InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984

Public Law 98-322 · H.R. 4198 · 98th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jun 19, 1984 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Jim Jeffords (R-VT)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseMethod not stated
  • SenateVoice vote
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.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984 - Title I: New Wilderness Areas - Designates the following lands in the Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont, as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) the Breadloaf Wilderness; (2) the Lost Pond Wilderness; (3) the Peru Peak Wilderness; (4) the Lye Brook Wilderness; and (5) the George D. Aiken Wilderness.

Permits the Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail, and their related structures and associated trails to be maintained.

States that the second Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) environmental impact statement shall not be subject to judicial review concerning the national forest system lands in Vermont. Deems the RARE II review of national forest system lands in Vermont to be an adequate evaluation of the suitability of such lands for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Eliminates the requirement that the Department of Agriculture review the wilderness option of such lands prior to the revision of initial land management plans.

Directs the Department to review the wilderness option when the plans are revised or when the Secretary of Agriculture finds that conditions in a unit have significantly changed.

Provides that areas in Vermont which were reviewed in the final environmental statement, but not designated as wilderness, shall be managed for multiple use in accordance with certain land management statutes. Provides that if revised land management plans are implemented, areas not recommended for wilderness designation need not be managed for the purpose of protecting their suitability for such designation. Limits the application of these provisions to national forest system roadless lands in Vermont which are less than 5,000 acres in size.

Title II: White Rocks National Recreation Area - Designates certain lands in the Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont, as the White Rocks National Recreation Area.

Withdraws federally owned lands within the White Rocks National Recreation Area from all forms of appropriation under mineral leasing laws and geothermal leasing laws.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) permit hunting, fishing, and trapping within the boundaries of the White Rocks National Recreation Area in accordance with Federal and State law; (2) submit a comprehensive management plan for the recreation area to specified congressional committees; and (3) provide for public participation in the preparation and review of such comprehensive 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.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.

  1. Jun 19, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-322.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jun 8, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jun 4, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments.
  5. FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
  6. May 24, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  8. Apr 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  9. Mar 28, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  10. Feb 1, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Production and Price Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  11. Nov 16, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  12. Nov 15, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  13. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Agriculture Committee
  14. Nov 10, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Nov 2, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Oct 28, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  18. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  19. Oct 24, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
  20. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  21. 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.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.