16 U.S.C. § 460mmm (2024)
This is the official text of 16 U.S.C. § 460mmm (2024), part of Federal (US Code)’s United States Code — the codified general and permanent federal statutes of the United States, organized into more than 50 numbered titles by subject.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Findings and purpose
Official statutory text
(a) Findings
Congress finds that certain areas located in the Grand Valley in Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County, Utah, should be protected and enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. These areas include the following:
(1) The areas making up the Black Ridge and Ruby Canyons of the Grand Valley and Rabbit Valley, which contain unique and valuable scenic, recreational, multiple use opportunities (including grazing), paleontological, natural, and wildlife components enhanced by the rural western setting of the area, provide extensive opportunities for recreational activities, and are publicly used for hiking, camping, and grazing, and are worthy of additional protection as a national conservation area.
(2) The Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Study Area has wilderness value and offers unique geological, paleontological, scientific, and recreational resources.
(b) Purpose
The purpose of this subchapter is to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the unique and nationally important values of the public lands described in section 460mmm–2(b) of this title, including geological, cultural, paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, environmental, biological, wilderness, wildlife education, and scenic resources of such public lands, by establishing the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness in the State of Colorado and the State of Utah.
(Pub. L. 106–353, §2, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1374; Pub. L. 108–400, §1(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–400 substituted "McInnis Canyons" for "Colorado Canyons".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
National Conservation Area and the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness in the State of Colorado and the State of Utah.
(Pub. L. 106–353, §2, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1374; Pub. L. 108–400, §1(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–400 substituted "McInnis Canyons" for "Colorado Canyons".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Pub. L. 108–400, §1(f), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254, provided that: "Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 'Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area' shall be deemed to be a reference to the 'McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area'."
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–400, §1(g), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254, provided that: "This section [amending this section and sections 460mmm–1, 460mmm–2, and 460mmm–6 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under this section, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] and the amendments made by this section take effect on January 1, 2005."
Short Title
Pub. L. 106–353, §1, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1374, as amended by Pub. L. 108–400, §1(e), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254, provided that: "This Act [enacting this subchapter and provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title] may be cited as the 'McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Act of 2000'."
Congress finds that certain areas located in the Grand Valley in Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County, Utah, should be protected and enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. These areas include the following:
(1) The areas making up the Black Ridge and Ruby Canyons of the Grand Valley and Rabbit Valley, which contain unique and valuable scenic, recreational, multiple use opportunities (including grazing), paleontological, natural, and wildlife components enhanced by the rural western setting of the area, provide extensive opportunities for recreational activities, and are publicly used for hiking, camping, and grazing, and are worthy of additional protection as a national conservation area.
(2) The Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Study Area has wilderness value and offers unique geological, paleontological, scientific, and recreational resources.
(b) Purpose
The purpose of this subchapter is to conserve, protect, and enhance for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations the unique and nationally important values of the public lands described in section 460mmm–2(b) of this title, including geological, cultural, paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, environmental, biological, wilderness, wildlife education, and scenic resources of such public lands, by establishing the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness in the State of Colorado and the State of Utah.
(Pub. L. 106–353, §2, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1374; Pub. L. 108–400, §1(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–400 substituted "McInnis Canyons" for "Colorado Canyons".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
National Conservation Area and the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness in the State of Colorado and the State of Utah.
(Pub. L. 106–353, §2, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1374; Pub. L. 108–400, §1(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–400 substituted "McInnis Canyons" for "Colorado Canyons".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Pub. L. 108–400, §1(f), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254, provided that: "Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 'Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area' shall be deemed to be a reference to the 'McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area'."
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–400, §1(g), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254, provided that: "This section [amending this section and sections 460mmm–1, 460mmm–2, and 460mmm–6 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under this section, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] and the amendments made by this section take effect on January 1, 2005."
Short Title
Pub. L. 106–353, §1, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1374, as amended by Pub. L. 108–400, §1(e), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2254, provided that: "This Act [enacting this subchapter and provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title] may be cited as the 'McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Act of 2000'."
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Federal (US Code)?
Find a Federal (US Code) lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.