PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 458.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 8, 1997
Eastern Wilderness Act - Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to: (1) study and inventory all Federal, State, and private lands of 500 acres or more which are east of the 100th meridian and which may qualify as wilderness; (2) review those areas identified as having wilderness characteristics; and (3) report to the President their recommendation as to the suitability of each area for preservation as wilderness. Requires the President to advise the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of his recommendations with respect to such areas. Provides for the management of such areas before and after designation as wilderness, requiring such areas to be devoted to recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use and prohibiting commercial enterprise and permanent roads within such areas (with specified exceptions, including the continuation of uses established before the designation). Authorizes continued access for private landowners whose land is surrounded by wilderness area. Authorizes the appropriate Secretary to: (1) acquire State or privately owned land to establish a wilderness area if the owner consents and the acquisition is specifically authorized by the Congress; and (2) accept gifts or bequests of land within wilderness areas. Requires, at the beginning of each congressional session, a joint report from the Secretaries to the President for transmittal to the Congress on the status of the wilderness system.
People & committees
Rep. Hansen, James V. [R-UT-1] · R–UT
Legislative record
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Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 458.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 105-814.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 105-814.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 9 - 2.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Executive Comment Requested from USDA, Interior.
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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