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HR 371 100th Congress House

California Desert Protection Act of 1987

Official title: A bill to provide for the protection of public lands in the California desert.

Introduced: July 13, 1987 See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources CaliforniaConservation of natural resourcesDesertsEnvironmental Protection
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Historic sitesLand transfersMonuments and memorialsNational monumentsNational parksParksParks and Natural AreasPublic Lands and Real PropertyState parksWilderness areas
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 20, 1987
Executive Comment Received From Army.
Feb 5, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.
Jan 6, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Jan 6, 1987
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 20, 1987

Executive Comment Received From Army.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

California Desert Protection Act of 1987 - Title I: Wilderness Additions - Designates as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System 81 wilderness areas within the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA), the Yuma District, and the Bakersfield District of the Bureau of Land Management. States that non-designated areas within the CDCA have been adequately studied for inclusion in the System and are therefore released from otherwise applicable restrictions.

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to study the suitability of lands in the White Mountains Wilderness Study Area for inclusion in the System.

Title II: Death Valley National Park - Establishes the Death Valley National Park which subsumes the Death Valley National Monument. Withdraws the additional lands from further exploitation under the mining laws. Requires the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to determine, the validity of any unpatented mining claims within such additional lands and whether the United States should acquire any mineral rights in such lands.

Title III: Joshua Tree National Park - Establishes the Joshua Tree National Park which subsumes the Joshua Tree National Monument. Withdraws the additional lands from further exploitation under the mining laws. Requires the Secretary to determine, the validity of any unpatented mining claims within such additional lands and whether the United States should acquire any mineral rights in such lands.

Title IV: Mojave National Park - Establishes the Mojave National Park which subsumes the East Mojave National Scenic Area. Withdraws Federal lands within the park from further exploitation under the mining laws. Requires the Secretary to determine, the validity of any unpatented mining claims within the Park and whether the United States should acquire any mineral rights in such lands. Authorizes the Secretary to regulate mining in such Park. Allows grazing only to the extent allowed in current permits.

Continues the validity of existing rights-of-way for specified activities.

Directs the Secretary to prepare and report to the appropriate congressional committees, within three years, on a management plan for the Park. Authorizes the Secretary to construct a visitors' center and acquire lands. Authorizes appropriations.

Title V: National Park Wilderness - Designates as wilderness the Death Valley National Park Wilderness, the Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Additions, and the Mojave National Park Wilderness.

Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to transfer Red Rock Canyon State Park Additions in the CDCA to California.

Establishes the Desert Lily Sanctuary within the CDCA.

Establishes the Indian Canyons National Historic Site.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 371: California Desert Protection Act of 1987. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-371/
MLA
"H.R. 371: California Desert Protection Act of 1987." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-371/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 371, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-371/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 371: California Desert Protection Act of 1987](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-371/)
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