Us Code § 1279 - Withdrawal of public lands from entry, sale, or other disposition under public land laws

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1279 — Withdrawal of public lands from entry, sale, or other disposition under public land laws, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 1279. Withdrawal of public lands from entry, sale, or other disposition under public land laws

(a) Lands within authorized boundaries of components of system

All public lands within the authorized boundaries of any component of the national wild and scenic rivers system which is designated in section 1274 of this title or which is designated after October 2, 1968, for inclusion in that system are hereby withdrawn from entry, sale, or other disposition under the public land laws of the United States. This subsection shall not be construed to limit the authorities granted in section 1277(d) or section 1285a of this title.

(b) Lands constituting bed or bank of river; lands within bank area

All public lands which constitute the bed or bank, or are within one-quarter mile of the bank, of any river which is listed in section 1276(a) of this title are hereby withdrawn from entry, sale, or other disposition under the public land laws of the United States for the periods specified in section 1278(b) of this title. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection or any other provision of this chapter, subject only to valid existing rights, including valid Native selection rights under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], all public lands which constitute the bed or bank, or are within an area extending two miles from the bank of the river channel on both sides of the river segments referred to in paragraphs (77) through (88) of section 1276(a) of this title are hereby withdrawn from entry, sale, State selection or other disposition under the public land laws of the United States for the periods specified in section 1278(b) of this title.

(Pub. L. 90–542, §8, Oct. 2, 1968, 82 Stat. 915; Pub. L. 96–487, title VI, §606(c), Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2417; Pub. L. 99–590, title V, §506, Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3336.)


Editorial Notes

References in Text

The public land laws of the United States, referred to in text, are classified generally to Title 43, Public Lands.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§1601 et seq.) of Title 43. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables.

Amendments

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–590 inserted provisions relating to construction of subsec. (a) with respect to authorities granted in section 1277(d) or 1285a of this title.

1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–487 inserted provision withdrawing, subject to valid existing rights, all public lands which constitute the bed or bank, or are within an area extending two miles from the bank of the river channel on both sides of the river segments referred to in section 1276(a)(77) through (88) of this title, from entry, sale, State selection or other disposition under the public land laws for periods specified in section 1278(b) of this title.

About This Section

16 U.S.C. § 1279 is part of Title 16 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 16 U.S.C. § 1279. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 1279

What does United States Code § 1279 cover?

Section 1279 ("Withdrawal of public lands from entry, sale, or other disposition under public land laws") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 1279?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 1279" (Us Code). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 1279 apply to my situation?

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Sources & Verification

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