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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Act of 1999

Public Law 106-76 · S. 323 · 106th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 21, 1999 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Sen. Ben Campbell (R-CO)

Cosponsors (1): Sen. Wayne Allard

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateUnanimous consent
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.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Act of 1999 - Establishes the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado. Abolishes the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument and incorporates all land and interests therein as part of the Park.

(Sec. 4) Withdraws all Federal lands within the Park from all forms of appropriations under the public land, mining, mineral and geothermal leasing laws.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to permit grazing within the Park to continue where authorized under permits or leases in existence as of the enactment of this Act: (1) at no more than the current level; and (2) subject to applicable laws, specified provisions of this Act, National Park Service regulations, and to periodic renewal for the lifetime of the holder of such permit or lease, or in the case of a partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, for a period which shall terminate on the same date that the last permit or lease held by such holder terminates, unless the partnership, corporation, or legal entity dissolves or terminates before such time, in which case the permit or lease shall terminate with the partnership, corporation, or legal entity.

(Sec. 5) Provides for: (1) additional land acquisition for the Park; (2) revision of the Park's boundary to include such land; (3) an official boundary survey of the Park by the Secretary; (4) hunting on privately owned land added to the Park, subject to limitations, conditions, or regulations prescribed by the Secretary; and (5) termination of such hunting on the date the Secretary acquires fee ownership of the privately owned land.

(Sec. 6) Expands the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness to include a specified parcel of land to be administered as a component of the Park.

(Sec. 7) Establishes the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area to be managed by the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

Withdraws all Federal lands within the Conservation Area from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land, mining, mineral and geothermal leasing laws.

Requires the Secretary to permit hunting, trapping, and fishing within the Conservation Area, under certain conditions. Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations designating zones where and establishing periods when no hunting or trapping shall be permitted for reasons concerning public safety, administration, or public use and enjoyment.

Allows the use of motorized vehicles in the Conservation Area.

Requires the Secretary to develop a comprehensive plan for the long-range protection and management of the Conservation Area and to transmit the plan to specified congressional committees. Allows revision of the Conservation Area's boundary following acquisition of land necessary to accomplish the purposes for which such Area was designated.

(Sec. 8) Designates the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness, within the Conservation Area, as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

(Sec. 9) Withdraws certain land identified as tract B on the map entitled "Black Canyon National Park and Gunnison Gorge NCA - 1-22-99" from all forms of entry, appropriation or disposal under the public land, mining, mineral and geothermal leasing laws.

(Sec. 10) Provides that nothing in this Act shall: (1) constitute an express or implied reservation of water for any purpose; or (2) affect any private or U.S. water rights in existence before enactment of this Act.

Requires any new water rights to be established in accordance with the procedural and substantive requirements of Colorado laws.

(Sec. 11) Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to study and report to Congress on land protection and open space within and adjacent to the Curecanti National Recreation Area.

Provides for the acquisition of specified private land or interests in land to be added to the Recreation Area.

(Sec. 12) Authorizes appropriations.

Committees

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

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 19 actions.

  1. Oct 21, 1999Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 106-76.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 13, 1999PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 1, 1999Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.
  5. Sep 27, 1999FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. Saxton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  8. Sep 8, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  9. Jul 21, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  10. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Jul 14, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Jul 12, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Jul 1, 1999FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  14. Jun 8, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  15. May 19, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  16. Mar 24, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  17. Jan 29, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  18. Jan 28, 1999CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  19. 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.