Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Expansion and Fossil Forest Protection Act

Summary

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Expansion and Fossil Forest Protection Act - Amends the San Juan Wilderness Protection Act of 1984 to incorporate additional lands in New Mexico into the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. Withdraws such lands from all forms of appropriation under the mining laws and from disposition under laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing and mineral material sales. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to follow specified coal lease exchange procedures under the Code of Federal Regulations on any coal preference right lease application on such lands if the applicant demonstrates that coal exists in commercial quantities on such lands. Provides for the exchange of State and Navajo Indian lands located in the wilderness for other lands. Establishes the Fossil Forest Research Natural Area within New Mexico. Makes such area subject to the same withdrawal requirements and coal preference rights as the wilderness area designated under this Act. Prohibits livestock grazing in the Area. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, to develop a baseline inventory of all categories of fossil resources and to conduct monitoring surveys. Requires the Secretary to submit a management plan for the Area to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to include: (1) a plan for the implementation of a cooperative program with other agencies for laboratory and field interpretation and public education; (2) provisions for vehicle management; (3) procedures for the excavation and collection of fossil remains; and (4) mitigation and reclamation standards for activities that disturb the surface to the detriment of scenic and environmental values.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 2 July 1992

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 2 July 1992

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 6 July 1992

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · undated · Official file

Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 2 July 1992

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM] · D · Sponsor
• · sseg00 · Standing

Related records

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