North Carolina Wilderness Act of 1984
Public Law 98-324 · H.R. 3960 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jun 19, 1984 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. James Clarke (D-NC-11)
Cosponsors (10): Rep. Charles Whitley, Rep. James Broyhill,
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
North Carolina Wilderness Act of 1984 - Designates the following lands in North Carolina as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness in the Uwharrie National Forest; (2) the Catfish Lake South Wilderness in the Croatan National Forest; (3) the Ellicott Rock Wilderness Addition in the Nantahala National Forest; (4) the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Additions in the Nantahala National Forest; (5) the Linville Gorge Wilderness Additions in the Pisgah National Forest; (6) the Middle Prong Wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest; (7) the Pocosin Wilderness in the Croatan National Forest; (8) the Pond Pine Wilderness in the Croatan National Forest; (9) the Sheep Ridge Wilderness in the Croatan National Forest; (10) the Shining Rock Wilderness Addition in the Pisgah National Forest; and (11) the Southern Nantahala Wilderness in the Nantahala National Forest.
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 North Carolina shall not be subject to judicial review. Releases national forest system lands in North Carolina 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 North Carolina reviewed in the RARE II program and not designated as wilderness or for wilderness study 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 North Carolina without express congressional authorization.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to review the following lands with respect to their suitability as wilderness areas: (1) the Harper Creek Wilderness Study Area in the Pisgah National Forest; (2) the Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area in the Pisgah National Forest; (3) the Overflow Wilderness Study Area in the Nantahala National Forest; (4) the Snowbird Wilderness Study Area in the Nantahala National Forest; and (5) the Craggy Mountain Wilderness Study Area in the Pisgah National Forest. Requires the Secretary to report on such review to the President, who shall submit recommendations with respect to such wilderness study areas to Congress within three years after enactment of this Act.
States that the provisions above shall also apply to national forest system roadless lands in North Carolina which are less than 5,000 acres in size.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Agriculture Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee- Natural Resources Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee · Senate · hearings by (full committee), markup by, referred to, reported by
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. 23 actions.
- Jun 19, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-324.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jun 8, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jun 4, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments.
- FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
- May 24, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments 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
- Jan 25, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Nov 16, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 398 - 21 (Record Vote No: 517).House roll call 517
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Nov 15, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Agriculture Committee
- Nov 10, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Nov 2, 1983CommitteeCommittee · 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 28, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
- Sep 22, 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.