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Virginia Wilderness Act of 1984

Public Law 98-586 · H.R. 5121 · 98th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 30, 1984 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA-9)

Cosponsors (2): Rep. James Olin,

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.

Virginia Wilderness Act of 1984 - Designates the following lands in Virginia as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) the Beartown Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest; (2) the Kimberling Creek Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest; (3) the Lewis Fork Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest; (4) the Little Dry Run Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest; (5) the Little Wilson Creek Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest; (6) the Mountain Lake Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest; (7) the Peters Mountain Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest; (8) the Thunder Ridge Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest; (9) the James River Face Wilderness Addition in the Jefferson National Forest which is to be incorporated in the James River Face Wilderness; (10) the Ramseys Draft Wilderness in the George Washington National Forest; and (11) the Saint Mary's Wilderness in the George Washington 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 Virginia shall not be subject to judicial review. Releases national forest system lands in Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia without express congressional authorization. States that the provisions above shall also apply to national forest system roadless lands in Virginia which are less than 5,000 acres in size.

Requires the Secretary to review the following lands in Virginia to determine their suitability for preservation as wilderness: (1) the Rough Mountain Wilderness Study Area in the George Washington National Forest; (2) the Rich Hole Wilderness Study Area in the George Washington National Forest; (3) the Barbours Creek Wilderness Study Area in the Jefferson National Forest; and (4) the Shawvers Run Wilderness Study Area in the Jefferson National Forest.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress within two years after enactment of this Act on the effects on air quality of the proposed industrial development site at Covington, Virginia, on the areas designated as wilderness study areas by this Act. Requires an interim report to the appropriate congressional committees.

States that Congress does not intend that designation of wilderness areas in Virginia lead to the creation of buffer zones around each wilderness area.

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. 22 actions.

  1. Oct 30, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-586.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 19, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 9, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
  6. Oct 4, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · Unanimous Consent Request to Agree to the Senate Amendment Rejected in House.
  7. FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2805 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  8. Oct 2, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  9. Sep 13, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  10. Jul 25, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Production and Price Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  11. May 16, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Production and Price Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  12. May 9, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  13. May 8, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 276 - 20 (Record Vote No: 131).House roll call 131
  14. Apr 26, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Apr 25, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Apr 10, 1984CommitteeCommittee · 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. Apr 6, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  20. Mar 14, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
  21. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  22. 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.