PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.3252 / 103rd Congress

West Virginia Rivers Conservation Act of 1993

By Senator Johnston from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 103-432.

Official summary

Version 36 · Passed House amended · Nov 23, 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Rivers Title II: Trails Title III: Parks Title I: Rivers - West Virginia Rivers Conservation Act of 1993 - Amends the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978, the West Virginia National Interest River Conservation Act of 1987, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to modify boundaries of the: (1) New River Gorge National River; (2) Gauley River National Recreation Area; and (3) Bluestone National Scenic River. Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Upper New River, West Virginia, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic River System (NWSRS). Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study and report to specified congressional committees on the eligibility and suitability of designating a specified segment of the Elk River, West Virginia, as either a component of the NWSRS or a unit of the National Park System (NPS) as a national river or recreation area. Provides for consolidated management between offices and personnel administering the segment of the Upper New River designated by this Act and offices and personnel administering the New River Gorge National River, the Gauley River National Recreation Area, and the Bluestone National Scenic River. Amends the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to make provisions of the West Virginia National Interest River Conservation Act of 1987 (the Act) relating to cooperative agreements and remnant lands in the Gauley River National Recreation Area applicable to the New River Gorge National River. Amends the Act to set forth provisions relating to access of the Gauley River National Recreation Area by certain noncommercial recreational users. Authorizes the Secretary to construct a visitor center in the vicinity of the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers. Extends certain provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act with respect to segments of the Bluestone and Meadow Rivers that were found eligible for addition to the wild and scenic rivers system in studies completed by NPS in 1983 but that were not designated as part of the Bluestone National Scenic River or the Gauley River National Recreation Area under the Act. Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to set forth provisions relating to public access to the Bluestone River. Ceases the force and effect of any boundary modification of the Gauley River National Recreational Area relating to new project construction in the Area if construction is not commenced within the time required in the license or if such license is surrendered. Title II: Trails - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the Great Western Scenic Trail, extending from the Arizona-Mexico border to the Idaho-Montana-Canada border, for study as an addition to the National Scenic Trail System. Title III: Parks - Provides that at noon on July 30, 2000, the use of Highway 209 within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area by commercial vehicles shall be prohibited when such use is in no way connected with the operation of the Area unless permitted by the Secretary, under specified conditions. Repeals provisions of Federal law, on such date, relating to steps to be taken to further the purposes of the Area and to provide public safety in it. Authorizes the Secretary to continue to collect and utilize a commercial user fee in an amount not to exceed $25 per vehicle from the date of enactment of this Act through July 30, 2000. Changes the map reference for the Area with respect to its boundary. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase lands within the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia with appropriated funds and to use such funds to purchase or maintain property within the Park's boundaries. Directs the Secretary to study and report to specified congressional committees on potential means to preserve and interpret Revere Beach, Massachusetts, including recommendations on the feasibility of establishing it as a unit of the NPS. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director of the NPS, to enter into cooperative agreements relating to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: (1) with appropriate organizations or groups (on a matching grant basis) to promote education concerning the natural and cultural resources of the Area and adjacent lands; and (2) in which the Secretary agrees to maintain the facilities at 2600 Franklin Canyon Drive, Beverly Hills, California, for eight fiscal years and to provide funding for programs of the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom that utilize those facilities (in return for which the Classroom agrees that at the end of the term of such agreement, all right, title, and interest in and to such facilities will be donated to the United States for addition to the Area). Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to establish the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Center to be added to and administered as part of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Illinois. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer that portion of the U.S. existing sewage disposal system (including related improvements and structures) within the Colonial National Historical Park to York County, Virginia, without reimbursement, together with such rights-of-way determined to be necessary to maintain and operate such system. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with York County to pay a specified maximum amount of the repair and rehabilitation costs for the system. Requires the cooperative agreement to: (1) reduce or eliminate the amounts charged to the NPS for its sewage disposal; and (2) minimize the impact of the system on the Park and its resources. Prohibits such system from being enlarged or substantially altered without NPS concurrence. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire specified lands to be included within the Park's boundaries. Authorizes appropriations. Designates the visitors center at Channel Islands National Park, California, as the Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitors Center.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Vento, Bruce F. [D-MN-4] · D–MN

Committees

  • Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  • Natural Resources Committee
5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. By Senator Johnston from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 103-432.

  2. By Senator Johnston from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 103-432.

  3. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 658.

  4. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Johnston with amendments. Without written report.

  5. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Johnston with amendments. Without written report.

  6. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.

  7. Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks. Hearings held.

  8. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Army Corps of Engineers, and Office of Management and Budget.

  9. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Office of Management and Budget.

  10. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Department of the Interior, and Office of Management and Budget.

  11. Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

  12. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. On passage Passed without objection.

  14. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.

  15. Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR 11/22/1993 H10924-10928)

  16. Mr. Vento asked unanimous consent to discharge the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and consider.

  17. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 183.

  18. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 103-332.

  19. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 103-332.

  20. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  21. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  22. Late Referral to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands (Nov 15, 1993).

  23. For Previous Action See H.R.1584.

  24. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

  25. Introduced in House

  26. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3252 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3252 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3252 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3252 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources