§ 5951. Congressional findings and statement of policy

(a) Findings In furtherance of sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this title, which directs the Secretary to administer units of the National Park System in accordance with the fundamental purpose of conserving their scenery, wildlife, and natural and historic objects, and providing for their enjoyment in a manner that will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations, the Congress hereby finds that the preservation and conservation of park resources and values requires that such public accommodations, facilities, and services as have to be provided within such units should be provided only under carefully controlled safeguards against unregulated and indiscriminate use, so that—

(1) visitation will not unduly impair these resources and values; and

(2) development of public accommodations, facilities, and services within such units can best be limited to locations that are consistent to the highest practicable degree with the preservation and conservation of the resources and values of such units.

(b) Policy It is the policy of the Congress that the development of public accommodations, facilities, and services in units of the National Park System shall be limited to those accommodations, facilities, and services that—

(1) are necessary and appropriate for public use and enjoyment of the unit of the National Park System in which they are located; and

(2) are consistent to the highest practicable degree with the preservation and conservation of the resources and values of the unit.

(Pub. L. 105–391, title IV, § 402, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3503.)

Short Title

Short Title

For short title of this subchapter as the “National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998”, see section 401 of Pub. L. 105–391, set out as a note under section 5901 of this title.

Savings

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 105–391, title IV, § 419, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3517, provided that:

“(a)Treatment of Glacier Bay Concession Permits Prospectus.—Nothing contained in this title [see Short Title note set out under section 5901 of this title] shall authorize or require the Secretary to withdraw, revise, amend, modify, or reissue the February 19, 1998, Prospectus Under Which Concession Permits Will be Open for Competition for the Operation of Cruise Ship Services Within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (in this section referred to as the ‘1998 Glacier Bay Prospectus’). The award of concession permits pursuant to the 1998 Glacier Bay Prospectus shall be under provisions of existing law at the time the 1998 Glacier Bay Prospectus was issued.

“(b)Preferential Right of Renewal.—Notwithstanding any provision of this title, the Secretary, in awarding future Glacier Bay cruise ship concession permits covering cruise ship entries for which a preferential right of renewal existed prior to the effective date of this title [probably means the date of enactment of title IV of Pub. L. 105–391, which was approved Nov. 13, 1998], shall provide for such cruise ship entries a preferential right of renewal, as described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 403(7) [16 U.S.C. 5952(7)(C), (D)]. Any Glacier Bay concession permit awarded under the authority contained in this subsection shall expire by December 31, 2009.”

Miscellaneous

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act

Pub. L. 105–391, title IV, § 415(c), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3516, provided that: “Nothing in this title [see Short Title note set out under section 5901 of this title] amends, supersedes, or otherwise affects any provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) relating to revenue-producing visitor services.”