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HR 852 104th Congress House

Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 1995

Official title: To designate as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national park and preserve study areas, wild land recovery areas, and biological connecting corridors certa… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To designate as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national park and preserve study areas, wild land recovery areas, and biological connecting corridors certain public lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 7, 1995 See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources Agriculture and FoodAir qualityAnimalsArts, Culture, Religion
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Biological diversity conservationCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommemorationsCommerceCongressCongressional reporting requirementsConservation of natural resourcesCultural propertyData banksDepartment of AgricultureDredgingEcosystem managementEndangered speciesEnergyEnergy policyEnvironmental ProtectionEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental researchExecutive reorganizationFederal advisory bodiesFederal-Indian relationsFishery managementFishingForest conservationForest roadsForestryGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment contractorsGovernment paperworkGovernment procurementHabitat conservationHighway engineeringHistoric sitesHistoryHuntingIdahoIndian landsLand transfersLease and rental servicesLumber tradeMapsMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMines and mineral resourcesMinoritiesMontanaMotor vehiclesMountainsNational forestsNational parksNational recreation areasNatural areasOil and gas leasesOregonRailroad engineeringRailroad safetyReclamation of landReligionReligious libertyResearch natural areasRevegetationRight of privacyRight of propertyScience, Technology, CommunicationsSoil conservationSoil erosionSports and RecreationTraffic accidents and safetyTransportation and Public WorksWashington StateWater Resources DevelopmentWater qualityWater rightsWatershed managementWild riversWilderness areasWyoming
This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) 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
Feb 13, 1995
Executive Comment Requested from Interior, USDA.
Feb 13, 1995
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands.
Feb 7, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Feb 7, 1995
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 13, 1995

Executive Comment Requested from Interior, USDA.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 1995 - Designates the following lands in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (System): (1) Greater Glacier-Continental Divide Ecosystem; (2) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; (3) Greater Salmon-Selway Ecosystem; (4) Greater Cabinet-Yaak-Selkirk Ecosystem; (5) Islands in the Sky Wilderness; (6) Rattlesnake Wilderness; and (7) Rattlesnake Wilderness Area. Adds specified lands to the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area.

Designates: (1) specified wild land areas as Biological Connecting Corridors (Corridors) to protect the life flow of the Northern Rockies Bioregion; (2) the inventoried roadless areas identified as part of the Corridors as components of the System; and (3) certain biological connecting corridors as special corridor management areas. Exempts specified roads and highways from the provisions of this Act.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to study the feasibility of: (1) creating a Hells Canyon-Chief Joseph National Park and Preserve; (2) creating a Flathead National Park and Preserve; and (3) designating such areas as units of the National Park System (NPS).

Requires the national park and preserve study areas to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of specified rivers and creeks in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (NWSRS).

Establishes the National Wildland Restoration and Recovery System.

Specifies component recovery areas. Authorizes appropriations to establish the National Wildland Recovery Corps (a special unit of the U.S. Forest Service) to carry out land recovery responsibilities. Requires the Corps to develop a wildland recovery plan for each area of the Recovery System, requiring each plan to take into account the specific conditions of the area. Provides that when recovery is achieved for a component of the Recovery System, the Forest Service shall evaluate and make recommendations to the Congress on its suitability for inclusion within the System.

Designates certain lands within the Lewis and Clark National Forest known as Badger-Two Medicine Area as the Blackfeet Wilderness Area.

Declares that the Congress recognizes that the Blackfeet Nation retains treaty rights in this area as provided in the 1896 treaty with the Federal Government. Requires a review and other considerations with respect to such area.

Withdraws the Badger-Two Medicine Wilderness Area from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the mining laws and disposition under the geothermal and mineral leasing laws.

Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to: (1) report to the Congress on implementation of this Act; (2) establish an interagency team to monitor, evaluate, and make recommendations to ensure long-term results required by this Act and to develop a geographic information system for monitoring the Northern Rockies Bioregion; and (3) establish a governmental review board to make recommendations to the Congress on legally restating and unifying the natural resource management mandates of Federal agencies.

Requires the Secretaries to assure nonexclusive access to Wilderness areas, National Park and Preserve Study areas, Wildland Recovery areas, and Biological Corridors designated by this Act by Native Americans for traditional cultural and religious purposes.

Requires the Forest Service to enter into cooperative management agreements with the appropriate Indian tribes to assure protection of religious, burial, and gathering sites, and to work cooperatively on the management of all uses in the protected areas that affect Indian lands and people.

Requires the Secretaries to give particular emphasis to the preservation and protection of cultural resources located within the areas.

Reserves, with respect to each wilderness area designated by this Act, a sufficient quantity of water to fulfill the area's designated purpose.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 852: Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 1995. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-852/
MLA
"H.R. 852: Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 1995." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-852/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 852, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-852/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 852: Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 1995](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-852/)
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