S. 526 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 526 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 14, 2019Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Udall) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To withdraw certain Bureau of Land Management land from mineral development. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Buffalo Tract Protection Act. 2. Withdrawal (a) In general Subject to valid existing rights, the Bureau of Land Management land described in subsection (b) is withdrawn from all forms of mineral development under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing or mineral materials, including locatable minerals. (b) BLM land described The Bureau of Land Management land referred to in subsection (a) is the land identified as Tract A, Tract B, Tract C, and Tract D on the map entitled Placitas, New Mexico Area Map and dated March 11, 2016. (c) Disposal of surface estate (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), nothing in this section prohibits the disposal of the surface estate of the Bureau of Land Management land described in subsection (b) under— (A) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or (B) the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act) (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). (2) Ownership of mineral estate Any disposal of the surface estate of the Bureau of Land Management land described in subsection (b) shall be subject to the condition that the mineral estate of that land shall remain under the ownership of the Bureau of Land Management, subject to the withdrawal described in subsection (a).