“To withdraw certain Federal land in the Pecos Watershed area of the State of New Mexico from mineral entry, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section withdraws Federal land in the Pecos Watershed area of New Mexico—as depicted as “Pecos Withdrawal” on the map entitled “Proposed Mineral Withdrawal Legislative Map” dated September 11, 2023—from (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under mining laws; and (3) disposition under mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials laws, subject to valid existing rights.
This section designates approximately 11,599 acres of Forest Service-managed land in New Mexico, as generally depicted on the map entitled “Proposed Mineral Withdrawal Legislative Map” dated September 11, 2023, as the Thompson Peak Wilderness Area in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Secretary of Agriculture shall administer the area in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), subject to valid existing rights, including (1) no protective buffer zones around the area; (2) preservation of state jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management; (3) continuation of established grazing; (4) authority for necessary wildfire, insect, and disease control; (5) incorporation of acquired lands or interests; and (6) withdrawal from entry, appropriation, disposal under public land laws, mining laws, and mineral and geothermal leasing.