Backcountry Recreation Management

Authorities

General Authorities for Air Resource Management

In addition to the general authorities discussed in the Introduction to this Reference Manual, backcountry management is affected by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Wilderness Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the National Trails System Act, the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Executive Order 11644: Use of Off Road Vehicles on the Public Lands, the National Historic Preservation Act, and park-specific enabling legislation.

A number of sections of the NPS general regulations (36 CFR Parts 1-5, 7, and 13) relate to backcountry recreational use management. Parts 2, 3, and 13 of the regulations are particularly relevant. General regulations addressing aircraft use, off-road bicycling, hang-gliding, off-road vehicle use, require that special regulations be developed before these uses may be authorized in a park. (Special provisions pertaining to some of these activities in Alaskan parks are codified in 36 CFR Part 13.) Any recreational activity may be further regulated by restrictions imposed under the superintendent's discretionary authority (36 CFR 1.5) and by special regulations (36 CFR 7 and 13).