A bill to modify the boundary of the Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-602 · S. 1803 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 28, 1980 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Sen. Scoop Jackson (D-WA)
Cosponsors: None
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.
Modifies the exterior boundary of the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico to include an area of approximately 14,476 acres. Declares that all lands owned by the United States which are added to the Forest shall be administered in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. States that for purposes of applicable statutory provisions, such modified boundaries shall be treated as if they were the boundaries of the Forest on January 1, 1965.
Amends the Act which provides financial assistance to the school district within the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, to extend, for two years, the period of such assistance.
Authorizes appropriations, through fiscal year 1982, to carry out the provisions of such Act. Specifies that any such amounts authorized but not appropriated in any fiscal year shall remain available for appropriation in succeeding fiscal years.
Prohibits the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, from taking any legal or administrative action in connection with the operation and maintenance of the Conchas Lake Project, New Mexico, seeking to remove improvements, including dwellings, that are presently located within the flowage easement below a specified level. Specifies that such prohibition shall not be construed as creating any liability in the United States for any injury, loss, or damage accruing to the owners of such improvements, their lessees occupants, as a result of any flooding or inundation of such improvements by the waters of the reservoir, or for such injury, loss, or damage as may occur through the operation and maintenance of the dam and reservoir in any manner.
Prohibits the Secretary from determining the cabin site in the south recreation area at Conchas Lake to be excess of project needs prior to 1996, unless such a determination is agreed to by the Governor of New Mexico. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring the removal or sale and purchase of existing cabins, cottages, or other privately owned improvements located on such site prior to 1996, unless agreed to by the Governor of New Mexico. Requires existing and prospective lease arrangements to reflect such requirements.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified amount out of any funds in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to the estate of Demetrio Madrid or into a court of competent jurisdiction, for distribution to such persons as shall be lawfully entitled. Specifies that no amount in excess of ten percent of any such payment shall be paid to or received by any agent or attorney in consideration for services rendered in connection with such payment.
Makes any mining claim located under the Mining Laws of the United States subsequent to June 18, 1879, and prior to January 17, 1969, in a specified area of the State of Arizona, effective to the same extent in all respects as if such lands at the time of location, and at all times thereafter, had been open to the operation of the Mining Laws of the United States.
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 28, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-602.
- Dec 17, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Dec 16, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 12, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Dec 9, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Nov 17, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 9, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- Jun 6, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Apr 24, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Sep 24, 1979CommitteeCommittee · 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.