WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 16, Conservation › Chapter 5A

16 U.S.C. 668dd: National Wildlife Refuge System

Created in 1966 by Public Law 89-669. Changed by 11 later laws. No bill we track in this Congress changes it.

9 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 16 U.S.C. 410hhh–4, 16 U.S.C. 668ee, 16 U.S.C. 742f, 16 U.S.C. 742f–1, 16 U.S.C. 3125.

13 parts of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior (9), Office of the Secretary of the Interior (2), Forest Service, Department of Agriculture (1), Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior (1).

This Congress

No bill we track in the 119th Congress changes this section.

    How it got here

    2022

    • Pub. L. 117–286 substituted "chapter 10 of title 5." for "the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)." Law text · (o)

    1998

    • Pub. L. 105–312, §206(1), struck out "knowingly" after "No person shall" in first sentence. Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 105–312, §206(2), inserted subsec. heading, par. (1) designation and heading, and "knowingly" after "Any person who", and added par. (2). Law text · (f)

    1997

    • Pub. L. 105–57, §3(b), substituted "Secretary" for "Secretary of the Interior" before "for the conservation of fish and wildlife". Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §4(1), (3), added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (5). Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §3(b), substituted "Secretary" for "Secretary of the Interior" before "determines with the approval". Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §§4(1), 5(a), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (6). Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §5(a), added par. (4). Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §4(1), redesignated par. (2) as (5). Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §4(1), redesignated par. (3) as (6). Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §4(2), substituted "paragraph (5)" for "paragraph (2)". Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §5(b)(1), substituted "authorized to take the following actions:" for "authorized—" in introductory provisions. Law text · (b)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §5(b)(2), substituted "Enter" for "to enter". Law text · (b)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §5(b)(3), substituted "Accept" for "to accept" and substituted a period for ", and" at end. Law text · (b)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §5(b)(4), substituted "Acquire" for "to acquire". Law text · (b)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §5(b)(5), added pars. (4) and (5). Law text · (b), (5)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §8(b), struck out at end "The provisions of this Act shall not be construed as affecting the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the several States to manage, control, or regulate fish and resident wildlife under State law or regulations in any area within the… Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §3(b), substituted "Secretary" for "Secretary of the Interior" before "may not grant to any Federal" and before "pursuant to this paragraph". Law text · (d)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §6, added pars. (3) and (4). Law text · (d), (4)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §7(a), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f). Law text · (e)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §7(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (e) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g). Law text · (f)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §3(b), substituted "Secretary" for "Secretary of the Interior" before "to enforce the provisions". Law text · (f)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §7(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (h). Law text · (g)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §7(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (g) as (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (i). Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §3(b), substituted "Secretary" for "Secretary of the Interior". Law text · (h)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §7(a)(1), redesignated subsecs. (h) and (i) as (i) and (j), respectively. Law text · (i), (j)
    • Pub. L. 105–57, §8(a), added subsecs. (k) to (o). Law text · (k), (l), (m), (n), (o)

    1988

    • Pub. L. 100–653 substituted "thereunder shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both" for "thereunder shall be fined not more than $500 or be imprisoned not more than six months, or both". · (e)

    1987

    • Pub. L. 100–226 inserted at end "The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is authorized to utilize by agreement, with or without reimbursement, the personnel and services of any other Federal or State agency for purposes of enhancing the enforcement of this Act." · (f)

    1978

    • Pub. L. 95–616, §6, authorized the Secretary to find that the taking of any species of migratory birds in more than 40 percent of the area would be beneficial to the species. · (d)
    • Pub. L. 95–616, §3(f), substituted "disposed of by the Secretary, in accordance with law" for "disposed of by the court". · (f)

    1976

    • Pub. L. 94–223 designated existing first sentence as par. (1), provided for administration of the System by the Secretary of the Interior through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and inserted provision respecting continuance of programs relating to management of resources in… · (a)
    • Pub. L. 94–215 substituted designations "(A)" and "(B)" for "(a)" and "(b)", inserted in cl. (A) ", or for interests in acquired or public lands," before "under his jurisdiction" and substituted in cl. (B) "he may prescribe" for "the Secretary may prescribe". · (b)

    1974

    • Pub. L. 93–509 designated existing provisions as par. (1)(A) and (B) and added par. (2). · (d)

    1973

    • Pub. L. 93–205 inserted "With the exception of endangered species and threatened species listed by the Secretary pursuant to section 1533 of this title in States wherein a cooperative agreement does not exist pursuant to section 1535(c) of this title" before "nothing in this Act shall … · (c)

    1968

    • Pub. L. 90–404 inserted provisions that no acquired lands which are or become a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System may be transferred or otherwise disposed of except under the specified conditions, and provisions that the Secretary pay into the migratory bird conservation fund… · (a)

    Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.