
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC3101]

 
                         TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
 
         CHAPTER 51--ALASKA NATIONAL INTEREST LANDS CONSERVATION
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 3101. Congressional statement of purpose


(a) Establishment of units

    In order to preserve for the benefit, use, education, and 
inspiration of present and future generations certain lands and waters 
in the State of Alaska that contain nationally significant natural, 
scenic, historic, archeological, geological, scientific, wilderness, 
cultural, recreational, and wildlife values, the units described in the 
following titles are hereby established.

(b) Preservation and protection of scenic, geological, etc., values

    It is the intent of Congress in this Act to preserve unrivaled 
scenic and geological values associated with natural landscapes; to 
provide for the maintenance of sound populations of, and habitat for, 
wildlife species of inestimable value to the citizens of Alaska and the 
Nation, including those species dependent on vast relatively undeveloped 
areas; to preserve in their natural state extensive unaltered arctic 
tundra, boreal forest, and coastal rainforest ecosystems; to protect the 
resources related to subsistence needs; to protect and preserve historic 
and archeological sites, rivers, and lands, and to preserve wilderness 
resource values and related recreational opportunities including but not 
limited to hiking, canoeing, fishing, and sport hunting, within large 
arctic and subarctic wildlands and on freeflowing rivers; and to 
maintain opportunities for scientific research and undisturbed 
ecosystems.

(c) Subsistence way of life for rural residents

    It is further the intent and purpose of this Act consistent with 
management of fish and wildlife in accordance with recognized scientific 
principles and the purposes for which each conservation system unit is 
established, designated, or expanded by or pursuant to this Act, to 
provide the opportunity for rural residents engaged in a subsistence way 
of life to continue to do so.

(d) Need for future legislation obviated

    This Act provides sufficient protection for the national interest in 
the scenic, natural, cultural and environmental values on the public 
lands in Alaska, and at the same time provides adequate opportunity for 
satisfaction of the economic and social needs of the State of Alaska and 
its people; accordingly, the designation and disposition of the public 
lands in Alaska pursuant to this Act are found to represent a proper 
balance between the reservation of national conservation system units 
and those public lands necessary and appropriate for more intensive use 
and disposition, and thus Congress believes that the need for future 
legislation designating new conservation system units, new national 
conservation areas, or new national recreation areas, has been obviated 
thereby.

(Pub. L. 96-487, title I, Sec. 101, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2374.)

                       References in Text

    The following titles, referred to in subsec. (a), mean titles II to 
XV of Pub. L. 96-487, Dec. 2, 1980, Secs. 201-1503, 94 Stat. 2377-2551. 
For complete classification of these titles to the Code, see Tables.
    This Act, referred to in subsecs. (b) to (d), is Pub. L. 96-487, 
Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2371, as amended, known as the Alaska National 
Interest Lands Conservation Act. For complete classification of this Act 
to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.


                               Short Title

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 96-487 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this 
chapter, sections 410hh to 410hh-5, 460mm to 460mm-4, 539 to 539e, and 
1285b of this title, and sections 1631 to 1641 and 1784 of Title 43, 
Public Lands, amending sections 410bb, 1274, 1276, 1279, and 1280 of 
this title and sections 1602, 1606, 1607, 1611, 1613, 1614, 1620, and 
1621 of Title 43, enacting provisions set out as notes under this 
section and sections 431, 668dd, 1132, 1274, and 3145 of this title and 
sections 1605, 1613, and 1618 of Title 43, and amending provisions set 
out as notes under sections 1611 and 1613 of Title 43 and preceding 
section 21 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions] may be 
cited as the `Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act'.''

                    Act Referred to in Other Sections

    The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act is referred to 
in sections 1248, 3911 of this title; title 43 sections 1614, 1617, 
1620, 1621, 1629a; title 45 section 1212.
