16 U.S.C. § 539 — Additions to existing national forests; administration

(a) This section expands two national forests in Alaska: 1. Chugach National Forest grows by adding four areas — Nellie Juan, College Fjord, Copper/Rude River, and Controller Bay — totaling about 1,900,000 acres of public land, as shown on a map called "Chugach National Forest additions—proposed," dated October 1978. 2. Tongass National Forest grows by adding three areas — Kates Needle, Juneau Icefield, and Brabazon Range — totaling about 1,450,000 acres of public land, shown on a map called "Tongass National Forest additions—proposed," also dated October 1978. (b) These new lands are managed by the Secretary under the laws, rules, and regulations that normally apply to National Forest System land, and subject to any existing valid rights other people already hold. But there are special rules for part of the new land: for the Copper/Rude River addition and the Copper River–Bering River part of the existing Chugach National Forest (as shown on the dated map), protecting fish, wildlife, and their habitat must be the main goal of management. Within zones set up under this rule, people may still take (hunt or fish for) fish and wildlife, following this Act and other state and federal law. Other multiple uses of the land are allowed too, but only in ways that don't conflict with protecting fish, wildlife, and habitat — the Secretary must write special regulations spelling this out.