An Act to establish the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area in the States of Oregon and Idaho, and for other purposes.
Public Law 94-199 · S. 322 · 94th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Dec 31, 1975 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Sen. Frank Church (D-ID)
Cosponsors (3): Sen. James McClure, Sen. Mark Hatfield,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Establishes the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Designates specified lands depicted as the Hells Canyon Wilderness as wilderness. Designates specified portions of the Rapid River in Idaho and the Snake River in Idaho and Oregon as wild or scenic river areas.
Prohibits the licensing of construction by the Federal Power Commission of any dam within such recreation area.
Prohibits any limiting, restricting, or conflicting of the present and future use of the waters of the Snake River and its tributaries upstream. Prohibits imposition of any flow requirements on such river below the Hells Canyon Dam.
Sets forth standards for the administration of such recreation area by the Secretary of Agriculture, and requires him to submit a comprehensive management plan for such area to the Congress within five years.
Lists areas on the Hells Canyon Recreation Areas map which shall be studied for suitability for designation as wilderness. Gives the views of the Nez Perce Tribe of Indians a hearing in such possible designation.
Allows the continuation of timber harvesting by selective cutting, mining, and grazing during development of the comprehensive management plan.
Provides that lands acquired, under this Act, owned by the State of Oregon may be acquired only by donation, and lands owned by the State of Idaho may be acquired only by donation or exchange. Permits the Secretary to acquire the mineral interests in lands within the recreation area, with or without the consent of the owner.
Permits hunting and fishing within the recreation area.
States that ranching, grazing, farming, timber harvesting, and the occupation of homes and lands associated with homes, as they exist on the date of enactment of this Act, are recognized as traditional and valid uses of the recreation area.
Authorizes appropriations for the acquisition of lands, the development of recreation facilities, and the protection and development of historic and archeological sites within such recreation area.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- Dec 31, 1975Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-199.
- Dec 22, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 19, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Dec 12, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.
- Nov 18, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 30.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Jun 3, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 2, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 22, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 23, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.