Minnesota's Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act

To require congressional approval of any mineral withdrawal or monument designation involving the National Forest System lands in the State of Minnesota, to provide for the renewal of certain mineral leases in such lands, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Minnesota’s Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act 2. Condition on mineral withdrawal of National Forest System lands in Minnesota Minerals within the National Forest System lands in the State of Minnesota shall not be subject to withdrawal from disposition under United States mineral and geothermal leasing law unless the withdrawal is specifically approved by an Act of Congress enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Condition on monument designation on National Forest System lands in Minnesota Section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) Limitation on extension or establishment of a national monument in Minnesota No extension or establishment of national monuments on National Forest System lands in the State of Minnesota may be undertaken except by express authorization of Congress. . 4. Clarifying the nature of mineral rights on Forest System lands in Minnesota (a) Mineral leases issued within Forest System lands in Minnesota (1) In general All mineral leases issued within the exterior boundaries of National Forest System lands in the State of Minnesota under the authority of the Act of June 30, 1950 ( 16 U.S.C. 508b (A) shall be issued for an initial 20-year period; and (B) as provided in paragraph (2), shall be renewable after the period described in subparagraph (A) for 10-year renewal periods. (2) Requirements for renewal A lease shall be renewed under paragraph (1)(B)— (A) if the lessee has complied with the terms and conditions of the lease during the preceding lease period; and (B) on the condition that, at the end of each ten-year renewal period, such reasonable readjustment of the terms and conditions of the lease may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, for the purpose of— (i) encouraging production; or (ii) addressing changing conditions within the lease area. (b) Suspension of operations The Secretary of the Interior may suspend operations under a lease described in subsection (a) when— (1) the lease can only be operated at a loss due to market conditions; or (2) operations are interrupted by strikes. (c) Permits for use of surface lands With respect to lands subject to a lease pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, may issue permits for the use of surface lands not included in the lease for purposes connected with, and reasonably necessary to, the exploration, development, and use of the deposits covered by the lease. (d) Applicability to mineral leases This section shall apply with respect to all mineral leases described in subsection (a), including— (1) leases that on the date of the enactment of this section are not in effect; and (2) the hard rock mineral leases for the Superior National Forest in Minnesota identified as MNES–01352 and MNES–01353. (e) Applicability of National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4331 (f) Exclusion of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Nothing in this section may be construed as permitting the prospecting for development and utilization of mineral resources within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or Mine Protection Area. November 21, 2017 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Minnesota's Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act (Sec. 2) This bill declares that minerals with the National Forest System (NFS) lands in Minnesota shall not be subject to withdrawal from disposition under U.S. mineral and geothermal leasing laws unless such withdrawal is approved by an Act of Congress. (Sec. 3) The bill prohibits any extension or establishment of national monuments on NFS lands in Minnesota except by express authorization of Congress. (Sec. 4) The bill declares that certain mineral leases issued within the exterior boundaries of NFS lands in Minnesota are indeterminate preference right leases that shall be: (1) issued for an initial 20-year period; and, (2) after such period, shall be renewable for 10-year periods if the lessee has complied with the terms and conditions of the lease during the 20-year period and on the condition that, at the end of each 10-year renewal period, Interior may readjust lease terms and conditions to encourage production or to address changing conditions within the lease area. Interior may: (1) suspend operations under a lease when the lease can only be operated at a loss due to market conditions or when operations are interrupted by strikes; and (2) issue permits for the use of surface lands subject to, but not included in, the lease for the exploration, development, and use of the deposits covered by the lease. This bill applies to all such mineral leases within the exterior boundaries of NFS lands in Minnesota, including: (1) leases that are not effective as of enactment of this bill; and (2) the existing hard rock mineral leases for Superior National Forest identified as MNES-01352 and MNES-01353. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) shall also apply to all such mineral leases within those boundaries. In the case of the renewal of such hard rock mineral leases, the Bureau of Land Management must complete the pending environmental assessment under NEPA within 30 days of this bill's enactment.