An Act to provide for the study of certain lands to determine their suitability for designation as wilderness in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964, and for other purposes.
PL 95-150 (S.393), enacted 11/01/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-150—NOV. 1, 1977 
91 STAT. 1243 
Public Law 95-150 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the study of certain lands to determine their suitability for 
designation as wilderness in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
be cited as the "Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977". 
SEC. 2. (a) In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act 
(78 Stat. 890; 16 U.S.C. 1132), the Secretary of Agriculture (herein-
after known as the "Secretary") shall, within five years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, review certain lands designated by this 
section, as to their suitability for preservation as wilderness, and report 
his findings to the President, as follows: 
(1) certain lands in the Beaverhead National Forest, Montana, 
which are generally depicted on a map entitled "West Pioneer 
Wilderness Study Area" and dated April 1976, comprising 
approximately one hundred and fifty-one thousand acres, which 
shall be known as the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area; 
(2) certain lands in the Beaverhead and Gallatin National 
Forests, Montana, which are generally depicted on a map entitled 
"Taylor-Hilgard Wilderness Study Area" dated April 1976, com-
prising approximately two hundred and eighty-nine thousand 
acres, which shall be known as the Taylor-Hilgard Wilderness 
Study Area; 
(3) certain lands in the Bitterroot National Forest, Montana, 
which are generally depicted on a map entitled "Bluejoint Wilder-
ness Study Area" and dated April 1976, comprising approxi-
mately sixty-one thousand acres, which shall be known as the 
Bluejoint Wilderness Study Area; 
(4) certain lands in the Bitterroot and Deerlodge National 
Forests, Montana, which are generally depicted on a map entitled 
"Sapphire Wilderness Study Area" and dated April 1976, com-
prismg approximately ninety-four thousand acres, which shall be 
known as the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area; 
(5) certain lands in the Kootenai National Forest, Montana, 
which are generally depicted on a map entitled "Ten Lakes Wil-
derness Study Area" and dated April 1976, comprising approxi-
mately thirty-four thousand acres, which shall be known as the 
Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area; 
(6) certain lands in the Jjcwis and Clark National Forest, Mon-
tana, which are generally depicted on a map entitled "Middle 
Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area" dated April 1976, compris-
ing approximately eighty-one thousand acres, which shall be 
known as the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area; 
(7) certain lands in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, Mon-
tana, which are generally depicted on a map entitled "Big Snowies 
Wilderness Study Area" and dated April 1976, comprising 
approximately ninety-one thousand acres, which shall be known 
as the Big Snowies Wilderness Study Area; 
Nov. 1. 1977 
[S. 393] 
Montana 
Wilderness Study 
Act of 1977. 
16 u s e 1132 
note. 
Land 
'nations. 
review. 
Report to 
President. 
16 u s e 1132 
note. 
91 STAT. 1244 
PUBLIC LAW 95-150—NOV. 1, 1977 
Recommenda-
tions, 
Presidential 
advisement to 
Congress. 
16 u s e 1132. 
Hearings, public 
notice. 
Maps, 
availability. 
Administration. 
16 u s e 1132 
note. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
16 u s e 1132 
note. 
(8) certain lands in the Gallatin National Forest, Montana, 
which are generally depicted on a map entitled "Hyalite-Porcu-
pine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area" and dated April 1976, 
comprising approximately one hundred and fifty-one thousand 
acres, which shall be known as the Hyalite-Porcupine-Buflfalo 
Horn Wilderness Study Area; and 
(9) certain lands in the Kootenai National Forest, Montana, 
which are generally depicted on a map entitled "Mount Henry 
Wilderness Study Area" and dated April 1976, comprising 
approximately twenty-one thousand acres, which shall be known 
as the Mount Henry Wilderness Study Area. 
(b) The Secretary shall conduct his review, and the President shall 
advise the United States Senate and House of Representatives of his 
recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of subsections 
8(b) and 3(d) of the Wilderness Act, except that any reference in such 
subsections to areas in the national forests classified as "primitive" 
shall be deemed to be a reference to the wilderness study areas desig-
nated by this Act and except that the President shall advise the Con-
gress if his recommendations with respect to such areas within seven 
years after the date of enactment of this Act: Provided^ however^ That 
the Secretary shall give at least sixty days' advance public notice of 
any hearing or other public meeting concerning such areas. 
(c) The maps referred to in this section shall be on file and available 
for public inspection in the office of the Chief of the Forest Service, 
Department of Agriculture. 
SEC. 3. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, and subject 
to existing private rights, the wilderness study areas designated by this 
Act shall, until Congress determines otherwise, be administered by the 
Secretary of Agriculture so as to maintain their presently existing 
wilderness character and potential for inclusion in the National 
Wilderness Preservation System. 
(b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the jurisdic-
tion or responsibilities of the several States with respect to wildlife and 
fish in the national forests. 
(c) Nothing herein contained shall (1) limit the President in pro-
posing, as part of his recommendation to Congress, the alteration of 
existing boundaries of any wilderness study area or recommending the 
addition to any such area of any contiguous area predominantly of 
wilderness value, or (2) limit the authority of the Secretary of Agri-
culture to establish, protect, study, or make recommendations to the 
President and Congress with respect to additional wilderness study 
areas within national forests in the State of Montana. 
SEC. 4. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated after Octo-
ber 1,1977, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this Act. 
Approved November 1, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-620 (Gomm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-163 (eomm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
May 18, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 18, considered and passed House.