USC Subchapter LXVI

in effect

16 U.S.C. § 460d Construction and operation of public parks and recreational facilities in water resource development projects; lease of lands; preference for use; penalty; application of section 3401 of title 18; citations and arrests with and without process; limitations; disposition of receipts

The Chief of Engineers, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Army, is authorized to construct, maintain, and operate public park and recreational facilities at water resource development projects under the control of the Department of the Army, to permit the construction of such facilities by local interests (particularly those to be operated and maintained by such interests), and to permit the maintenance and operation of such facilities by local interests. The Secretary of the Army is also authorized to grant leases of lands, including structures or facilities thereon, at water resource development projects for such periods, and upon such terms and for such purposes as he may deem reasonable in the public interest: Provided, That leases to nonprofit organizations for park or recreational purposes may be granted at reduced or nominal considerations in recognition of the public service to be rendered in utilizing the leased premises: Provided further, That preference shall be given to federally recognized Indian tribes and Federal, State, or local governmental agencies, and licenses or leases where appropriate, may be granted without monetary considerations, to such Indian tribes or agencies for the use of all or any portion of a project area for any public purpose, when the Secretary of the Army determines such action to be in the public interest, and for such periods of time and upon such conditions as he may find advisable: And provided further, That in any such lease or license to a federally recognized Indian tribe 11 So in original. Federal, State, or local governmental agency which involves lands to be utilized for the development and conservation of fish and wildlife, forests, and other natural resources, the licensee or lessee may be authorized to cut timber and harvest crops as may be necessary to further such beneficial uses and to collect and utilize the proceeds of any sales of timber and crops in the development, conservation, maintenance, and utilization of such lands. Any balance of proceeds not so utilized shall be paid to the United States at such time or times as the Secretary of the Army may determine appropriate. The water areas of all such projects shall be open to public use generally for boating, swimming, bathing, fishing, and other recreational purposes, and ready access to and exit from such areas along the shores of such projects shall be maintained for general public use, when such use is determined by the Secretary of the Army not to be contrary to the public interest, all under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Army may deem necessary, including but not limited to prohibitions of dumping and unauthorized disposal in any manner of refuse, garbage, rubbish, trash, debris, or litter of any kind at such water resource development projects, either into the waters of such projects or onto any land federally owned and administered by the Chief of Engineers. Any violation of such rules and regulations shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Any persons charged with the violation of such rules and regulations may be tried and sentenced in accordance with the provisions of section 3401 of title 18. All persons designated by the Chief of Engineers for that purpose shall have the authority to issue a citation for violation of the regulations adopted by the Secretary of the Army, requiring the appearance of any person charged with violation to appear before the United States magistrate judge, within whose jurisdiction the water resource development project is located, for trial; and upon sworn information of any competent person any United States magistrate judge in the proper jurisdiction shall issue process for the arrest of any person charged with the violation of said regulations; but nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing the arrest by any officer of the United States, without process, of any person taken in the act of violating said regulations. No use of any area to which this section applies shall be permitted which is inconsistent with the laws for the protection of fish and game of the State in which such area is situated. All moneys received by the United States for leases or privileges shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.

16 U.S.C. § 460d–1 Rentals or other considerations in leases for construction, maintenance, and operation of commercial recreational facilities; adjustment by Chief of Engineers

The Chief of Engineers, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Army, is authorized to amend any lease entered into providing for the construction, maintenance, and operation of commercial recreational facilities at a water resource development project under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army so as to provide for the adjustment, either by increase or decrease, from time to time during the term of such lease of the amount of rental or other consideration payable to the United States under such lease, when and to the extent he determines such adjustment or extension to be necessary or advisable in the public interest. No adjustment shall be made under the authority of this section so as to increase or decrease the amount of rental or other consideration payable under such lease for any period prior to the date of such adjustment.

16 U.S.C. § 460d–2 Adjustment by Secretary of Agriculture

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to amend any lease entered into with respect to lands under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service providing for the construction, maintenance, and operation of commercial recreational facilities at a Federal reservoir project so as to provide for the adjustment, either by increase or decrease, from time to time during the term of such lease of the amount of rental or other consideration payable to the United States under such lease, when and to the extent he determines such adjustment to be necessary or advisable in the public interest. No adjustment shall be made under the authority of this section so as to increase or decrease the amount of rental or other consideration payable under such lease for any period prior to the date of such adjustment.

16 U.S.C. § 460d–3 Recreational user fees

(a) Prohibition on admissions feesNo entrance or admission fees shall be collected after March 31, 1970, by any officer or employee of the United States at public recreation areas located at lakes and reservoirs under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army. (b) Fees for use of developed recreation sites and facilities(1) Establishment and collectionSubject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary of the Army may establish and collect fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, including campsites, swimming beaches, and boat launching ramps but excluding a site or facility which includes only a boat launch ramp and a courtesy dock. (2) Exemption of certain facilitiesThe Secretary shall not establish or collect fees under this subsection for the use or provision of drinking water, wayside exhibits, roads, scenic drives, overlook sites, picnic tables, toilet facilities, surface water areas, undeveloped or lightly developed shoreland, or general visitor information. (3) Per vehicle limitThe fee under this subsection for use of a site or facility (other than an overnight camping site or facility or any other site or facility at which a fee is charged for use of the site or facility as of August 10, 1993) for persons entering the site or facility by private, noncommercial vehicle transporting not more than 8 persons (including the driver) shall not exceed $3 per day per vehicle, which amount may be adjusted annually by the Secretary for changes in the Consumer Price Index of All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. (4) Use of fundsThe fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the currently applicable appropriation, account, or fund of the Department of the Army as discretionary offsetting collections, and shall be available only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, for the operation and maintenance of recreation sites and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, subject to the condition that not less than 80 percent of fees collected at recreation areas of a specific water resources development project shall be used at such project.

16 U.S.C. § 460d–3a Contracts to provide visitor reservation services

The Secretary of the Army may, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate, contract with any public or private entity to provide visitor reservation services. Any such contract in effect on or after October 1, 2004, may provide that the contractor shall be permitted to deduct a commission to be fixed by the Secretary from the amount charged the public for providing such services and to remit the net proceeds therefrom to the contracting agency.