Central Idaho Wilderness Act of 1979
Public Law 96-312 · S. 2009 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Jul 23, 1980 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Sen. Frank Church (D-ID)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 272 yea, 137 nay272–137
- 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.
Central Idaho Wilderness Act of 1980 - Designates areas around the Salmon River in Idaho as the River of No Return Wilderness under the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Incorporates certain lands of the Bitterroot National Forest, Idaho, and deems such lands to be part of, the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness under the provisions of the Wilderness Act.
Abolishes the previous classifications of the Idaho and Salmon River Breaks Primitive Areas.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, within three years after the date of enactment of this Act, to develop and submit to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs a comprehensive wilderness management plan for the River of No Return Wilderness which shall consider a broad range of land uses and recreation opportunities. Requires such plan to address the need for, and alternative means of access to, the wilderness and to include a report from the Secretary of Defense to the Congress on the strategic significance of the materials and minerals found in such wilderness.
Subjects to specified conditions the mining of any minerals within a mining claim located before or after the date of enactment of this Act within the portion of land designated as the River of No Return Wilderness.
Permits, within the River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, the continuation of: (1) the landing of aircraft and the grazing of livestock established prior to the date of enactment of this Act and subject to restrictions of the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) commercial services performed to the extent necessary for activities which are proper for realizing the recreational or other purposes of the areas; and (3) the future construction and maintenance of small hydroelectric generators, domestic water facilities, and related facilities in specified areas along the Salmon River.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior and with agencies and institutions of the State of Idaho to conduct a cultural resource management program within the River of No Return Wilderness. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a cultural resources management plan for such wilderness which shall: (1) encourage scientific research into man's past use of the River of No Return Wilderness and the Salmon River corridor; (2) provide an outline for the protection of significant cultural resources; (3) be based on adequate inventory data; (4) include a public interpretation program; and (5) comply with all Federal and State historic and cultural preservation statutes, regulations, guidelines and standards.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior and with agencies and institutions of Idaho to conduct an inventory of the ranch, homestead, trapper and other cabins, and structures within the River of No Return Wilderness and to submit a report to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs concerning such survey.
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified segments of the Salmon River as additions to the national wild and scenic rivers system. Permits the use of motorboats within such segments to continue at a level not less than the level of use which occurred during calendar year 1978. Declares that such segment of the Salmon River designated by this Act shall be managed under the provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Prohibits dredge and placer mining in any form including any use of any kind of machinery for the removal of sand and gravel for mining purposes in specified segments of the river.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to render, within 30 days from the date of enactment of this Act, a final administrative decision on any and all administrative appeals pending before him on the date of enactment of this Act with regard to the following land management plans: (1) The Warren Planning Unit Land Management Plan and Final Environmental Statement; and (2) The Landmark Planning Unit Land Management Plan and Final Environmental Statement.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 275 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
275 yea140 nay18 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(231)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-20
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Bennett StewartD-IL-1
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Edward StackD-FL-12
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
- Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
- Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. Raphael MustoD-PA-11
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
- Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
- Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
- Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
- Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. James MattoxD-TX-5
- Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
- Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-2
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
- Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Eugene AtkinsonD-PA-25
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
Republicans who voted yea(44)
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
- Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
- Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-19
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1023 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
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. 24 actions.
- Jul 23, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-312.
- Jul 22, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Jul 2, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Jul 1, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #388 (272-137).House roll call 388
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #388 (272-137).House roll call 388
- Jun 30, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report considered in House.
- Jun 26, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Jun 24, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1126.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1126.
- May 14, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Apr 29, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Apr 16, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #184 (301-93).House roll call 184
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs rejected in House.
- Mar 21, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 20, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Nov 29, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- Nov 20, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #423 (69-18).Senate roll call 423
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Nov 14, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by 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.