An act to withdraw certain public lands in Lincoln County, Nevada, and for other purposes.
Public Law 98-485 · H.R. 4932 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 17, 1984 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Charles Price (D-IL-21)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. William Dickinson
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.
Withdraws certain public land within the Nellis Air Force Range in Lincoln County, Nevada, from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws (except mineral and geothermal leasing laws). Reserves such lands for defense-related uses by the Department of the Air Force. Terminates such withdrawal and the Department of the Air Force's use of such land on December 31, 1987.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of the Air Force to issue an environmental impact statement regarding the continued withdrawal of such lands after the termination date.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to manage such lands during the withdrawal period. States that all uses of such land are secondary to its military uses. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to gain the concurrence of the Secretary of the Air Force before authorizing any non-military use of the land.
Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to require closure of such lands to public use upon the happening of certain conditions.
Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to reimburse the Secretary of the Interior for the costs of preparing and publishing a legal description of the lands in the Federal Register.
States that this Act does not intend to affect existing water rights or water uses.
Requires an Act of Congress to extend or renew the withdrawal of lands under this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Armed Services Committee · House · referred toSubcommittee: Military Installations and Facilities 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. 17 actions.
- Oct 17, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-485.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 5, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 2, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Sep 28, 1984FloorFloor · Held at the desk by unanimous consent.
- Sep 24, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Sep 19, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
- Sep 18, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Military Installations and Facilities Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee
- Sep 13, 1984CommitteeCommittee · 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
- Aug 6, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Apr 2, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
- Mar 9, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Military Installations and Facilities Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee
- Feb 23, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services 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.