,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #baha ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #i1 #bjai ,mr4 ,lujn 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,torres ,small of ,new ,mexico1 ,ms4 ,haaland1 and ,mr4 ,grijalva7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the withdrawal and protection of certain ,federal land in the ,state of ,new ,mexico4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,chaco ,cultural ,heritage ,area ,protection ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 there are archeological1 sacred1 and historic resources located throughout the ,greater ,chaco region1 which spans the ,states of ,new ,mexico1 ,arizona1 ,utah1 and ,colorado2 7#b7 the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park1 a unit of the ,national ,park ,system and a ,united ,nations ,educational1 ,scientific and ,cultural ,organization ,world ,heritage ,site1 is known around the world-- 7,a7 for multi-story buildings constructed by the ,chacoan people that are still standing2 and 7,b7 as the nerve center of a culture that spread throughout and dominated the ,four ,corners area during the #ith1 #ajth1 and #aath centuries2 7#c7 the ,chacoan people built hundreds of miles of roads and a network of villages1 shrines1 and communications sites1 many of which are still visible2 7#d7 many ,pueblos and ,indian ,tribes in the ,four ,corners area claim cultural affiliation with1 and are descended from1 the ,chacoan people2 7#e7 the landscape around the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park includes hundreds of internationally and nationally significant cultural resources1 including prehistoric roads1 communities1 and shrines-- 7,a7 many of which are related to the resources found in the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park1 including the resources recognized by the amendment made by section #c of the ,chacoan ,outliers ,protection ,act of #aiie 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #daj;ii note2 ,public ,law #ajd-aa7 providing for additional ,chaco ,culture ,archeological ,protection ,sites2 7,b7 a significant number of which are concentrated within the immediate area surrounding the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park2 and 7,c7 that are commonly recognized by archeologists2 7#f7 long considered one of the best places for stargazing in the world1 ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park-- 7,a7 in #aiia1 established a night skies protection initiative and interpretive program to protect the night sky in the area of the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park2 and 7,b7 in #bjac1 was certified as an ,international ,dark ,sky ,park2 7#g7 the ,greater ,chaco landscape in the ,state of ,new ,mexico extends beyond ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park and encompasses-- 7,a7 local communities1 including ,pueblos and ,indian ,tribes2 and 7,b7 public land1 which includes additional cultural resources and sacred sites2 7#h7 for over #aaj years1 the ,federal ,government has recognized the importance of the area in which the ,chacoan people lived and has acted to protect historic and sacred sites in the area1 including-- 7,a7 ,chaco ,canyon1 which was designated as a ,national ,monument in #aijg and as the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park in #aihj2 7,b7 the ,aztec ,ruins1 which was designated as a ,national ,monument in #aibc and expanded in each of #aibh1 #aicj1 #aidh1 and #aihh2 and 7,c7 the #ci ,chaco ,culture ,archeological ,protection ,sites designated in #aiie2 7#i7 recognizes that the standard for ,tribal consultation is outlined in ,executive ,order #acage 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja note2 relating to consultation and coordination with ,indian ,tribal governments72 7#aj7 extensive natural gas development has occurred in the ,greater ,chaco region that affect the health1 safety1 economies1 and quality of life of local communities2 7#aa7 renewed interest in oil exploration and production within the ,mancos_/,gallup ,shale play has increased the potential for-- 7,a7 significant impacts on resources and visitor experiences at the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park2 and 7,b7 additional impacts on local communities in the ,greater ,chaco region1 including ,pueblos and ,indian ,tribes2 7#ab7 a mineral withdrawal in the landscape around the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park would prevent leasing and development in the immediate area surrounding the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park1 which would protect resources and visitor experiences at the ,chaco ,culture ,national ,historical ,park2 and 7#ac7 additional studies and protective measures should be undertaken to address health1 safety1 and environmental impacts on communities and interests of ,pueblos and ,indian ,tribes in the ,greater ,chaco landscape4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,covered lease ,the term covered lease means any oil and gas lease for ,federal land-- 7,a7 on which drilling operations have not been commenced before the end of the primary term of the applicable lease2 7,b7 that is not producing oil or gas in paying quantities2 and 7,c7 that is not subject to a valid cooperative or unit plan of development or operation certified by the ,secretary to be necessary4 7#b7 ,federal land 7,a7 ,in general ,the term ,federal land means-- 7i7 any ,federal land or interest in ,federal land that is within the boundaries of the ,chaco ,cultural ,heritage ,withdrawal ,area1 as depicted on the ,map2 and 7ii7 any land or interest in land located within the boundaries of the ,chaco ,cultural ,heritage ,withdrawal ,area1 as depicted on the ,map1 that is acquired by the ,federal ,government after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7,b7 ,exclusion ,the term ,federal land does not include trust land 7as defined in section #cgfe of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code74 7#c7 ,map ,the term ,map means the map prepared by the ,bureau of ,land ,management entitled ,chaco ,cultural ,heritage ,withdrawal ,area and dated ,april #b1 #bjai4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #d4 ,withdrawal of certain ,federal land in the ,state of ,new ,mexico 7a7 ,in general ,subject to any valid existing rights1 the ,federal land is withdrawn from-- 7#a7 all forms of 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 ,availability of map ,the ,map shall be made available for inspection at each appropriate office of the ,bureau of ,land ,management4 7c7 ,conveyance of ,federal land to ,indian ,tribes ,notwithstanding subsection 7a71 the ,secretary may convey the ,federal land to1 or exchange the ,federal land with1 an ,indian ,tribe in accordance with a resource management plan that is approved as of the date of enactment of this ,act1 as subsequently developed1 amended1 or revised in accordance with the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq47 and any other applicable law4 #e4 ,oil and gas lease management 7a7 ,termination of non-,producing leases ,a covered lease-- 7#a7 shall automatically terminate by operation of law pursuant to section #ag7;e7 of the ,mineral ,leasing ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #bbf7;e77 and subpart #cajh of title #dc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations72 and 7#b7 may not be extended by the ,secretary4 7b7 ,withdrawal of terminated1 relinquished1 or acquired leases ,any portion of the ,federal land subject to a covered lease terminated under subsection 7a7 or otherwise or relinquished or acquired by the ,united ,states on or after the date of enactment of this ,act is withdrawn from-- 7#a7 all forms of entry1 appropriation1 and disposal under the public land laws2 7#b7 location1 entry1 and patent undermining laws2 and 7#c7 operation of the mineral leasing1 mineral materials1 and geothermal leasing laws4 #f4 ,effect ,nothing in this ,act-- 7#a7 affects the mineral rights of an ,indian ,tribe or member of an ,indian ,tribe to trust land or allotment land2 or 7#b7 precludes improvements to1 or rights-of-way for water1 power1 or road development on1 the ,federal land to assist communities adjacent to or in the vicinity of the ,federal land4