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Little River Canyon National Preserve Act of 1992

Public Law 102-427 · H.R. 3665 · 102nd Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 21, 1992 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Tom Bevill (D-AL-4)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • 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.

Little River Canyon National Preserve Act of 1992 - Establishes the Little River Canyon National Preserve in Alabama.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) permit hunting, trapping, and fishing on lands and waters under the Secretary's jurisdiction within the Preserve in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws (but allows the Secretary to designate zones where, and establish periods when, such activities will not be permitted, and to restrict hunting in areas within the Preserve that are adjacent to the boundaries of the Preserve where necessary or appropriate to protect public safety); (2) enter into a cooperative agreement, upon request, with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the continued management by the Department of the lodge and other facilities which are part of the DeSoto State Park if it is acquired by the Secretary for the Preserve; and (3) develop and conduct a program to promote and encourage awareness and participation in the development of the general management plan for the Preserve by persons owning property in the vicinity of the Preserve, other interested groups and individuals, State, county, and municipal agencies, and the general public (and, prior to final approval of the plan, to hold public meetings in DeKalb and Cherokee Counties).

Makes restrictions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act on construction projects licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission applicable to that portion of the Little River that flows through the Preserve.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with: (1) the State of Alabama or any political subdivision of the State, in administering the Preserve, for the rendering of rescue, fire fighting, and law enforcement services; and cooperative assistance by law enforcement and fire preventive agencies located in the vicinity of the Preserve; and (2) such State and directly affected political subdivisions of the State to provide professional assistance in the preparation of the management plan for the Preserve.

Extinguishes all rights and obligations of the Alabama Power Company, pursuant to a specified agreement, to lands within the boundaries of the preserve which contain the Green Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia oreophila) upon the transfer of such lands to the United States by the Company.

Authorizes the Secretary to acquire lands, waters, and interests in lands and waters within the boundaries of the Preserve (such lands) by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, only with the consent of the owner. Specifies that such lands that are owned by the State, or any political subdivision of the State, may be acquired only by donation or exchange.

Directs the Secretary: (1) immediately after publication of a description of the boundaries of the Preserve, to commence negotiations for the acquisition of such lands; (2) within one year, to submit a detailed schedule of actions and a progress report regarding the acquisition to specified congressional committees; and (3) within two years, subject to the availability of funds, to substantially complete such acquisition in accordance with the purposes of this Act.

Requires: (1) the Secretary, promptly following completion of any environmental audit performed by or on behalf of the Secretary with respect to any property proposed to be acquired for the purposes of the Act, to make available to the owner of the property a copy of the audit; and (2) that any such audit and any environmental audit performed by the owner of the property and submitted to the Secretary prior to the date of the acquisition be included as part of the documents transferring title to the United States.

Specifies that no lands or interest in lands may be added to the Preserve after the date of enactment without specific authorization by the Congress and the consent of the owner of the lands or interest.

Authorizes appropriations.

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. 23 actions.

  1. Oct 21, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-427.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 9, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 3, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Vento asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
  7. Oct 1, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  8. Sep 24, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  9. Sep 22, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  10. Aug 6, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  11. Apr 13, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  12. Apr 10, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  13. Apr 7, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  14. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  15. FloorFloor · Mr. Vento moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Mar 25, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  18. Mar 19, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  20. Nov 18, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  21. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  22. Oct 30, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  23. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.