided^ 
That lands or waters needed or used for the operation of the Colorado 
River storage project shall continue to be administered by the Secretary 
of the Interior to the extent he determines to be required for such 
operation. 
SEC. 3. Within six months after the effective date of this Act, the 
Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a detailed description 
of the boundaries of the recreation area. Following such publication, 
the Secretary may make minor adjustments in the boundary of the 
recreation area by publication of the amended description thereof in 
the Federal Register: Provided^ That the total acreage of the recrea-
tion area within the adjusted boundary does not exceed the acreage of 
the recreation area as shown on the map referred to in section 1 hereof. 
SEC. 4. The Secretary shall permit hunting, fishing, and trapping on 
the lands and waters under his jurisdiction within the recreation area 
in accordance with the applicable Federal and State laws: Provided, 
That the Secretary, after consultation with the respective State fish 
and game commissions, may issue regulations designating zones where 
and establishing periods when no hunting, fishing, or trapping shall 
be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, or public 
use and enjoyment. Nothing m this Act shall affect the jurisdiction 
or responsibilities of the States of Utah and Wyoming under other 
provisions of State laws with respect to hunting and fishing. 
SEC. 5. The lands within the recreation area, subject to valid existing 
rights, are hereby withdrawn from location, entry, and patent under 
82 STAT. 3 
PUBLIC LAW 90-540-OCT. 1, 1968 
905 
64 Stat. 463. 
41 Stat. 437. 
61 Stat. 913. 
Receipts, 
disposition. 
Ashley 
National 
Fore St, bound-
aries extended. 
the United States mining laws. The Secretary of the Interior, under 
Minerals, 
such reguhitions as he deems appropriate, may permit the removal of ^^"'°'^^ • 
the nonleasable minerals from lands or interests in lands within the 
recreation area in the manner prescribed by section 10 of the Act of 
August 4,1939, as amended (53 Stat. 1196; 43 U.S.C. 387), and he may 
f
)ermit the removal of leasable minerals from lands or interests in 
ands within the recreation area in accordance with the Mineral Leas-
ing Act of February 24, 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), or 
the Acquired Lands Mineral Leasing Act of August 7,1947 (30 U.S.C. 
351 et seq.), if he finds that such disposition would not have significant 
adverse effects on the purposes of the Colorado River storage project 
and the Secretary of Agriculture finds that such disposition would not 
have significant adverse effects on the purposes of the recreation area: 
Provided, That any lease or permit respecting such minerals in the 
recreation area shall be issued only with the consent of the Secretary 
of Agriculture and subject to such conditions as he may prescribe. 
All receipts derived from permits and leases issued under the au-
thority of this section for removal of nonleasable minerals shall be paid 
into the same funds or accounts in the Treasury of the United States 
and shall be distributed in the same manner as provided lor receipts 
from national forests. Any receijjts derived from permits or leases 
issued on lands in the recreation area under the Mineral Leasing Act 
of February 25, 1920, as amended, or the Act of August 7, 1947, shall 
be disposed of as provided in the applicable Act. 
SEC. 6. The boundaries of the Ashley National Forest are hereby 
extended to include all of the lands not presently within such bound-
aries lying within the recreation area as described in accordance with 
sections 1 and 3 of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Subject to any valid claim or entry now existing and here-
after legally maintained, all public lands of the ITnited States and all 
lands of the L'nited States heretofore or hereafter acquired or re-
served for use in connection with the Colorado River storage project 
within the exterior boundaries of the recreation area which have not 
heretofore been added to and made a part of the Ashley National 
Forest, and all lands of the United States acquired for the purpose 
of the recreation area, are hereby added to and made a part of the 
Ashley National Forest: Provided, That lands within the flow lines 
of any reservoir operated and maintained by the Department of the 
Interior or otherwise needed or used for the operation of the Colo-
rado River storage project shall continue to be administered by the 
Secretary of the Interior to the extent he determines to be required 
for such operation. 
SEC. 8. Funds hereafter appropriated and available for the acquisi-
tion of lands and waters and interests therein in the national forest 
system pursuant to section 6 of the Act of September 3, 1964 (78 Stat. 
897, 903), shall be available for the acquisition of any lands, waters, 
and interests therein within the boundaries of the recreation area. 
SEC. 9. Nothing in this Act shall deprive any State or political sub-
division thereof of its right to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction J""^'ii'="°" 
within the recreation area consistent with the provisions of this Act, or 
of its right to tax persons, corporations, franchises, or other non-Fed-
eral property, including mineral or other interests, in or on lands or 
waters within the recreation area. 
Approved October 1, 1968. 
Availability 
of certain 
funds. 
16 use 460/-9. 
State and local