Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act
Public Law 102-495 · H.R. 4844 · 102nd Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 24, 1992 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Rep. Allan Swift (D-WA-2)
Cosponsors (6): Rep. Norm Dicks, Rep. Jim McDermott,
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Elwha River and Glines Canyon Hydroelectric Projects in Clallam County, Washington. Prohibits such acquisition unless the Secretary determines that removal of the Project dams is necessary for the full restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem and native anadromous fisheries and that funds will be available for such removal within two years after acquisition.
Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the plans for the full restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem and the native anadromous fisheries.
Directs the owners and the local industrial consumers of the Projects to tender title to the Projects to the United States upon appropriation for payment of a specified sum and the Secretary's determination that the dam removal is necessary.
Authorizes and directs the Secretary to take actions necessary to implement: (1) the Elwha River ecosystem and fisheries restoration plan and removal of the dams; (2) management of lands acquired pursuant to this Act which are located outside the exterior boundaries of the Olympic National Park (Glines Project lands are located within and without the boundaries of the Park); and (3) protection of the existing quality and availability of water from the River for municipal and industrial uses from adverse impacts of dam removal.
Provides for the continuance of existing licenses or authorizations for the Projects until: (1) the date the Secretary has acquired title; or (2) five years after the expiration of the current license or authorization if the Secretary's report does not provide for dam removal.
Directs the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration, following acquisition of the Projects, to deliver all project replacement power required by the operating facilities of the local industrial consumer through the local preference customer at a rate equal to the priority firm rate.
Authorizes the Secretary, after funds are appropriated for the conveyance and removal of the dams, to lease certain lands located on Ediz Hook in Clallam County to the city of Port Angeles and to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (for the construction of a tribal cultural facility).
Authorizes the Secretary, after funds are appropriated for the conveyance and removal of the dams, to acquire and hold in trust in reservation status for the Tribe certain lands in Clallam County for housing, economic development, and morrage for the tribal commercial fishing fleet. Authorizes appropriations.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
- Natural Resources Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Water, Power and Offshore Energy Resources Subcommittee
- Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Oct 24, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-495.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 15, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 7, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Oct 6, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Swift moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jul 9, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Water, Power and Offshore Energy Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Jun 15, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- May 5, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Water, Power and Offshore Energy Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Apr 22, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Apr 9, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.