,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #fea ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #bb1 #bjac ,mr4 ,bennet introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the withdrawal and protection of certain ,federal land in the ,state of ,colorado1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings and purposes 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,thompson ,divide in western ,colorado is an area comprised of ,federal and non-,federal land that provides important watershed1 scenic1 recreational1 wildlife1 and other benefits to the general public and local communities2 7#b7 the ,thompson ,divide provides rural character1 a robust agriculture-based economy1 and outstanding recreational and sporting opportunities to many surrounding communities2 and 7#c7 the ,thompson ,divide provides important spring and summer grazing land for historical ranching operations4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 subject to valid existing rights1 to withdraw certain ,federal land and mineral rights in the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area from-- 7,a7 disposition under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws of the ,united ,states2 7,b7 location1 patent1 and entry under mining laws of the ,united ,states2 and 7,c7 all forms of appropriation or disposal under the public land laws2 and 7#b7 to allow for the retirement1 purchase1 donation1 voluntary exchange1 or other acquisition of mineral and other interests in land from willing sellers within the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,map ,the term map means the map entitled ,thompson ,creek ,divide ,proposed ,withdrawal and dated ,may #ca1 #bjab4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#c7 ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area ,the term ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area means the ,federal land consisting of the approximately #ahc1jjj acres depicted on the map as ,thompson ,creek ,divide ,proposed ,withdrawal4 #d4 ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area 7a7 ,in general ,subject to valid existing rights1 the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area is withdrawn from all forms of-- 7#a7 entry1 appropriation1 and disposal under the public land laws2 7#b7 location1 entry1 and patent under mining laws2 and 7#c7 operation of the mineral leasing1 mineral materials1 and geothermal leasing laws4 7b7 ,surveys ,the exact acreage and legal description of the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area shall be determined by surveys approved by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7c7 ,acquisition of mineral rights 7#a7 ,notification 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 shall provide written notice to holders of valid existing mineral leases or other mineral interests within the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area of the potential opportunity for donation1 voluntary exchange1 or other relinquishment of those rights for retirement under this ,act4 7,b7 ,notification to ,secretary ,on receipt of the notification under subparagraph 7,a71 a holder of a valid mineral lease or other mineral interest within the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area may submit a written notice to the ,secretary of the interest of the holder in the retirement or other conveyance of that right for withdrawal and protection purposes4 7,c7 ,list of interested holders ,the ,secretary shall prepare a list of interested holders under subparagraph 7,a7 and make the list available to-- 7i7 the ,secretary of ,agriculture2 7ii7 any non-,federal nonprofit organization described in section #agj7;h7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 or 7iii7 any person interested in acquiring a right for retirement under this ,act4 7#b7 ,withdrawal and retirement ,if any mineral lease or other mineral interest is relinquished1 donated to1 exchanged1 or otherwise acquired by the ,united ,states wholly or partially within the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area under this ,act or under the authority of the ,secretary or the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 respectively the land shall1 without further action by the ,secretary concerned1 be automatically withdrawn from all forms of-- 7,a7 entry1 appropriation1 and disposal under the public land laws2 7,b7 location1 entry1 and patent under mining laws2 and 7,c7 operation of the mineral leasing1 mineral materials1 and geothermal leasing laws4 7#c7 ,prohibition ,the ,secretary and the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall not use ,federal funds to repurchase any valid ,federal mineral lease or other mineral interest within the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area4 7#d7 ,applicability 7,a7 ,existing rights ,nothing in this ,act expands1 diminishes1 impairs1 or otherwise affects any valid existing mineral leases1 mineral interest1 or other private property rights wholly or partially within the ,thompson ,divide ,withdrawal and ,protection ,area1 including access to the leases1 rights1 or land in accordance with applicable ,federal1 ,state1 and local laws 7including regulations74 7,b7 ,prior lease sales ,nothing in this ,act prohibits the ,secretary from taking any action necessary to issue1 deny1 remove the suspension of1 or cancel a lease or any sold lease parcel that has not been issued pursuant to any lease sale carried out prior to the date of enactment of this ,act1 including the completion of any requirements under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474