16 U.S.C. § 8424 — Restoration of overnight campsites
submitted 1 year ago by Pub. L. 118-234 to r/title-16-CONSERVATION · 328 words · no verdicts yet
This section directs the Forest Service to identify and open at least 27 overnight campsites, with electric and water hookups at some, in the Ouachita National Forest recreation area. It sets deadlines for identifying sites, reopening older campsites, and fixing up day-use areas, while keeping everything out of the flood zone.
(a) "Recreation Area" means the area shown on a specific 2023 Forest Service map of the Ouachita National Forest camping restoration project. "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b) Within 6 months after January 4, 2025, the Secretary must identify 54 areas within the Recreation Area that could work for overnight camping. Within 2 years after January 4, 2025, the Secretary must review those areas and pick at least 27 of them to set up as actual campsites and facilities for the public.
(c) At least 27 campsites must be available, and at least 8 of them must have both electric and water hookups. Every campsite and facility must sit outside the area that has a 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year.
(d) Within 30 days after January 4, 2025, the Secretary must reopen any campsite that already exists, sits outside the flood zone, was operating back on June 1, 2010, and wouldn't get in the way of current day-use areas.
(e) Within 1 year after January 4, 2025, the Secretary must fix up and make publicly accessible the areas set aside for year-round day use, including Loop A, Loop B, the covered picnic pavilion for large groups in Loop D, and the parking lot in Loop D.
In this section:
The term “Recreation Area” means the recreation area and grounds associated with the recreation area on the map entitled “Ouachita National Forest Camping Restoration” and dated November 30, 2023, on file with the Forest Service.
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
The Secretary shall—
not later than 6 months after January 4, 2025, identify 54 areas within the Recreation Area that may be suitable for overnight camping; and
not later than 2 years after January 4, 2025—
review each area identified under paragraph (1); and
from the areas so identified, select and establish at least 27 campsites and related facilities within the Recreation Area for public use.
The Secretary shall—
ensure that at least 27 campsites are available under subsection (b), of which not less than 8 shall have electric and water hookups; and
ensure that each campsite and related facility identified or established under subsection (b) is located outside of the 1 percent annual exceedance probability flood elevation.
Not later than 30 days after January 4, 2025, the Secretary shall open each campsite within the Recreation Area that—
exists on January 4, 2025;
is located outside of the 1 percent annual exceedance probability flood elevation;
was in operation on June 1, 2010; and
would not interfere with any current (as of January 4, 2025) day use areas.
Not later than 1 year after January 4, 2025, the Secretary shall take such actions as are necessary to rehabilitate and make publicly accessible the areas in the Recreation Area identified for year-round day use, including the following:
Loop A.
Loop B.
The covered, large-group picnic pavilion in Loop D.
The parking lot in Loop D.
Source credit: (Pub. L. 118–234, title I, § 124, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2846.)
- 2025Enacted · Pub. L. 118-234 · 138 Stat. 2846
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 118-234 on 2025-01-04.
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