NPS Organic Act, 16 USC 1

NPS ORGANIC ACT – PROVISIONS RELEVANT
TO THE REGULATION OF NON-FEDERAL OIL AND GAS
IN NPS UNITS

UNITED STATES CODE SERVICE
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*** CURRENT THROUGH P.L. 109-250, APPROVED 7/27/2006 ***
*** WITH GAPS OF 109-246, 109-248 and 109-249 ***
TITLE 16. CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 1. NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
GO TO CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY FOR THIS JURISDICTION
16 USCS § 1
§ 1. Service created; director; other employees
There is created in the Department of the Interior a service to be called the National Park Service, which
shall be under the charge of a director who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. The Director shall have substantial experience and demonstrated competence in land
management and natural or cultural resource conservation. The Director shall select two Deputy Directors.
The first Deputy Director shall have responsibility for National Park Service operations, and the second
Deputy Director shall have responsibility for other programs assigned to the National Park Service. There
shall also be in said service such subordinate officers, clerks, and employees as may be appropriated for by
Congress. The service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified, except such as are under the jurisdiction of
the Secretary of the Army, as provided by law, by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental
purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the
natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such
manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.
§ 1a-1. National Park System: administration; declaration of findings and purpose
Congress declares that the national park system, which began with establishment of Yellowstone National
Park in 1872, has since grown to include superlative natural, historic, and recreation areas in every major
region of the United States, its territories and island possessions; that these areas, though distinct in character,
are united through their inter-related purposes and resources into one national park system as cumulative expressions of a single national heritage; that, individually and collectively, these areas derive increased national dignity and recognition of their superb environmental quality through their inclusion jointly with each
other in one national park system preserved and managed for the benefit and inspiration of all the people of
the United States; and that it is the purpose of this Act to include all such areas in the System and to clarify
the authorities applicable to the system. Congress further reaffirms, declares, and directs that the promotion
and regulation of the various areas of the National Park System, as defined in section 2 of this Act [16 USCS
§ 1c], shall be consistent with and founded in the purpose established by the first section of the Act of August 25, 1916 [16 USCS § 1], to the common benefit of all the people of the United States. The authorization
of activities shall be construed and the protection, management, and administration of these areas shall be
conducted in light of the high public value and integrity of the National Park System and shall not be exer-

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cised in derogation of the values and purposes for which these various areas have been established, except as
may have been or shall be directly and specifically provided by Congress.
.......
§ 3. Rules and regulations of national parks, reservations, and monuments; timber; leases
The Secretary of the Interior shall make and publish such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or
proper for the use and management of the parks, monuments, and reservations under the jurisdiction of the
National Park Service, and any violation of any of the rules and regulations authorized by this Act shall be
punished by a fine of not more than $ 500 or imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or both, and be
adjudged to pay all costs of the proceedings. He may also, upon terms and conditions to be fixed by him, sell
or dispose of timber in those cases where in his judgment the cutting of such timber is required in order to
control the attacks of insects or diseases or otherwise conserve the scenery or the natural or historic objects in
any such park, monument, or reservation. He may also provide in his discretion for the destruction of such
animals and of such plant life as may be detrimental to the use of any of said parks, monuments, or reservations. No natural[,] curiosities, wonders, or objects of interest shall be leased, rented, or granted to anyone on
such terms as to interfere with free access to them by the public: Provided, however, That the Secretary of
the Interior may, under such rules and regulations and on such terms as he may prescribe, grant the privilege
to graze livestock within any national park, monument, or reservation herein referred to when in his judgment such use is not detrimental to the primary purpose for which such park, monument, or reservation was
created, except that this provision shall not apply to the Yellowstone National Park. And provided further,
That the Secretary of the Interior may grant said privileges, leases, and permits and enter into contracts relating to the same with responsible persons, firms, or corporations without advertising and without securing
competitive bids: And provided further, That no contract, lease, permit, or privilege granted shall be assigned
or transferred by such grantees, permittees, or licensees without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior
first obtained in writing.

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