Historic Laws for Mt Rainier NP
MPG V2.8, January 2013

Introduction

As a National Park, Mount Rainier National Park (NP) is under the operation and management of the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior. That said, it is the jurisdiction of Congress to pass the laws, signed by the President, which defines the appropriations (funds) and legal matters for the NP and which are implemented or translated into policies and regulations by the NPS for Mt. Rainier NP.

Types of Laws

Background

Since the law establishing the of and around Mount Rainier as a National Park, there have been a number of laws have been passed and signed which govern all aspects of the National Park, including land acquistions, commercial developments, roads and trails, administration, law enforcement, and so on. And these laws add to the existing laws or replace existing laws.

Below are the laws which have governed or still govern Mount Rainier National Park.

Historical Laws

CHAPTER. 377.-An Act to set aside a portion of certain lands in the State of Washington, now known as the Pacific Forest Reserve, as a public park, to be known as the Mount Rainier National Park. (Full Text)

  March 2, 1899

ACT OF LEGISLATURE OF WASHINGTON.--An Act ceding exclusive juridistion of the land within Mount Rainier National Park within the State of Washington to the U.S. Government except for limited jurisdiction in legal matters of criminal or civil process.

  March 16, 1901

CHAPTER. 200.—An Act Making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and nine, and for other purposes. (Full Text)

  May 27, 1908

CHAPTER. 197.—An Act To accept the cession by the State of Washington of exclusive jurisdiction over the lands embraced within the Mount Rainier National Park, and for other purposes. (Full Text)

  June 30, 1916

CHAPTER. 27.—An Act Making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and for other purposes. (Full Text)

  June 12, 1917

CHAPTER. 410.—An Act To revise the boundary of the Mount Rainier National Park in the State of Washington, and for other purposes. (Full Text)

  May 28, 1926

CHAPTER. 47.—An Act To provide for uniform administration of the national parks by the United States Department of the Interior, and for other purposes. (Full Text)

  Jan. 26, 1931

CHAPTER. 71.—An Act To extend the south and east boundaries of the Mount Rainier National Park, in the State of Washington, and for other purposes. (Full Text)

  Jan. 31, 1931

CHAPTER. 970.-Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to acquire on behalf of the United States Government all property and facilities of the Rainier National Park Company. (Full Text)

  Sept. 21, 1950

PUBLIC LAW 86-521.-To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide a headquarters site for Mount Rainier National Park in the general vicinity of Ashford, Washington, and for other purposes. (Full Text)

  June 27, 1960

PUBLIC LAW 100-668.-In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.; 78 Stat. 890), certain lands in the Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, are hereby designated as wilderness and therefore as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. (Full Text)

  Nov. 16, 1988

Additional Resources

That's what created Mount Rainier National Park and the subsequent number laws have been implemented which governs the NP. Below are sources with the full text and some with summary information of the historical or current laws governing the National Park Service's operation and management of Mount Rainier National Park.

• Full Text Websites
  • Laws
  • US Code
  • Forest Reserve
  • National Park

• Summary Websites
  • Laws
  • US Code
  • NP Regulations
  • NP Policies

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