United States · Law · S
S. 21 (103rd)
California Desert Protection Act of 1994
Introduced
21 January 1993
Last action
—
Status
Became Public Law No: 103-433.
Sponsors
—
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
24 March 2026
Summary
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Wilderness Additions Title II: Death Valley National Park Title III: Joshua Tree National Park Title IV: Mojave National Park Title V: National Park Wilderness Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions Title VII: Definitions Title VIII: Military Lands and Overflights California Desert Protection Act of 1993 - Title I: Wilderness Additions - (Sec. 102, 108) Designates as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System 74 wilderness areas within the California Desert Conservation Areas (CDCA), the Yuma District, and the Bakersfield District of the Bureau of Land Management. Permits grazing in such areas. States that non-designated areas within the CDCA have been adequately studied for inclusion in the System and releases them from otherwise applicable restrictions. (Sec. 109) Designates certain lands within the CDCA as the White Mountains Wilderness Study Area. (Sec. 111) Designates certain lands in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge in California as components of the System. Title II: Death Valley National Park - (Sec. 202) Establishes the Death Valley National Historic Park which subsumes the Death Valley National Monument. Withdraws the additional lands from further exploitation under the mining laws. Preserves grazing privileges on such lands for persons holding permits as of July 1, 1991. Terminates all grazing on July 1, 2016. Title III: Joshua Tree National Park - (Sec. 302) Establishes the Joshua Tree National Park which subsumes the Joshua Tree National Monument. Withdraws the additional lands from further exploitation under the mining laws. (Sec. 306) Continues the validity of certain rights-of-way of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). Title IV: Mojave National Park - (Sec. 402) Establishes the Mojave National Park which subsumes the East Mojave Scenic Area. (Sec. 407) Withdraws Federal lands within the Park from further exploitation under the mining laws. Authorizes the Secretary to regulate mining in the Park. Preserves grazing privileges on such lands for persons holding permits as of July 1, 1991. Terminates all grazing on July 1, 2016. (Sec. 411) Continues the validity of certain rights-of-way to the Southern California Edison Company and the Southern California Gas Company. (Sec. 413) Designates the Granite Mountains Natural Reserve within the Park. Title V: National Park Wilderness - (Sec. 501) 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 - (Sec. 601) Directs the Secretary to transfer Red Rock Canyon State Park Additions in the CDCA to California. (Sec. 602) Establishes the Desert Lily Sanctuary within the CDCA. Withdraws Federal lands within the Sanctuary from further exploitation under the mining laws. (Sec. 604) Prohibits the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture from: (1) disposing of lands within the boundaries of any wilderness or park designated by this Act; (2) granting rights-of-way in lands within designated wilderness; and (3) making lands within such boundaries available for use by the MWD. (Sec. 606) Directs the Secretary to ensure access to the wilderness areas and parks, designated by this Act for traditional Indian cultural and religious purposes. (Sec. 607) Reserves Federal water rights for wilderness areas designated by this Act. (Sec. 608) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 609) Directs the Secretary, upon request of the affected parties, to enter into negotiations for agreements to exchange certain Federal lands for California State School Lands and Catellus Development Corporation lands located within the boundaries of the wilderness areas or park units designated by this Act. Title VII: Definitions - (Sec. 701) Sets forth specified definitions. Title VIII: Military Lands and Overflights - California Military Lands Withdrawal and Overflights Act of 1991 - (Sec. 802) States that nothing in this Act shall preclude military overflights over park or wilderness areas designated by this Act. (Sec. 803) Withdraws from appropriation under public land laws, and reserves for defense-related purposes by the Secretary of the Navy, specified lands in California known as the China Lake Naval Weapons Center and Chocolate Mountain. Withdraws such lands from the mining and mineral leasing laws. (Sec. 805) Directs the Secretary of the Navy to take necessary precautions to prevent and suppress brush and range fires occurring on such lands as a result of military activities. (Sec. 805) Assigns management responsibility for the China Lake area to the Secretary of the Navy. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to be responsible for the issuance of any lease, easement, right-of-way, and other authorization with respect to any activity on the withdrawn lands. (Sec. 806) Terminates land withdrawals under this Act 25 years after this Act's enactment. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to publish a draft environmental impact statement on the continued or renewed withdrawal of lands under this Act. (Sec. 807) Requires the Secretary of the Navy to maintain a decontamination program for such lands during their withdrawal. (Sec. 808) Requires the Secretary of the Navy to notify the Secretary of the Interior whether an extension is going to be requested and, if not, to what extent such lands are contaminated with hazardous materials. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to decontaminate relinquished lands, but if such decontamination is not practicable or economically feasible, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to refuse to accept such lands. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to: (1) warn the public of risks of entry; (2) conduct only decontamination activities on such lands after the expiration of the withdrawal; and (3) report to the Secretary of the Interior and the Congress on the status of such lands. (Sec. 811) Exempts the United States from liability for damages resulting from nonmilitary activity on withdrawn lands. (Sec. 812) Authorizes the Navy's use of the El Centro Ranges in Imperial County, California, through 1995, subject to resource protection requirements.
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Votes
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Documents
16 official files
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 1 November 1994
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN · 8 October 1994
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN · 8 October 1994
Conference report filed in House
summary · EN · 4 October 1994
Engrossed Amendment House (text)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 27 July 1994
Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 27 July 1994
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 27 July 1994
Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 13 April 1994
Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 13 April 1994
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 13 April 1994
Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 26 October 1993
Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 26 October 1993
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 26 October 1993
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 21 January 1993
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 21 January 1993
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 21 January 1993
Sponsors
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Related records
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Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/21
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/103/s/21