range 30 east; thence northerly along said line to its intersection with the main hydrographic divide north of East Fork Kaweah River; thence easterly following said divide, passing through Timber Gap to the summit of Sawtooth Peak; thence southeasterly along the crest of the Great Western Divide to the summit of Coyote Peaks (United States Geological Survey bench mark, altitude ten thousand nine hundred and nineteen feet); thence northeasterly following the main hydrographic divide south of Coyote Creek to the junction of Coyote Creek and Kern River; thence due east across Kern River to the east bank; thence following said east bank of Kern River northerly to the junction of Golden Trout Creek and Kern River; thence northeasterly following the main hydrographic divide north of Golden Trout Creek, and between the headwaters of Golden Trout Creek and Rock Creek to a junction with the main crest of the Sierra Nevada, northwest of Cirque Peak; thence northerly and westerly along said main crest of the Sierra Nevada to Junction Peak (United States Geological Survey bench mark thirteen thousand nine hundred and three feet); thence westerly along the crest of the Kings-Kern Divide to a junction with the crest of the Great Western Divide at Thunder Mountain (United States Geological Survey bench mark thirteen thousand five hundred and seventy-eight feet); thence southwesterly along the crest of the Great Western Divide to Triple Divide Peak (United States Geological Survey altitude twelve thousand six hundred and fifty-one feet); thence westerly and northwesterly along the crest of the hydrographic divide between the headwaters of Roaring River and the headwaters of the Middle and Marble Forks of the Kaweah River to Kettle Peak (United States Geological Survey altitude ten thousand and thirty-eight feet); thence westerly and southwesterly along the crest of the main hydrographic divide next north of Clover Creek and Dorst Creek to the Junction of Stony Creek and Dorst Creek; thence following the west bank of the North Fork Kaweah River to its junction with Cactus Creek; thence easterly along the first hydrographic divide south of Cactus Creek to its intersection with the present west boundary of Sequoia National Park, being the west line of township 16 south, range 29 east; thence southerly along said west boundary to the southwest corner of said township; thence easterly along the present boundary of Sequoia National Park, being the north line of township 17 south, range 29 east, to the northeast corner of said township; thence southerly along the present boundary of Sequoia National Park, being the west lines of townships 17 and 18 south, range 30 east, to the place of beginning; and all of those lands lying within the boundary line above described are included in and made a part of the RooseveltSequoia National Park; and all of those lands excluded from the present Sequoia National Park are included in and made a part of the Sequoia National Forest, subject to all laws and regulations applicable to the national forests. (July 3, 1926, ch. 744, § 1, 44 Stat. 818.)

EXCLUSION AND ADDITION of Lands
Certain lands excluded from Kings Canyon National
Park and added to Sequoia National Forest, see sec-
tion 80a-1 of this title.

Certain lands excluded from Sequoia National Forest and added to Kings Canyon National Park, see section 80a-2 of this title.

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 45e of this title. § 45a-1. Addition of lands authorized

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to accept title to lands and interests in lands near the entrance to the Sequoia National Park, subject to existing easements for public highways and public utilities, within the following described tracts:

Tract A. A portion of tract 37, township 17 south, range 29 east, Mount Diablo meridian, Tulare County, California, comprising approximately two acres.

Tract B. A portion of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 4, township 17 south, range 29 east, Mount Diablo meridian, Tulare County, California, comprising approximately thirty-eight acres.

Tract C. A portion of the south half of tract 37, township 17 south, range 29 east, Mount Diablo meridian, Tulare County, California, comprising approximately sixty one-hundredths acre.

The owners of the lands to be conveyed to the United States, before any exchange is effective, shall furnish to the Secretary of the Interior evidence satisfactory to him of title to such lands. Such property shall become a part of the Sequoia National Park upon the acceptance of title thereto by the Secretary, and shall thereafter be subject to all laws and regulations applicable to the park.

(Dec. 21, 1943, ch. 372, § 1, 57 Stat. 606.)

ELECTRIC POWER DEVELOPMENT PERMITS

Pub. L. 99-338, June 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 641, as amended by Pub. L. 103-437, § 6(d)(4), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4583, provided: "That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to issue a permit for ten years, and may issue not more than one renewal of equivalent duration, for portions of an existing hydroelectric project, known as the Kaweah Project of Southern California Edison Company, to continue to occupy and use lands of the United States within Sequoia National Park as necessary for continued operation and maintenance.

"SEC. 2. The Secretary shall not execute any permit renewal prior to one hundred and twenty calendar days from the date the same is submitted to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and to the Committee on Natural Resources [now Committee on Resources] of the United States House of Representatives.

"SEC. 3. The permit shall contain a provision prohibiting expansion of the Kaweah Project in Sequoia National Park and shall also contain such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior shall deem necessary and proper for the management and care of Sequoia National Park and the purposes for which it was established."

Pub. L. 93-522, Dec. 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 1660, as amended by Pub. L. 95-625, title III, § 314(d)(3), Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3482, authorized Secretary of the Interior to issue a permit to occupy and use lands of

TITLE 16-CONSERVATION

United States within Sequoia National Park necessary for continued operation, maintenance, and use of hydroelectric project known as the Kaweah Number 3 project of Southern California Edison Company, provided that in no event could the term of such permit extend for any period in excess of ten years following the date of its issuance, unless specifically authorized by law, provided for terms and conditions of permit, required report on impact of hydroelectric project, and provided for applicability of the Act.

Pub. L. 88-47, June 21, 1963, 77 Stat. 70, authorized Secretary of the Interior to issue a permit to use and Occupy United States lands within Sequoia National Park necessary for continued operation, maintenance, and use of the Kaweah number 3 hydroelectric project of Southern California Edison Company, which by its terms was to provide that any privileges granted thereunder were to be exercised in accord with Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and which was to expire no later than Aug. 6, 1974.

Section 3 of act Dec. 21, 1943, provided as follows: "Nothing in this Act [sections 45a-1 and 45a-2 of this title] shall be construed to alter or affect in any manner the provisions, or extend the term, of the permit heretofore granted to the Southern California Edison Company and predecessors thereof for the use of lands in the Sequoia National Park for electric power development purposes, or to relieve the company of any financial or other obligation under said permit, or under agreements or orders relating or supplementary thereto."

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 45a-2 of this title.

§ 45a-2. Exchange of certain lands for lands conveyed to United States

In exchange for the conveyance to the United States of tract A, as provided in section 45a-1 of this title, the Secretary is authorized, in his discretion, to patent to the owner of tract A, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may deem necessary, certain lands of approximately equal value described as follows:

Tract D. A portion of the southeast quarter of section 33, township 16 south, range 29 east, Mount Diablo meridian, Tulare County, California, comprising approximately two and fifty

one-hundredths acres.

In exchange for the conveyance to the United States of tracts B and C, as provided in section 45a-1 of this title, the Secretary is authorized to patent, in a similar manner, to the owner of tracts B and C certain lands of approximately equal value described as follows:

Tract E. The southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 4, which shall be subject to section 818 of this title; the south half of the northeast quarter of section 5; and approximately sixty-eight acres of the north half of the southeast quarter of section 5, which shall not include the surveyed two-hundred-foot strip as shown on map "D" of exhibit "K", entitled "Detailed Map of Kaweah Project of the Southern California Edison Company, Ltd.", and filed in the office of the Federal Power Commission on December 12, 1923; all of said lands in tract E being situated in township 17 south, range 29 east, Mount Diablo meridian, comprising approximately one hundred and eighty-eight acres.

(Dec. 21, 1943, ch. 372, § 2, 57 Stat. 606.)

CROSS REFERENCES

Page 72

Electric power development permits, see note set out under section 45a-1 of this title.

§ 45a-3. Repealed. Pub. L. 95-625, title III, § 314(g), Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3483

Section, Pub. L. 85-648, Aug. 14, 1958, 72 Stat. 604, authorized addition of certain lands to the Sequoia National Game Refuge and exclusion of such lands from the Sequoia National Park. See section 45f(b)(2) of this title.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF REPEAL

Repeal effective on transfer of abolished Sequoia National Game Refuge by Secretary of Agriculture to administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior under section 45f(b)(2) of this title, see section 314(g) of Pub. L. 95-625, set out as an Effective Date of Repeal note under section 688 of this title.

§ 45b. Rules and regulations; leases; fish and game

The said park shall be under the exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior, whose duty it shall be, as soon as practicable, to make and publish such reasonable rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States, as he may deem necessary or proper for the care, protection, management, and improvement of the same, such regulations being primarily aimed at the freest use of said park for recreation purposes by the public and for the preservation from injury or spoliation of all timber, natural curiosities, or wonders within said park and their retention in their natural condition as far as practicable, and for the preservation of said park in a state of nature so far as is consistent with the purposes of this Act. Such rules and regulations shall permit the taking of fish by hook and line from the streams or lakes in said park, but at such seasons, during such times, and in such manner as may be directed by the Secretary of the Interior. Such rules and regulations, however, shall provide against the destruction of the wild life within said park, and the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to take all such measures as shall be necessary to fully carry out the objects and purposes of this Act. Said Secretary may, in his discretion, execute leases to parcels of ground not exceeding ten acres in extent at any one place to any one person or persons or company for not to exceed twenty years, when such ground is necessary for the erection of buildings for the accommodation of visitors. Such leases or privileges may be renewed or extended at the expiration of the terms thereof: Provided, That existing leases from the Department of Agriculture may be continued, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, for so long as such extension is not detrimental to the public purposes for which the park is created. (July 3, 1926, ch. 744, § 2, 44 Stat. 820.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

This Act, referred to in text, is act July 3, 1926, which is classified to sections 45a, 45b to 45e, and 688 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

CROSS REFERENCES

Rules and regulations for Sequoia National Park, leases, timber, etc., see sections 3 and 43 of this title.

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 45e of this title.

$45c. Prior claims, locations, and entries; permits for use of natural resources

Nothing herein contained shall affect any valid existing claim, location, or entry established prior to July 3, 1926, under the land laws of the United States, whether for homestead, mineral, right-of-way, or any other purpose whatsoever, or shall affect the rights of any such claimant, locator, or entryman to the full use and enjoyment of his land: Provided, That under rules and regulations to be prescribed by him the Secretary of the Interior may issue permits to any bona fide claimant, entryman, landowner, or lessee of land within the boundaries herein established to secure timber for use on and for the improvement of his land; and he shall also have authority to issue, under rules and regulations to be prescribed by him, grazing permits and authorize the grazing of livestock on the lands within said park at fees not to exceed those charged by the Forest Service on adjacent areas, so long as such timber cutting and grazing are not detrimental to the primary purpose for which such park is created: Provided, That no permit, license, lease, or authorization for dams, conduits, reservoirs, power houses, transmission lines, or other works for storage or carriage of water, or for the development, transmission, or utilization of power within the limits of said park as constituted by said sections, shall be granted or made without specific authority of Congress. (July 3, 1926, ch. 744, § 3, 44 Stat. 820.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

Herein, referred to in text, means act July 3, 1926, which is classified to sections 45a, 45b to 45e, and 688 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS This section is referred to in section 45e of this title. § 45d. Exclusive privileges within park prohibited

No exclusive privilege shall be granted within said park, or on or over the roads and trails therein, except upon ground leased for the erection of buildings or camps thereon. (July 3, 1926, ch. 744, § 4, 44 Stat. 820.)

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 45e of this title.

§ 45e. Violations of park regulations; penalty

Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this Act or any rule or regulation that may be promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior with reference to the management and care of the park, or for the protection of the property therein, for the preservation from injury or spoliation of timber, natural curiosities, or other objects within said park, or for the protection of the animals, birds, and

fish in said park, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subjected to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both.

(July 3, 1926, ch. 744, § 5, 44 Stat. 820.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

This Act, referred to in text, is act July 3, 1926, which is classified to sections 45a, 45b to 45e, and 688 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 45b of this title. § 45f. Mineral King Valley addition authorized (a) Statement of purpose

It is the purpose of this section to

(1) assure the preservation for this and future generations of the outstanding natural and scenic features of the area commonly known as the Mineral King Valley and previously designated as the Sequoia National Game Refuge; and

(2) enhance the ecological values and public enjoyment of such area by adding such area to the Sequoia National Park.

(b) Drawing copy, availability; boundary revisions: notification of Congressional committees, publication in Federal Register; abolition and transfer of Sequoia National Game Refuge to administrative jurisdiction of Secretary

(1) In order to add to the Sequoia National Park (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "park") a certain area known as Mineral King Valley possessing unique natural and scenic values, there is hereby established as part of such park all lands, waters, and interests therein, constituting approximately sixteen thousand two hundred acres designated before November 10, 1978, as the Sequoia National Game Refuge and as depicted on the drawing entitled "Boundary Map, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park", numbered 102-90,000 and dated April 1975. A copy of such drawing shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. After advising the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate in writing, the Secretary is authorized to make minor revisions of the boundaries of the park when necessary by publication of a revised drawing or other boundary description in the Federal Register.

(2) The Sequoia National Game Refuge is hereby abolished and the Secretary of Agriculture shall transfer, without consideration, to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary, the area constituting such refuge, and any unexpended funds available for purposes of management of the refuge shall be available for purposes of management of the park.

(c) Acquisition of property; place and manner; owner's right of use and occupancy for fixed term of years or life; election of term; fair market value; termination; notification; incompatible commercial uses; unitary parcels; access road, right-of-way, and protective measures; hardship sale offers; limitation of authority; State donated lands; report to Congressional committees

(1) Within the boundaries of the area added to the park pursuant to this section, the Secretary may acquire lands and interests in lands by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, exchange, or transfer from other Federal departments or agencies.

(2) Where the private use of any property acquired pursuant to this subsection would, in the judgment of the Secretary, be compatible with the purposes of this section, the Secretary may, as a condition of such acquisition, permit the owner or owners of such property to retain for themselves and their successors or assigns rights of use and occupancy. Such rights of use and occupancy shall be for not more than twenty-five years or for a term ending at the death of the owner or his or her spouse, whichever is later. The owner shall reserve such rights and elect the term to be reserved on the date of acquisition of the property. Except for so much of the property as is donated, the Secretary shall pay to the owner the fair market value of the property on the date of its acquisition, less the fair market value on that date of the right retained by the owner.

(3) A right of use and occupancy retained pursuant to paragraph (2) may be terminated by the Secretary upon his determination that the property or any portion thereof is being used in a manner which is incompatible with the purposes of this section. Such right shall terminate by operation of law upon notification by the Secretary to the holder of the right of such determination and tendering to him the amount equal to the fair market value of that portion which remains unexpired as of the date of such tender. In the case of any property which was used for noncommercial purposes during the ten calendar years immediately preceding November 10, 1978, the commercial use of such property subsequent to November 10, 1978, shall be treated as incompatible with the purposes of this section. In the case of any property which was used for commercial purposes at any time during the ten calendar years immediately preceding November 10, 1978, any substantial change or expansion of such commercial use subsequent to November 10, 1978, without the express approval of the Secretary shall be treated as incompatible with such purposes.

(4) In exercising his authority to acquire property under this section, the Secretary shall give prompt and careful consideration to any offer made by an individual owning property within the park to sell such property if such individual notifies the Secretary that the continued ownership of such property is causing, or would result in, undue hardship. Nothing in this section, or in any other provision of law, shall prevent the Secretary from exercising his

Page 74

authority to acquire property referred to in this subsection at any time after November 10, 1978. (5) If any individual tract or parcel of land acquired is partly inside and partly outside the boundaries of the park the Secretary may, in order to minimize the payment of severance damages, acquire the whole of the tract or parcel.

(6) If the management plan prepared under subsection (e) of this section provides for improved access to the area added to the park under this section, the Secretary is authorized to acquire, by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, exchange or transfer from other Federal departments or agencies, the area comprising the road from State Route 198 to, and within, the Mineral King Valley together with a right-of-way for such road of a width sufficient to include improvements to the road and all bridges, ditches, cuts, and fills appurtenant thereto, but not exceeding a maximum average width of two hundred feet. Property acquired from the State or any political subdivision thereof may be acquired by donation only. With regard to routes of access to and within the Mineral King Valley, the Secretary shall take such measures as are necessary to protect against the effects of siltation on the ecosystem of the park.

(7) The Secretary shall report to the committees of the Congress named in subsection (b)(1) of this section the action taken by him pursuant to this subsection. Such report shall contain information sufficient to inform such committees of

(A) the acquisitions made by him pursuant to this subsection during the period covered by such report;

(B) his reasons why all of such property authorized to be acquired and not so acquired as of the date of such report, if any, have not been acquired; and

(C) his schedule of a timetable for the acquisition of such property referred to in subparagraph (B).

Such report shall be submitted before the expiration of the second fiscal year beginning after the date on which the comprehensive management plan is submitted to the committees of Congress pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.

(d) Administration; statutory authorities applicable; leases or permits: renewals or extensions, review; termination

(1) The area added to the park by this section shall be administered in accordance with this section and the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National Park System including sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 41, and 43 of this title. Any other statutory authority available to the Secretary for the conservation and management of wildlife, wildlife habitat, and natural resources may be utilized to the extent he finds such authority will further the purposes of this section.

(2)(A) Except in the case of a lease or permit which the Secretary determines to be incompatible with the administration of the park pursuant to this section, any lease or permit on

The Congress recognizes that the Mineral King Valley area has outstanding potential for certain year-round recreational opportunities, but the development of permanent facilities for downhill skiing within the area would be inconsistent with the preservation and enhancement of its ecological values.

(Pub. L. 95-625, title III, § 314, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3479; Pub. L. 103-437, § 6(d)(5), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4583.)

This section, referred to in text, other than as appearing with a reference to a subsection of this section, means section 314 of Pub. L. 95-625, which in addition to enacting this section, repealed sections 45a-3 and 688 of this title, enacted provisions set out as a note under section 688 of this title, and amended provisions set out as a note under section 45a-1 of this title.

Section is comprised of section 314 of Pub. L. 95-625. Subsec. (d)(3) of section 314 of Pub. L. 95-625 amended Pub. L. 93-522, which is set out as a note under section 45a-1 of this title. Subsec. (g) of section 314 of Pub. L. 95-625 repealed sections 45a-3 and 688 of this title and enacted provisions set out as notes under section 688 of this title.

1994-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103-437 substituted "Natural Resources" for "Interior and Insular Affairs" after "Committee on".

Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995.