II 

Calendar No. 139 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 706 

[Report No. 118–65] 

To withdraw the National Forest System land in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National Wildlife 

Refuge System land in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Elko and 

White Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mineral leasing 

laws. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 8, 2023 

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself and Ms. ROSEN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

JULY 19, 2023 

Reported by Mr. MANCHIN, without amendment 

A BILL 

To withdraw the National Forest System land in the Ruby 

Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National 

Forest and the National Wildlife Refuge System land 

in Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Elko and White 

Pine Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mineral 

leasing laws. 


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2 

•S 706 RS

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ruby Mountains Pro5 tection Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYS7 TEM LAND. 

8 (a) WITHDRAWAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

9 the approximately 309,272 acres of Federal land and in10 terests in the land located in the Ruby Mountains subdis11 trict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest within the 

12 area depicted on the Forest Service map entitled ‘‘S. 258 

13 Ruby Mountains Protective Act’’ and dated December 5, 

14 2019, as ‘‘National Forest System Lands’’ are withdrawn 

15 from all forms of operation under the mineral leasing laws. 

16 (b) APPLICATION.—Any land or interest in land with17 in the boundary of the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the 

18 Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest that is acquired by the 

19 United States after the date of enactment of this Act shall 

20 be withdrawn in accordance with subsection (a). 

21 (c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map described in 

22 subsection (a) shall be on file and available for public in23 spection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service. 


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3 

•S 706 RS

1 SEC. 3. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE 

2 REFUGE SYSTEM LAND. 

3 (a) WITHDRAWAL.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing 

5 rights, the approximately 39,926.10 acres of Federal 

6 land and interests in the land located in the Ruby 

7 Lake National Wildlife Refuge and depicted on the 

8 United States Fish and Wildlife Service map entitled 

9 ‘‘S. XXX Ruby Mountains Protection Act’’ and 

10 dated February 23, 2021, as ‘‘Ruby Lake National 

11 Wildlife Refuge’’ are withdrawn from all forms of 

12 operation under the mineral leasing laws, subject to 

13 paragraph (2). 

14 (2) EXCEPTION.—The withdrawal under para15 graph (1) shall not apply to noncommercial refuge 

16 management activities by the United States Fish 

17 and Wildlife Service. 

18 (b) APPLICATION.—Any land or interest in land with19 in the boundary of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Ref20 uge that is acquired by the United States after the date 

21 of enactment of this Act shall be withdrawn in accordance 

22 with subsection (a). 

23 (c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map described in 

24 subsection (a)(1) shall be on file and available for public 

25 inspection in the appropriate offices of the United States 

26 Fish and Wildlife Service. 


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Calendar No. 139 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 706 

[Report No. 118–65] 

A BILL 

To withdraw the National Forest System land in 

eral leasing laws. Counties, Nevada, from operation under the mintional Wildlife Refuge, Elko and White Pine Wildlife Refuge System land in Ruby Lake Naboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the National the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the HumJULY 19, 2023 

Reported without amendment 


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