[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 706 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 706

   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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   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 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ruby Mountains Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND.

    (a) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
approximately 309,272 acres of Federal land and interests in the land 
located in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe 
National Forest within the area depicted on the Forest Service map 
entitled ``S. 258 Ruby Mountains Protective Act'' and dated December 5, 
2019, as ``National Forest System Lands'' are withdrawn from all forms 
of operation under the mineral leasing laws.
    (b) Application.--Any land or interest in land within the boundary 
of the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National 
Forest that is acquired by the United States after the date of 
enactment of this Act shall be withdrawn in accordance with subsection 
(a).
    (c) Availability of Map.--The map described in subsection (a) shall 
be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate 
offices of the Forest Service.

SEC. 3. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM LAND.

    (a) Withdrawal.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
        approximately 39,926.10 acres of Federal land and interests in 
        the land located in the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge and 
        depicted on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service map 
        entitled ``S. XXX Ruby Mountains Protection Act'' and dated 
        February 23, 2021, as ``Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge'' 
        are withdrawn from all forms of operation under the mineral 
        leasing laws, subject to paragraph (2).
            (2) Exception.--The withdrawal under paragraph (1) shall 
        not apply to noncommercial refuge management activities by the 
        United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
    (b) Application.--Any land or interest in land within the boundary 
of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge that is acquired by the 
United States after the date of enactment of this Act shall be 
withdrawn in accordance with subsection (a).
    (c) Availability of Map.--The map described in subsection (a)(1) 
shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate 
offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
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