Federal

Ruby Mountains Protection Act

Source: Congress.gov · 736 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill stops mining operations on specific federal lands in Nevada. It prevents companies from leasing land for mineral extraction (the process of removing valuable materials from the ground) in the Ruby Mountains area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and at Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Who It Affects

The bill directly affects companies that want to mine on these federal lands. It impacts the Forest Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (the agencies that manage these lands). The land itself is located in Elko and White Pine Counties, Nevada.

Key Provisions

- Approximately 309,272 acres of federal forest land in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict are withdrawn from all mineral leasing operations, with respect to valid existing rights (Sec. 2) - Approximately 39,926.10 acres of federal land in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge are withdrawn from all mineral leasing operations, except for noncommercial refuge management activities by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Sec. 3) - Any additional land acquired by the United States within these boundaries after this law passes will also be withdrawn from mineral leasing operations (Sec. 2 and Sec. 3) - Maps showing the exact boundaries of these protected areas will be available to the public at Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service offices (Sec. 2 and Sec. 3)

What Changes

Companies can no longer lease these specific Nevada lands for mining. Any future land purchases by the federal government within these areas will automatically be protected from mining operations.

Important Definitions

Mineral leasing laws: Federal laws that allow companies to lease public land to extract minerals and other valuable materials from the ground. Valid existing rights: Any mining or resource extraction rights that already exist and were legally established before this law passes.

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

II Calendar No. 139 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 706 [Report No. 118–65] 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 8, 2023 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 JULY 19, 2023 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 00:04 Jul 20, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\S706.RS S706 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 706 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 00:04 Jul 20, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S706.RS S706 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 706 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 00:04 Jul 20, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S706.RS S706 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS Calendar No. 139 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 706 [Report No. 118–65] 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. JULY 19, 2023 Reported without amendment VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:04 Jul 20, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\S706.RS S706 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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