U.S. Code > Title 16 Conservation > CHAPTER 1—NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES (§§ 1—460zzz7) > SUBCHAPTER LXIX—OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS (§§ 460l—460l34) > Part A—Coordination of Programs (§§ 460l—460l3) > § 460l-1. Powers and duties of Secretary of the Interior

§ 460l-1. Powers and duties of Secretary of the Interior

In order to carry out the purposes of this part, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to perform the following functions and activities:
(a) Inventory and evaluation of needs and resources
Prepare and maintain a continuing inventory and evaluation of outdoor recreation needs and resources of the United States.
(b) Classification of resources
Prepare a system for classification of outdoor recreation resources to assist in the effective and beneficial use and management of such resources.
(c) Nationwide plan; contents; problems, solutions and actions; initial plan; revisions of plan; transmittal to Congress and Governors
Formulate and maintain a comprehensive nationwide outdoor recreation plan, taking into consideration the plans of the various Federal agencies, States, and their political subdivisions. The plan shall set forth the needs and demands of the public for outdoor recreation and the current and foreseeable availability in the future of outdoor recreation resources to meet those needs. The plan shall identify critical outdoor recreation problems, recommend solutions, and recommend desirable actions to be taken at each level of government and by private interests. The Secretary shall transmit the initial plan, which shall be prepared as soon as practicable within five years on and after May 28, 1963, to the President for transmittal to the Congress. Future revisions of the plan shall be similarly transmitted at succeeding five-year intervals. When a plan or revision is transmitted to the Congress, the Secretary shall transmit copies to the Governors of the several States.
(d) Technical assistance and advice; cooperation with States and private interests
Provide technical assistance and advice to and cooperate with States, political subdivisions, and private interests, including nonprofit organizations, with respect to outdoor recreation.
(e) Interstate and regional cooperation
Encourage interstate and regional cooperation in the planning, acquisition, and development of outdoor recreation resources.
(f) Research and education
(1) Sponsor, engage in, and assist in research relating to outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreements, and make payments for such purposes without regard to the limitations of section 3324 (a) and (b) of title 31 concerning advances of funds when he considers such action in the public interest,
(2) undertake studies and assemble information concerning outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreement, and disseminate such information without regard to the provisions of section 3204 of title 39, and
(3) cooperate with educational institutions and others in order to assist in establishing education programs and activities and to encourage public use and benefits from outdoor recreation.
(g) Federal interdepartmental cooperation; coordination of Federal plans and activities; expenditures; reimbursement
(1) Cooperate with and provide technical assistance to Federal departments and agencies and obtain from them information, data, reports, advice, and assistance that are needed and can reasonably be furnished in carrying out the purposes of this part, and
(2) promote coordination of Federal plans and activities generally relating to outdoor recreation. Any department or agency furnishing advice or assistance hereunder may expend its own funds for such purposes, with or without reimbursement, as may be agreed to by that agency.
(h) Donations
Accept and use donations of money, property, personal services, or facilities for the purposes of this part.