National Park Services Organic Act of 1916

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ORGANIC ACT*
An act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes.
*This title is not an official short title but merely a popular name used for the convenience of the reader. The Act has no
official short title. The National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. l 2 3, and 4), as set forth herein, consists of the Act of
Aug. 25 1916 (39 Stat. 535) and amendments thereto.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there
is hereby created in the Department of the Interior a service to be called the National Park Service, which shall be under the
charge of a director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary and who shall receive a salary of $4,500 per annum. There shall
also be appointed by the Secretary the following assistants and other employees at the salaries designated: One assistant
director, at $2,500 per annum, one chief clerk, at $2,000 per annum; one draftsman, at $1,800 per annum; one messenger, at
$600 per annum; and, in addition thereto, such other employees as the Secretary of the Interior shall deem necessary:
Provided, That not more than $8,100 annually shall be expended for salaries of experts, assistants, and employees within the
District of Columbia not herein specifically enumerated unless previously authorized by law. The service thus established
shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter
specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purposes of the said parks, monuments, and
reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to
provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of
future generations.
SEC. 2. That the director shall, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, have the supervision, management, and
control of the several national parks and national monuments which are now under the jurisdiction of the Department of the
Interior, and of the Hot Springs Reservation in the State of Arkansas, and of such other national parks and reservations of like
character as may be hereafter created by Congress: Provided, That in the supervision, management, and control of national
monuments contiguous to national forests the Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate with said National Park Service to such
extent as may be requested by the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 3. That the Secretary of the Interior shall make and publish such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or
proper for the use and management of the parks, monuments, and reservations under the jurisdiction of the National Park
Service, and any violations of any of the rules and regulations authorized by this Act shall be punished as provided for in
section fifty of the Act entitled "An Act to codify and amend the penal laws of the United States," approved March fourth,
nineteen hundred and nine, as amended by section six of the Act of June twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and ten (Thirty-sixth
United States Statutes at Large, page eight hundred and fifty-seven). He may also, upon terms and conditions to be fixed by
him, sell or dispose of timber in those cases where in his judgment the cutting of such timber is required in order to control the
attacks of insects or diseases or otherwise conserve the scenery or the natural or historic objects in any such park, monument,
or reservation. He may also provide in his discretion for the destruction of such animals and of such plant life as may be
detrimental to the use of any of said parks, monuments, or reservations. He may also grant privileges, leases, and permits for
the use of land for the accommodation of visitors in the various parks, monuments, or other reservations herein provided for,
but for periods not exceeding thirty years; and no natural curiosities, wonders, or objects of interest shall be leased, rented, or
granted to anyone on such terms as to interfere with free access to them by the public: Provided, however, That the Secretary
of the Interior may, under such rules and regulations and on such terms as he may prescribe, grant the privilege to graze live
stock within any national park, monument, or reservation herein referred to when in his judgment such use is not detrimental
to the primary purpose for which such park, monument, or reservation was created, except that this provision shall not apply to
the Yellowstone National Park: And provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior may grant said privileges, leases, and
permits and enter into contracts relating to the same with responsible persons, firms, or corporations without advertising and
without securing competitive bids: And provided further, That no contract, lease, permit, or privilege granted shall be assigned
or transferred by such grantees, permittees, or licensees, without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior first obtained in
writing: And provided further, That the Secretary may, in his discretion, authorize such grantees, permittees, or licensees to
execute mortgages and issue bonds, shares of stock, and other evidences of interest in or indebtedness upon their rights,
properties, and franchises, for the purposes of installing, enlarging or improving plant and equipment and extending facilities
for the accommodation of the public within such national parks and monuments.
Sac. 4. That nothing in this Act contained shall affect or modify the provisions of the Act approved February fifteenth,
nineteen hundred and one, entitled "An Act relating to rights of way through certain parks, reservations, and other public
lands."