US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 7472

Initial classifications

(a)

Areas designated as class I

Upon the enactment of this part, all—
(1)
international parks,
(2)
national wilderness areas which exceed 5,000 acres in size,
(3)
national memorial parks which exceed 5,000 acres in size, and
(4)
national parks which exceed six thousand acres in size,
and which are in existence on , shall be class I areas and may not be redesignated. All areas which were redesignated as class I under regulations promulgated before , shall be class I areas which may be redesignated as provided in this part. The extent of the areas designated as Class I under this section shall conform to any changes in the boundaries of such areas which have occurred subsequent to , or which may occur subsequent to .
(b)

Areas designated as class II

section 7407(d) of this titlesection 7474 of this titleAll areas in such State designated pursuant to as attainment or unclassifiable which are not established as class I under subsection (a) shall be class II areas unless redesignated under .

July 14, 1955, ch. 360Pub. L. 95–95, title I, § 127(a)91 Stat. 731Pub. L. 95–190, § 14(a)(40)91 Stat. 1401Pub. L. 101–549, title I104 Stat. 2469(, title I, § 162, as added , , ; amended , , ; , §§ 108(m), 110(2), , , 2470.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 101–549, § 108(m)1990—Subsec. (a). , inserted at end “The extent of the areas designated as Class I under this section shall conform to any changes in the boundaries of such areas which have occurred subsequent to , or which may occur subsequent to .”

Pub. L. 101–549, § 110(2)section 7407(d) of this titleSubsec. (b). , substituted “designated pursuant to as attainment or unclassifiable” for “identified pursuant to section 7407(d)(1)(D) or (E) of this title”.

Pub. L. 95–1901977—Subsec. (a)(4). inserted a comma after “size”.