summary
Introduced
04/09/2019
04/09/2019
In Committee
07/17/2019
07/17/2019
Crossed Over
10/31/2019
10/31/2019
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
116th Congress
Bill Summary
Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019 Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019 This bill withdraws any federal lands and interests that are within the boundaries of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Withdrawal Area and any land or interest located in such area which is acquired by the United States after enactment of this bill from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. The Department of the Interior may convey the federal lands to, or exchange such lands with, an Indian tribe in accordance with an approved resource management plan. Certain oil and gas leases for federal lands on which drilling options have not started before the end of the primary term of the applicable lease and that are not producing oil or gas in paying quantities must terminate by operation of law pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act and federal regulations, and may not be extended by Interior. Any portion of federal land subject to such a lease that has been terminated, relinquished, or acquired by the United States shall also be withdrawn as described above.
AI Summary
This bill, the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of 2019, withdraws federal lands and interests within the boundaries of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Withdrawal Area in New Mexico from entry, appropriation, and disposal under public land laws, mining laws, and mineral leasing laws. The bill allows the Department of the Interior to convey these federal lands to or exchange them with Indian tribes in accordance with an approved resource management plan. It also requires the termination of certain non-producing oil and gas leases within the withdrawal area, and withdraws any terminated, relinquished, or acquired leases from future leasing and development. The bill aims to protect the archaeological, sacred, and historic resources in the Greater Chaco region, which is culturally significant to many Pueblos and Indian tribes.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (11)
Ben Ray Luján (D)*,
Tom Cole (R),
Sharice Davids (D),
Ruben Gallego (D),
Raúl Grijalva (D),
Debra Haaland (D),
Jared Huffman (D),
Ted Lieu (D),
Alan Lowenthal (D),
Paul Tonko (D),
Xochitl Torres Small (D),
Last Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (on 10/31/2019)
Official Document
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