II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 706 

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 

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. 

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’’. 


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•S 706 IS

1 SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYS2 TEM LAND. 

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

4 the approximately 309,272 acres of Federal land and in5 terests in the land located in the Ruby Mountains subdis6 trict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest within the 

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

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

9 2019, as ‘‘National Forest System Lands’’ are withdrawn 

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

11 (b) APPLICATION.—Any land or interest in land with12 in the boundary of the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the 

13 Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest that is acquired by the 

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

15 be withdrawn in accordance with subsection (a). 

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

17 subsection (a) shall be on file and available for public in18 spection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service. 

19 SEC. 3. WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE 

20 REFUGE SYSTEM LAND. 

21 (a) WITHDRAWAL.— 

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

23 rights, the approximately 39,926.10 acres of Federal 

24 land and interests in the land located in the Ruby 

25 Lake National Wildlife Refuge and depicted on the 

26 United States Fish and Wildlife Service map entitled 


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•S 706 IS

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

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

3 Wildlife Refuge’’ are withdrawn from all forms of 

4 operation under the mineral leasing laws, subject to 

5 paragraph (2). 

6 (2) EXCEPTION.—The withdrawal under para7 graph (1) shall not apply to noncommercial refuge 

8 management activities by the United States Fish 

9 and Wildlife Service. 

10 (b) APPLICATION.—Any land or interest in land with11 in the boundary of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Ref12 uge that is acquired by the United States after the date 

13 of enactment of this Act shall be withdrawn in accordance 

14 with subsection (a). 

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

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

17 inspection in the appropriate offices of the United States 

18 Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Æ 


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