Ruby Mountains Protection Act

II Calendar No. 269 117TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 609 [Report No. 117–70] To withdraw the National Forest System land in the Ruby Mountains subdis- trict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National Wildlife Refuge System land in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Elko and White Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mineral leasing laws. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 4, 2021 Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself and Ms. ROSEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Nat- ural Resources FEBRUARY 10, 2022 Reported by Mr. MANCHIN, without amendment A BILL To withdraw the National Forest System land in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National Wildlife Refuge System land in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Elko and White Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mineral leasing laws. VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Feb 10, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\S609.RS S609 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 609 RS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ruby Mountains Pro- 4 tection Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYS- 6 TEM LAND. 7 (a) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 8 the approximately 309,272 acres of Federal land and in- 9 terests in the land located in the Ruby Mountains subdis- 10 trict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest within the 11 area depicted on the Forest Service map entitled ‘‘S. 258 12 Ruby Mountains Protective Act’’ and dated December 5, 13 2019, as ‘‘National Forest System Lands’’ are withdrawn 14 from all forms of operation under the mineral leasing laws. 15 (b) APPLICATION.—Any land or interest in land with- 16 in the boundary of the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the 17 Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest that is acquired by the 18 United States after the date of enactment of this Act shall 19 be withdrawn in accordance with subsection (a). 20 (c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map described in 21 subsection (a) shall be on file and available for public in- 22 spection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Feb 10, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S609.RS S609 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 609 RS SEC. 3. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE 1 REFUGE SYSTEM LAND. 2 (a) WITHDRAWAL.— 3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing 4 rights, the approximately 39,926.10 acres of Federal 5 land and interests in the land located in the Ruby 6 Lake National Wildlife Refuge and depicted on the 7 United States Fish and Wildlife Service map entitled 8 ‘‘S. XXX Ruby Mountains Protection Act’’ and 9 dated February 23, 2021, as ‘‘Ruby Lake National 10 Wildlife Refuge’’ are withdrawn from all forms of 11 operation under the mineral leasing laws, subject to 12 paragraph (2). 13 (2) EXCEPTION.—The withdrawal under para- 14 graph (1) shall not apply to noncommercial refuge 15 management activities by the United States Fish 16 and Wildlife Service. 17 (b) APPLICATION.—Any land or interest in land with- 18 in the boundary of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Ref- 19 uge that is acquired by the United States after the date 20 of enactment of this Act shall be withdrawn in accordance 21 with subsection (a). 22 (c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map described in 23 subsection (a)(1) shall be on file and available for public 24 inspection in the appropriate offices of the United States 25 Fish and Wildlife Service. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Feb 10, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S609.RS S609 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS Calendar No. 269 117TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 609 [Report No. 117–70] A BILL To withdraw the National Forest System land in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Hum- boldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National Wildlife Refuge System land in Ruby Lake Na- tional Wildlife Refuge, Elko and White Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the min- eral leasing laws. FEBRUARY 10, 2022 Reported without amendment VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Feb 10, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\S609.RS S609 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS