H.R. 6869 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6869 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 19, 2023Mr. Obernolte (for himself and Mr. Aguilar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To withdraw certain land within the San Bernardino National Forest in California from location, entry, and patent under mining laws, and for other purposes. 1. Withdrawal of certain land within San Bernardino National Forest (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Department of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, has implemented a strategy known as the Carbonate Habitat Management Strategy to conserve listed threatened and endangered species where minerals co-occur with those species’ habitats to allow for species conservation and efficient administration of mining activities on the San Bernardino National Forest. (2) The withdrawal of certain land in the San Bernardino National Forest will help preserve habitat to protect 4 listed threatened and endangered plant species from the effects of mineral development and other forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws. (b) In general Subject to valid existing rights, the Proposed Withdrawal is withdrawn from all forms of— (1) entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. (c) Effective date The withdrawal under subsection (b) shall take effect— (1) on the date of the enactment of this section, with respect to Federal land; and (2) on the date the land is acquired by the United States, with respect to non-Federal land. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Federal land The term Federal land means the approximately 2,775 acres of land generally depicted on the Map as National Forest Land within the Proposed Withdrawal. (2) Map The term Map means the map titled Proposed Mineral Withdrawal, San Bernardino National Forest, Mountaintop Ranger District and dated October 19, 2020. (3) Non-Federal land The term non-Federal land means the approximately 280 acres of land generally depicted on the Map as Non-National Forest Land within the Proposed Withdrawal. (4) Proposed Withdrawal The term Proposed Withdrawal means the approximately 3,055 acres of land generally depicted on the Map as Proposed Withdrawal.