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Nevada Wilderness Protection Act of 1989

Public Law 101-195 · S. 974 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Dec 5, 1989 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Cosponsors (1): Sen. Richard Bryan

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Nevada Wilderness Protection Act of 1989 - Designates the following lands in Nevada as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) the Alta Toquima Wilderness and the Arc Dome Wilderness in the Toiyabe National Forest; (2) the Boundary Peak Wilderness in the Inyo National Forest; (3) the Currant Mountain Wilderness and the East Humboldts Wilderness in the Humboldt National Forest; (4) certain lands in the Humboldt National Forest which shall be incorporated in, and deemed a part of, the Jarbidge Wilderness; (5) the Mount Rose Wilderness in the Toiyabe National Forest; (6) the Quinn Canyon Wilderness and the Ruby Mountains Wilderness in the Humboldt National Forest; (7) the Mount Charleston Wilderness and the Table Mountain Wilderness in the Toiyabe National Forest; and (8) the Grant Range Wilderness, the Mount Moriah Wilderness, and the Santa Rosa-Paradise Peak Wilderness in the Humboldt National Forest.

Provides that the RARE II (second roadless area review and evaluation) final environmental statement (dated January 1979) with respect to national forest system lands in Nevada shall not be subject to judicial review. Releases national forest system lands in Nevada which were reviewed in the RARE II program from further review by the Department of Agriculture, pending the revision of initial national forest management plans. Releases lands in Nevada reviewed in the RARE II program and not designated as wilderness from management as wilderness areas. Prohibits the Department of Agriculture from conducting any further statewide roadless area review and evaluation of national forest system lands in Nevada without express congressional authorization. States that the provisions above apply to national forest system roadless lands in Nevada which are less than 5,000 acres in size.

Permits livestock grazing in such wilderness areas, subject to mandatory review by the Secretary of Agriculture. Requires the Secretary to report periodically to the Congress on livestock grazing in these wilderness areas.

Reserves to the United States a quantity of water sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the wilderness areas created by this Act. Declares that nothing in this Act relating to reserved Federal water rights shall be construed as establishing precedent with regard to future designations.

Does not preempt State jurisdiction over wildlife and fish in the national forests.

Permits the installation in wilderness areas of hydrologic, meteorologic, or climatological collection devices.

Declares that nothing shall preclude low level overflights of military aircraft, the designation of new units of special airspace, or the use or establishment of flight training routes over the Alta Toquima, Arc Dome, Currant Mountain, or Table Mountain Wilderness Areas.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 30 actions.

  1. Dec 5, 1989Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-195.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 28, 1989PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 21, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion to suspend the rules and agree to Senate amendment to House amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mrs. Vucanovich demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules. Without objection a second was ordered.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Vento moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to Senate amendment to House amendments.
  8. Nov 20, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  9. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  10. Nov 17, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  11. FloorFloor · On passage Passed by recorded vote: 323 - 75 (Roll No. 367).House roll call 367
  12. FloorFloor · The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
  13. Nov 16, 1989FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 289 passed House.
  14. Nov 9, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Nov 1, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Oct 24, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  18. Oct 17, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  20. Oct 5, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  21. Oct 2, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
  22. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  23. Sep 20, 1989FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
  24. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  25. Aug 30, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  26. Aug 2, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  27. Jul 24, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  28. May 12, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  29. May 11, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  30. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.