republic-os/legal/us/code/title-16/chapter-1/section-459g-4.md

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LegalText	16 U.S.C. § 459g–4	Administration; public outdoor recreation and enjoyment; utilization of authorities for conservation and development of natural resources	us	united_states_code	code_section	16	CONSERVATION	1	NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES	459g–4	16 U.S.C. § 459g–4	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc16@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t16/s459g–4	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-16/usc16.xml	697db505c1f45eca09a2013b4aa2f41e45825fd5164540017cd001814100f050	7be8950da5a93cac7c98e4576ce00340f2aba5e8e46d29915382c203c421d503	ac045519c70ad20a40ab702b0fa3557edac1da1df4b74bc2e2ac7d591a8f5fe9	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

16 U.S.C. § 459g–4 - Administration; public outdoor recreation and enjoyment; utilization of authorities for conservation and development of natural resources

Text

(a) The Secretary shall administer the Cape Lookout National Seashore for the general purposes of public outdoor recreation, including conservation of natural features contributing to public enjoyment. In the administration of the seashore and the administrative site, the Secretary may utilize such statutory authorities relating to areas administered and supervised by the Secretary through the National Park Service and such statutory authorities otherwise available to him for the conservation and management of natural resources as he deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of sections 459g to 459g–7 of this title.

(b) (1) The Secretary, in accordance with this subsection, shall allow a herd of not less than 110 free roaming horses, with a target population of between 120 and 130 free roaming horses, in Cape Lookout National Seashore (hereinafter referred to as the “Seashore”): Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the Secretary from implementing or enforcing the provisions of paragraph (3).

(2) Within 180 days after July 16, 1998, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Foundation for Shackleford Horses (a nonprofit corporation established under the laws of the State of North Carolina), or another qualified nonprofit entity, to provide for management of free roaming horses in the seashore. The agreement shall—

(A) provide for cost-effective management of the horses while ensuring that natural resources within the seashore are not adversely impacted; and

(B) allow the authorized entity to adopt any of those horses that the Secretary removes from the seashore.

(3) The Secretary shall not remove, assist in, or permit the removal of any free roaming horses from Federal lands within the boundaries of the seashore—

(A) unless the entity with whom the Secretary has entered into the agreement under paragraph (2), following notice and a 90-day response period, fails to meet the terms and conditions of the agreement; or

(B) unless removal is carried out as part of a plan to maintain the viability of the herd; or

(C) except in the case of an emergency, or to protect public health and safety.

(4) The Secretary shall annually monitor, assess, and make available to the public findings regarding the population, structure, and health of the free roaming horses in the national seashore.

(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the Secretary to replace horses or otherwise increase the number of horses within the boundaries of the seashore where the herd numbers fall below 110 as a result of natural causes, including, but not limited to, disease or natural disasters.

(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as creating liability for the United States for any damages caused by the free roaming horses to property located inside or outside the boundaries of the seashore.

(Pub. L. 89–366, § 5, Mar. 10, 1966, 80 Stat. 35; Pub. L. 105–202, § 2, July 16, 1998, 112 Stat. 676; Pub. L. 105–229, § 1, Aug. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 1517; Pub. L. 109–117, § 1, Dec. 1, 2005, 119 Stat. 2526.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2005—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(b)(1), struck out “(a)” after “(a)”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(b)(2), struck out the subsec. (b) added by Pub. L. 105–229, which was identical to the subsec. (b) added by Pub. L. 105–202. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(a)(1), substituted “not less than 110 free roaming horses, with a target population of between 120 and 130 free roaming horses,” for “100 free roaming horses”. Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(a)(2), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “unless the number of free roaming horses on Federal lands within Cape Lookout National Seashore exceeds 110; or”. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 109–117, § 1(a)(3), substituted “110” for “100”. 1998—Pub. L. 105–229 directed an amendment identical to that in Pub. L. 105–202 resulting in the insertion of “(a)” before “(a)” in subsec. (a) and the addition of a second, identical subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–202 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).