16 U.S.C. § 460iii–5 — Other laws and administrative provisions

(a) Other laws. (1) Nothing in this subchapter replaces, limits, or otherwise affects enforcing the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and nothing in this subchapter limits how the National Trails System Act applies to lands within the conservation area. (2) Except where this subchapter specifically says otherwise, nothing in it limits how laws that generally apply to public lands — including the National Historic Preservation Act, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act — apply to lands in the conservation area. (3) Nothing in this subchapter, by itself, changes the status of any land that, as of August 4, 1993, was not managed by the Bureau of Land Management. (4) Nothing in this subchapter stops the Secretary from hiring qualified people to use public lands in the conservation area to grow plants (including seeds), to be used for restoring habitat in the conservation area, following the plan and this subchapter's purposes. (b) Release. Congress finds and directs that the public lands within the Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area — established as a natural area in October 1971 by Public Land Order 5133 — have been adequately studied and found unsuitable for wilderness designation under section 1782 of title 43. Those lands are released from further wilderness-study management under section 1782(c) of title 43, and must instead be managed under other applicable laws, including this subchapter. (c) Existing administrative withdrawal terminated. Public Land Order 5133, dated October 12, 1971, and Public Land Order 5777, dated November 21, 1980, both issued by the Secretary, are revoked, subject to subsections (d)(3) and (d)(4). (d) Water. (1) Congress finds that the United States is currently a party to a legal case deciding rights to Snake River waters, including water rights the United States claims based on setting aside land for conserving fish and wildlife. Because of this, Congress finds there is no need for this subchapter to create a reservation of water rights for the United States in order to fulfill the conservation area's purposes. (2) Nothing in this subchapter, or any action taken under it, creates an express or implied reservation of water or water rights for any purpose. (3) Nothing in this subchapter relinquishes or reduces any water rights the United States held or claimed within Idaho or elsewhere on or before August 4, 1993. (4) The Secretary and all other U.S. officers must take every step necessary to protect all water rights the United States claims in the Snake River adjudication now pending in the Idaho district court, where the United States is a party under section 666 of title 43.