New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 1984
Public Law 98-323 · H.R. 3921 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jun 19, 1984 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Judd Gregg (R-NH-2)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Norman D’Amours
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- 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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 1984 - Title I: New Wilderness Areas - Designates the following lands in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) the Pemigewasset Wilderness Area; (2) the Sandwich Range Wilderness; and (3) the Presidential Range Dry River Wilderness Additions.
Provides that the RARE II (second roadless area review and evaluation) final environmental statement (dated January 1979) with respect to national forest system lands in New Hampshire shall not be subject to judicial review. Releases national forest system lands in New Hampshire which were reviewed in the RARE II program from further review by the Department of Agriculture, pending revision of initial national forest management plans. Releases lands in New Hampshire reviewed in the RARE II program and not designated as wilderness from management as wilderness areas. Prohibits the Department of Agriculture from conducting any further statewide roadless area review and evaluation of national forest system lands in New Hampshire without express congressional authorization. States that the provisions above shall also apply to: (1) national forest system roadless areas in New Hampshire which were evaluated in the Kancamagus, Waterville Valley, and Presidential unit plans; and (2) national forest system lands in New Hampshire which are less than 5,000 acres in size. Provides that the Kilkenny Unit Plan Area shall be considered for all uses, including wilderness, during preparation of a forest plan for the White Mountain National Forest.
Title II: Wild and Scenic River Study - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Wildcat Brook River in New Hampshire for potential addition to the national wild and scenic rivers system.
Title III: National Forest Boundary Expansion - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase lands contiguous to the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire which are known as the Pilot Range Tracts and which shall be added to such forest. Provides that for purposes of the allocation of land and water conservation fund moneys for land and water acquisition pursuant to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the boundary of the White Mountain National Forest shall be treated as if it were the boundary as of January 1, 1965. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Agriculture Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee- Natural Resources Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee
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. 20 actions.
- Jun 19, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-323.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jun 13, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jun 6, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
- May 24, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Apr 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Mar 28, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Nov 16, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Nov 15, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Nov 14, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Oct 28, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Oct 11, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Sep 23, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
- Sep 19, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · 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.