To amend the Military Land Withdrawals Act of 2013 to withdraw and reserve certain public land in the vicinity of Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
Sponsored By: Representative Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
In Committee
Summary
This bill would withdraw and reserve federal land near the Yuma Proving Ground to protect space needed for military readiness and security. It designates about 21,783 acres along Highway 95 and about 249.3 acres at Howard Cantonment for Army use.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Easier rights-of-way in power corridor
The bill would let the Interior Secretary approve rights-of-way in the Parker-Blaisdell Utility Corridor for critical regional-grid projects, including above-ground transmission lines. Approvals must follow the February 28, 2025 memorandum between BLM Yuma and Army Garrison Yuma. The authority could not be delegated below the BLM State Director and could not be assigned to the Army. The Army would not have to give formal consent, but Interior would consult and try to include Army conditions to reduce mission impacts.
Army consent for cross-boundary permits
The bill would require the Interior Secretary to issue any lease, easement, right-of-way, permit, or license that crosses both withdrawn Army land and nearby non-Army land. Those cross-boundary instruments would generally need the Secretary of the Army's consent and would be subject to Army-imposed conditions. The Parker-Blaisdell utility corridor rule is an exception and follows its own process.
Army land set aside near Yuma
This bill would withdraw and reserve federal land near Yuma Proving Ground for Army use. It would cover about 21,782.981 acres called the Highway 95 area and about 249.29 acres at Howard Cantonment, excluding roughly 800 acres of State-owned subsurface. The lands would be removed from public entry, mining claims, and mineral and geothermal leasing and held for Army purposes described in Public Land Order No. 848. The reservation would last indefinitely or until the Secretary of the Army says the land is no longer needed.
Interior or Army would manage land
The bill would have the Interior Secretary manage the withdrawn land under federal public-land law. Interior could assign management to the Secretary of the Army. If the Army manages the land, it must follow the same federal laws, Sikes Act rules, and any cooperative agreements. Some non-military uses like wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, recreation, and fire control would be allowed only as the law and executive orders permit.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
AZ • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov