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Fire Island National Seashore Amendments of 1984

Public Law 98-482 · H.R. 3697 · 98th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 17, 1984 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Downey (D-NY-2)

Cosponsors (5): Rep. Robert Mrazek,

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.

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Summary

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

Fire Island National Seashore Amendments of 1984 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to sell any property within the boundaries of the Fire Island National Seashore in New York which is acquired by condemnation under this Act (except for certain undeveloped tracts within the Dune District, certain beach areas, property within a specified eight-mile park area, and any property acquired before October 1, 1982, which the Secretary determines should be retained to further the purposes of this Act). Requires that the Secretary sell the property: (1) at not less than fair market value; and (2) subject to covenants or restrictions to ensure that the use of the property conforms to standards protecting the national seashore and to any approved zoning ordinance to which the property is subject. Provides that money from such sales shall be available to the Secretary only for purposes of acquiring property within the seashore.

Authorizes the Secretary, upon or after the commencement of any condemnation action, to apply for a temporary restraining order or injunction to prevent any use of, or construction upon, the property involved that would fail to conform to the standards protecting the seashore or that would result in undeveloped tracts in the Dune District not being maintained in their natural state.

Provides for the termination of the suspension of the Secretary's authority to acquire property within the seashore boundaries by condemnation because of nonconforming variances and uses with respect to any property, including improved property but excluding undeveloped property in the Dune District, which becomes subject to such a variance or use after the enactment of this Act. (Currently, the suspension of the Secretary's authority to acquire property by condemnation because of non-conforming variances and uses is terminated with respect to any improved property which becomes subject to such a variance or use.)

Requires the Secrtary's standards for zoning ordiances to seek to reconcile population density with the protection of the natural resources of the seashore.

Authorizes the Secretary to apply for a temporary restraining order or injunction to prohibit the use of, including construction upon, any property within the seashore in a manner that: (1) will cause or is likely to cause significant harm to the natural resources of the seashore; or (2) is inconsistent with the purposes for which the seashore was established.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.

  1. Oct 17, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-482.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 5, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 3, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Sep 24, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  6. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  7. Sep 19, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  8. Sep 13, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  10. Jul 24, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Aug 25, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  12. Jul 28, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  13. 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.

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Official record

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