Alpine Lakes Area Management Act of 1976
Public Law 94-357 · H.R. 7792 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jul 12, 1976 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Lloyd Meeds (D-WA-2)
Cosponsors (6): Rep. Thomas Foley, Rep. Mike McCormack,
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 Ice Peaks-Enchantment Area in the Central Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Includes an Alpine Lakes Wilderness within such area.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to publish in the Federal Register a detailed description and map showing the boundaries of the wilderness area and management unit. Directs the Secretary to administer the lands within the management unit.
Provides that the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is to be managed in accordance with both this Act and the Wilderness Act.
Directs the Secretary to acquire such lands, waters, interests, or any other property, within the boundaries of the wilderness as he considers to be in the public interest to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Prohibits the acquisition by the Secretary of any private property outside of the wilderness lands in areas where valid local zoning ordinances are in effect.
Directs the Secretary within three years, with full public involvement, to prepare and implement a comprehensive multiple use plan for the management unit. Requires the full utilization and development of the resources of the area to satisfy all legitimate requirements for these resources. Requires the publication of a notice of such plan in the Federal Register and the transmission of such plan to the President and Congress.
Sets forth the measures the Secretary shall give priority to in preparing the plan.
Authorizes the continuation of specified activities on the Ice Peaks-Enchantment Area including hunting and fishing and the economic use of renewable resources.
Authorizes to be appropriated $20,000,000 for the acquisition of lands and interests. Authorizes to be appropriated $5,000,000 for the preparation of the management plan.
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. 13 actions.
- Jul 12, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-357.
- Jun 30, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jun 29, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Jun 28, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 10, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 8, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- May 15, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 11, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources 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.