Union Calendar No. 279
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 518
[Report No. 103–498]
A BILL
To designate certain lands in the California Desert
as wilderness, to establish the Death Valley and
Joshua Tree National Parks and the Mojave Na-
tional Monument, and for other purposes.
MAY 11, 1994
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries dis-
charged; committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be
printed
IB
Union Calendar No. 279
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 518
[Report No. 103–498]
To designate certain lands in the California Desert as wilderness, to establish
the Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and the Mojave
National Monument, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 21, 1993
Mr. LEHMAN (for himself, Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. VENTO, Mr. STARK,
Mr. OWENS, Mr. OLVER, Mr. MFUME, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. MINETA, Mr.
MCDERMOTT, Mr. BROWN of California, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts,
Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. STOKES, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mrs. MALONEY, and Mr.
HINCHEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources
JUNE 18, 1993
Additional sponsors: Mr. BACCHUS of Florida, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. CONYERS,
Mr. CLAY, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. BEILENSON, Mr. EDWARDS of California,
Mr. BECERRA, Mr. SKAGGS, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. DELLUMS,
Ms. ESHOO, Mr. EVANS, Mr. TORRES, Mr. COOPER, Mr. TOWNS, Ms.
SLAUGHTER, Mr. BLACKWELL, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FAZIO, Mr. PAYNE of
New Jersey, Mr. STUDDS, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. SHAYS,
Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. HAMBURG, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. NEAL of North Carolina,
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. MORAN, Mr. PORTER, Mr. RICHARDSON,
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. BORSKI, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. COPPERSMITH,
Mr. HUGHES, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. ACKERMAN, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. PRICE
of North Carolina, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. DIXON, Mr. LANTOS, Mr.
FINGERHUT, Mr. HOAGLAND, Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida, Ms. SCHENK,
Mr. VALENTINE, and Ms. SHEPHERD
MAY 10, 1994
Additional sponsors: Mr. SWETT, Mrs. UNSOELD, Ms. NORTON, Mr.
KREIDLER, Mr. BRYANT, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. YATES, Miss COLLINS of
Michigan, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. NADLER, Mr. ANDREWS of Maine, Mr.
KLUG, Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. RAVENEL, Mr. BARCA of
Wisconsin, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. KOPETSKI, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. FORD of
Michigan, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SABO, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. PALLONE, Ms.
KAPTUR, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. WHEAT, Mrs. BYRNE, Mr. ZIM-
MER, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mrs. ROUKEMA, Mr. COLEMAN, Ms.
FURSE, Mr. WYNN, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. DELAURO, Ms. ENGLISH of Ari-
zona, Mr. MACHTLEY, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs.
MEEK, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin, and Mr. KLEIN
MAY 10, 1994
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
MAY 11, 1994
Discharged from the Union Calendar and referred to the Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and Fisheries for a period ending not later than May 11,
1994, for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as
fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(m) of
rule X
MAY 11, 1994
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered
to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 21, 1993]
A BILL
To designate certain lands in the California Desert as wilder-
ness, to establish the Death Valley and Joshua Tree
National Parks and the Mojave National Monument, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That this Act may be cited as the ‘‘California Desert Protec-
tion Act of 1994’’.
FINDINGS AND POLICY
SEC. 2. (a) The Congress finds and declares that—
(1) the federally owned desert lands of Southern
California constitute a public wildland resource of ex-
traordinary and inestimable value for this and future
generations;
(2) these desert wildlands display unique scenic,
historical, archeological, environmental, ecological,
wildlife, cultural, scientific, educational, and rec-
reational values used and enjoyed by millions of
Americans for hiking and camping, scientific study
and scenic appreciation;
(3) the public land resources of the California
desert now face and are increasingly threatened by
adverse pressures which would impair, dilute, and de-
stroy their public and natural values;
(4) the California desert, embracing wilderness
lands, units of the National Park System, other Fed-
eral lands, State parks and other State lands, and
private lands, constitutes a cohesive unit posing
unique and difficult resource protection and manage-
ment challenges;
(5) through designation of national monuments
by Presidential proclamation, through enactment of
general public land statutes (including section 601 of
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, 90 Stat. 2743, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and
through interim administrative actions, the Federal
Government has begun the process of appropriately
providing for protection of the significant resources of
the public lands in the California desert; and
(6) statutory land unit designations are needed
to afford the full protection which the resources and
public land values of the California desert merit.
(b) In order to secure for the American people of this
and future generations an enduring heritage of wilderness,
national parks, and public land values in the California
desert, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress
that—
(1) appropriate public lands in the California
desert shall be included within the National Park
System and the National Wilderness Preservation
System, in order to—
(A) preserve unrivaled scenic, geologic, and
wildlife values associated with these unique nat-
ural landscapes;
(B) perpetuate in their natural state sig-
nificant and diverse ecosystems of the California
desert;
(C) protect and preserve historical and cul-
tural values of the California desert associated
with ancient Indian cultures, patterns of western
exploration and settlement, and sites exemplify-
ing the mining, ranching and railroading his-
tory of the Old West;
(D) provide opportunities for compatible
outdoor public recreation, protect and interpret
ecological and geological features and historic,
paleontological, and archeological sites, maintain
wilderness resource values, and promote public
understanding and appreciation of the Califor-
nia desert; and
(E) retain and enhance opportunities for
scientific research in undisturbed ecosystems.
TITLE I—WILDERNESS ADDITIONS
FINDINGS
SEC. 101. The Congress finds and declares that—
(1) wilderness is a distinguishing characteristic
of the public lands in the California desert, one which
affords an unrivaled opportunity for experiencing
vast areas of the Old West essentially unaltered by
man’s activities, and which merits preservation for
the benefit of present and future generations;
(2) the wilderness values of desert lands are in-
creasingly threatened by and especially vulnerable to
impairment, alteration, and destruction by activities
and intrusions associated with incompatible use and
development; and
(3) preservation of desert wilderness necessarily
requires the highest forms of protective designation
and management.
DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS
SEC. 102. In furtherance of the purpose of the Wilder-
ness Act (78 Stat. 890, 16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), and sections
601 and 603 of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (90 Stat. 2743, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the
following lands in the State of California, as generally de-
picted on maps referenced herein, are hereby designated as
wilderness, and therefore, as components of the National
Wilderness Preservation System:
(1) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately seventy-four thousand
eight hundred and ninety acres, as generally depicted
on a map entitled ‘‘Argus Range Wilderness—Pro-
posed 1’’, dated May 1991, and two maps entitled
‘‘Argus Range Wilderness—Proposed 2’’ and ‘‘Argus
Range Wilderness—Proposed 3’’, dated January
1989, and which shall be known as the Argus Range
Wilderness.
(2) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately ten thousand three
hundred and eighty acres, as generally depicted on a
map entitled ‘‘Bigelow Cholla Garden Wilderness—
Proposed’’, dated July 1993, and which shall be
known as the Bigelow Cholla Garden Wilderness.
(3) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
and within the San Bernardino National Forest,
which comprise approximately thirty-nine thousand
two hundred acres, as generally depicted on a map
entitled ‘‘Bighorn Mountain Wilderness—Proposed’’,
dated September 1991, and which shall be known as
the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness.
(4) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area and the Yuma District, of the Bureau
of Land Management, which comprise approximately
forty-seven thousand five hundred and seventy acres,
as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Big Maria
Mountains Wilderness—Proposed’’, dated February
1986, and which shall be known as the Big Maria
Mountains Wilderness.
(5) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately thirteen thousand nine
hundred and forty acres, as generally depicted on a
map entitled ‘‘Black Mountain Wilderness—Pro-
posed’’, dated July 1993, and which shall be known
as the Black Mountain Wilderness.
(6) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately nine thousand five
hundred and twenty acres, as generally depicted on a
map entitled ‘‘Bright Star Wilderness—Proposed’’,
dated May 1991, and which shall be known as the
Bright Star Wilderness.
(7) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately sixty-eight thousand
five hundred and fifteen acres, as generally depicted
on two maps entitled ‘‘Bristol Mountains Wilder-
ness—Proposed 1’’, and ‘‘Bristol Mountains Wilder-
ness—Proposed 2’’, dated September 1991, and which
shall be known as Bristol Mountains Wilderness.
(8) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately thirty-nine thousand
seven hundred and forty acres, as generally depicted
on a map entitled ‘‘Cadiz Dunes Wilderness—Pro-
posed’’, dated July 1993, and which shall be known
as the Cadiz Dunes Wilderness.
(9) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately eighty-four thousand
four hundred acres, as generally depicted on a map
entitled ‘‘Cady Mountains Wilderness—Proposed’’,
dated July 1993, and which shall be known as the
Cady Mountains Wilderness.
(10) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area and Eastern San Diego County, of the
Bureau of Land Management, which comprise ap-
proximately fifteen thousand seven hundred acres, as
generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Carrizo Gorge
Wilderness—Proposed’’, dated February 1986, and
which shall be known as the Carrizo Gorge Wilder-
ness.
(11) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area and Yuma District, of the Bureau of
Land Management, which comprise approximately
sixty-four thousand three hundred and twenty acres,
as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Chemehuevi
Mountains Wilderness—Proposed’’, dated July 1993,
and which shall be known as the Chemehuevi Moun-
tains Wilderness.
(12) Certain lands in the Bakersfield District, of
the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise ap-
proximately thirteen thousand seven hundred acres,
as generally depicted on two maps entitled ‘‘Chimney
Peak Wilderness—Proposed 1’’ and ‘‘Chimney Peak
Wilderness—Proposed 2’’, dated May 1991, and
which shall be known as the Chimney Peak Wilder-
ness.
(13) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately one hundred fifty-eight
thousand nine hundred and fifty acres, as generally
depicted on two maps entitled ‘‘Chuckwalla Moun-
tains Wilderness—Proposed 1’’ and ‘‘Chuckwalla
Mountains Wilderness—Proposed 2’’, dated January
1989, and which shall be known as the Chuckwalla
Mountains Wilderness.
(14) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise thirty-four thousand three hundred
and eighty acres, as generally depicted on a map en-
titled ‘‘Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness—Proposed’’, dated
September 1991, and which shall be known as the
Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness. The Secretary may, pur-
suant to an application filed by the Department of
Defense, grant a right-of-way for, and authorize con-
struction of, a road within the area depicted as ‘‘non-
wilderness road corridor’’ on such map.
(15) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately forty thousand acres,
as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Clipper
Mountain Wilderness—Proposed’’, dated May 1991,
and which shall be known as Clipper Mountain Wil-
derness.
(16) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately fifty thousand five
hundred and twenty acres, as generally depicted on a
map entitled ‘‘Coso Range Wilderness—Proposed’’,
dated May 1991, and which shall be known as Coso
Range Wilderness.
(17) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately seventeen thousand
acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Coy-
ote Mountains Wilderness—Proposed’’, dated July
1993, and which shall be known as Coyote Mountains
Wilderness.
(18) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
which comprise approximately eight thousand six
hundred acres, as generally depicted on a map enti-
tled ‘‘Darwin Falls Wilderness—Proposed’’, dated
May 1991, and which shall be known as Darwin
Falls Wilderness.
(19) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area and the Yuma District, of the Bureau
of Land Management, which comprise approximately
forty-eight thousand eight hundred and fifty acres, as
generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Dead Moun-
tains Wilderness—Proposed’’, dated October 1991,
and which shall be known as Dead Mountains Wilder-
ness.
(20) Certain lands in the Bakersfield District, of
the Bureau of Land Management, which comprise ap-
proximately thirty-six thousand three hundred acres,
as 
generally 
depicted 
on 
two 
maps 
entitled
‘‘Domeland Wilderness Additions—Proposed 1’’ and
‘‘Domeland 
Wilderness 
Additions—Proposed 
2’’,
dated February 1986 and which are hereby incor-
porated in, and which shall be deemed to be a part
of, the Domeland Wilderness as designated by Public
Laws 93–632 and 98–425.
(21) Certain lands in the California Desert Con-
servation Area, of the Bureau of Land Management,
picted on a map entitled ‘‘Great Falls Basin Wilder-
ness—Proposed’’, dated February 1986.
(c) Subject to valid existing rights, the Federal lands
referred to in subsection (b) are hereby withdrawn from all
forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public
land laws; from location, entry, and patent under the Unit-
ed States mining laws; and from disposition under all laws
pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing, and mineral
materials, and all amendments thereto, and shall be admin-
istered by the Secretary in accordance with the provisions
of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782).
DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS STUDY AREA
SEC. 109. In furtherance of the provisions of the Wil-
derness Act, certain public lands in the California Desert
Conservation Area of the Bureau of Land Management
which comprise eleven thousand two hundred acres as gen-
erally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘White Mountains Wil-
derness Study Area—Proposed’’, dated May 1991, are here-
by designated the White Mountains Wilderness Study Area
and shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance
with the provisions of section 603(c) of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976.
SUITABILITY REPORT
SEC. 110. The Secretary is required, ten years after
the date of enactment of this Act, to report to Congress on