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To disclaim any interests of the United States in certain lands on San Juan Island, Washington and for other purposes.

Public Law 102-75 · H.R. 427 · 102nd Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Jul 26, 1991 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Allan Swift (D-WA-2)

Cosponsors: None

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.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, to complete a survey of certain lands on San Juan Island, Washington, and to prepare a survey plat detailing those portions of the lands granted to the State of Washington that have been encroached upon. Limits to 50 percent the Federal share of the costs for such survey. Exempts such encroached lands from reversion rights of the Federal Government.

Disclaims all Federal right, title, and interest in the encroached lands and vests them in the University of Washington.

Conditions such exemption, disclaimer, and vesting on a binding agreement among the State of Washington, the University, and the Secretary: (1) to accept the map location of the encroached lands as accurate and conclusive; (2) to prohibit the transfer of the lands to any party or parties other than the occupants; and (3) to reimburse the Secretary for the administrative costs of implementing this Act plus half the costs of the survey, and also to pay the Secretary any profits from conveyance of the encroached lands to the occupants. States that all amounts received by the Secretary shall be used for public land management.

Amends Federal law to prohibit the reversion to the United States of certain land conveyed to the State of Washington if: (1) such land becomes contaminated with hazardous substances; or (2) such land is used for purposes that result in contamination by hazardous substances. Requires the State of Washington to pay the Secretary the fair market value, including any improvement value, if such land is used for unauthorized purposes which result in disposal, placement, or release of any hazardous substance.

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. 20 actions.

  1. Jul 26, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-75.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jul 19, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jul 17, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Jul 2, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  6. Jun 12, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  7. May 21, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  8. Apr 26, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  9. Apr 25, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  10. Apr 24, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  11. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  12. FloorFloor · Mr. Vento moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  13. Apr 22, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  14. Apr 10, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Mar 21, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Mar 7, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  18. Feb 4, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  19. Jan 3, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  20. 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.