PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary may make, change, extend, or end withdrawals of public lands, but only under the rules below. The Secretary can only give that power to people in the Office of the Secretary who were appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. When someone applies for a withdrawal, or when the Secretary proposes one, the Secretary must publish a notice within 30 days. The notice says how the land will be set aside while the request is reviewed. That hold on the land ends if the request is denied, the Secretary withdraws the land, or two years pass from the notice date. Withdrawals that cover 5,000 acres or more may only last up to 20 years. The Secretary must tell both Houses of Congress when such a withdrawal starts. Congress can block it by a concurrent resolution within 90 days after being told. For big withdrawals the Secretary must give congressional committees a detailed report within three months. The report must explain the proposed use, list current uses and resource values, show who will be affected, compare alternatives and conflicts, describe consultations with other governments and groups, give economic and time estimates, list public hearing plans and where records can be seen, and include a mining/geology report. Withdrawals smaller than 5,000 acres may be made for whatever time is needed for resource uses, up to 20 years for other uses, or up to 5 years to hold land while Congress decides. If there is an emergency that threatens important values, the Secretary or certain congressional committees can trigger an immediate withdrawal. Emergency withdrawals take effect right away but last no more than three years. The Secretary must notify two named congressional committees and must give the detailed committee report within three months. Near the end of any timed withdrawal, the Secretary must review it and may extend it only if the original purpose still requires more time, and only for up to the same length as the original period. Any withdrawals in effect on October 21, 1976 that had pending applications had to be finished within 15 years of that date; if not finished, the hold on the land ended. New withdrawals (except emergencies) must follow an opportunity for a public hearing. If the land is run by a different federal agency, the Secretary needs that agency head’s consent, except for emergencies. The Secretary may not change withdrawals that were created by Acts of Congress, certain national monument or wildlife refuge additions, or acts specifically protected by law. Congress authorized $10,000,000 to process pending applications and up to $10,000,000 to review withdrawals in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Title 43, §1714

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authorization and limitation; delegation of authority

On and after the effective date of this Act the Secretary is authorized to make, modify, extend, or revoke withdrawals but only in accordance with the provisions and limitations of this section. The Secretary may delegate this withdrawal authority only to individuals in the Office of the Secretary who have been appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b)Application and procedures applicable subsequent to submission of application

(1)Within thirty days of receipt of an application for withdrawal, and whenever he proposes a withdrawal on his own motion, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register stating that the application has been submitted for filing or the proposal has been made and the extent to which the land is to be segregated while the application is being considered by the Secretary. Upon publication of such notice the land shall be segregated from the operation of the public land laws to the extent specified in the notice. The segregative effect of the application shall terminate upon (a) rejection of the application by the Secretary, (b) withdrawal of lands by the Secretary, or (c) the expiration of two years from the date of the notice.

(2)The publication provisions of this subsection are not applicable to withdrawals under subsection (e) hereof.

(c)Congressional approval procedures applicable to withdrawals aggregating five thousand acres or more

(1)On and after October 21, 1976, a withdrawal aggregating five thousand acres or more may be made (or such a withdrawal or any other withdrawal involving in the aggregate five thousand acres or more which terminates after such date of approval may be extended) only for a period of not more than twenty years by the Secretary on his own motion or upon request by a department or agency head. The Secretary shall notify both Houses of Congress of such a withdrawal no later than its effective date and the withdrawal shall terminate and become ineffective at the end of ninety days (not counting days on which the Senate or the House of Representatives has adjourned for more than three consecutive days) beginning on the day notice of such withdrawal has been submitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives, if the Congress has adopted a concurrent resolution stating that such House does not approve the withdrawal. If the committee to which a resolution has been referred during the said ninety day period, has not reported it at the end of thirty calendar days after its referral, it shall be in order to either discharge the committee from further consideration of such resolution or to discharge the committee from consideration of any other resolution with respect to the Presidential recommendation. A motion to discharge may be made only by an individual favoring the resolution, shall be highly privileged (except that it may not be made after the committee has reported such a resolution), and debate thereon shall be limited to not more than one hour, to be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, and it shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion was agreed to or disagreed to. If the motion to discharge is agreed to or disagreed to, the motion may not be made with respect to any other resolution with respect to the same Presidential recommendation. When the committee has reprinted, or has been discharged from further consideration of a resolution, it shall at any time thereafter be in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution. The motion shall be highly privileged and shall not be debatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, and it shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion was agreed to or disagreed to.

(2)With the notices required by subsection (c)(1) of this section and within three months after filing the notice under subsection (e) of this section, the Secretary shall furnish to the committees—

(1)a clear explanation of the proposed use of the land involved which led to the withdrawal;

(2)an inventory and evaluation of the current natural resource uses and values of the site and adjacent public and nonpublic land and how it appears they will be affected by the proposed use, including particularly aspects of use that might cause degradation of the environment, and also the economic impact of the change in use on individuals, local communities, and the Nation;

(3)an identification of present users of the land involved, and how they will be affected by the proposed use;

(4)an analysis of the manner in which existing and potential resource uses are incompatible with or in conflict with the proposed use, together with a statement of the provisions to be made for continuation or termination of existing uses, including an economic analysis of such continuation or termination;

(5)an analysis of the manner in which such lands will be used in relation to the specific requirements for the proposed use;

(6)a statement as to whether any suitable alternative sites are available (including cost estimates) for the proposed use or for uses such a withdrawal would displace;

(7)a statement of the consultation which has been or will be had with other Federal departments and agencies, with regional, State, and local government bodies, and with other appropriate individuals and groups;

(8)a statement indicating the effect of the proposed uses, if any, on State and local government interests and the regional economy;

(9)a statement of the expected length of time needed for the withdrawal;

(10)the time and place of hearings and of other public involvement concerning such withdrawal;

(11)the place where the records on the withdrawal can be examined by interested parties; and

(12)a report prepared by a qualified mining engineer, engineering geologist, or geologist which shall include but not be limited to information on: general geology, known mineral deposits, past and present mineral production, mining claims, mineral leases, evaluation of future mineral potential, present and potential market demands.

(d)Withdrawals aggregating less than five thousand acres; procedure applicable

A withdrawal aggregating less than five thousand acres may be made under this subsection by the Secretary on his own motion or upon request by a department or an agency head—

(1)for such period of time as he deems desirable for a resource use; or

(2)for a period of not more than twenty years for any other use, including but not limited to use for administrative sites, location of facilities, and other proprietary purposes; or

(3)for a period of not more than five years to preserve such tract for a specific use then under consideration by the Congress.

(e)Emergency withdrawals; procedure applicable; duration

When the Secretary determines, or when the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate notifies the Secretary, that an emergency situation exists and that extraordinary measures must be taken to preserve values that would otherwise be lost, the Secretary notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (c)(1) and (d) of this section, shall immediately make a withdrawal and file notice of such emergency withdrawal with both of those Committees. Such emergency withdrawal shall be effective when made but shall last only for a period not to exceed three years and may not be extended except under the provisions of subsection (c)(1) or (d), whichever is applicable, and (b)(1) of this section. The information required in subsection (c)(2) of this subsection shall be furnished the committees within three months after filing such notice.

(f)Review of existing withdrawals and extensions; procedure applicable to extensions; duration

All withdrawals and extensions thereof, whether made prior to or after October 21, 1976, having a specific period shall be reviewed by the Secretary toward the end of the withdrawal period and may be extended or further extended only upon compliance with the provisions of subsection (c)(1) or (d), whichever is applicable, and only if the Secretary determines that the purpose for which the withdrawal was first made requires the extension, and then only for a period no longer than the length of the original withdrawal period. The Secretary shall report on such review and extensions to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

(g)Processing and adjudication of existing applications

All applications for withdrawal pending on October 21, 1976 shall be processed and adjudicated to conclusion within fifteen years of October 21, 1976, in accordance with the provisions of this section. The segregative effect of any application not so processed shall terminate on that date.

(h)Public hearing required for new withdrawals

All new withdrawals made by the Secretary under this section (except an emergency withdrawal made under subsection (e) of this section) shall be promulgated after an opportunity for a public hearing.

(i)Consent for withdrawal of lands under administration of department or agency other than Department of the Interior (j) Applicability of other Federal laws withdrawing lands as limiting authority

In the case of lands under the administration of any department or agency other than the Department of the Interior, the Secretary shall make, modify, and revoke withdrawals only with the consent of the head of the department or agency concerned, except when the provisions of subsection (e) of this section apply.

(k)Authorization of appropriations for processing applications

There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $10,000,000 for the purpose of processing withdrawal applications pending on the effective date of this Act, to be available until expended.

(l)Review of existing withdrawals in certain States; procedure applicable for determination of future status of lands; authorization of appropriations

(1)The Secretary shall, within fifteen years of October 21, 1976, review withdrawals existing on October 21, 1976, in the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming of (1) all Federal lands other than withdrawals of the public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and of lands which, on October 21, 1976, were part of Indian reservations and other Indian holdings, the National Forest System, the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, other lands administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service or the Secretary through the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and the National System of Trails; and (2) all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and of lands in the National Forest System (except those in wilderness areas, and those areas formally identified as primitive or natural areas or designated as national recreation areas) which closed the lands to appropriation under the Mining Law of 1872 (17 Stat. 91, as amended; 30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.) or to leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (41 Stat. 437, as amended; 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).

(2)In the review required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary shall determine whether, and for how long, the continuation of the existing withdrawal of the lands would be, in his judgment, consistent with the statutory objectives of the programs for which the lands were dedicated and of the other relevant programs. The Secretary shall report his recommendations to the President, together with statements of concurrence or nonconcurrence submitted by the heads of the departments or agencies which administer the lands. The President shall transmit this report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, together with his recommendations for action by the Secretary, or for legislation. The Secretary may act to terminate withdrawals other than those made by Act of the Congress in accordance with the recommendations of the President unless before the end of ninety days (not counting days on which the Senate and the House of Representatives has adjourned for more than three consecutive days) beginning on the day the report of the President has been submitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives the Congress has adopted a concurrent resolution indicating otherwise. If the committee to which a resolution has been referred during the said ninety day period, has not reported it at the end of thirty calendar days after its referral, it shall be in order to either discharge the committee from further consideration of such resolution or to discharge the committee from consideration of any other resolution with respect to the Presidential recommendation. A motion to discharge may be made only by an individual favoring the resolution, shall be highly privileged (except that it may not be made after the committee has reported such a resolution), and debate thereon shall be limited to not more than one hour, to be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, and it shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion was agreed to or disagreed to. If the motion to discharge is agreed to or disagreed to, the motion may not be made with respect to any other resolution with respect to the same Presidential recommendation. When the committee has reprinted, or has been discharged from further consideration of a resolution, it shall at any time thereafter be in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution. The motion shall be highly privileged and shall not be debatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, and it shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion was agreed to or disagreed to.

(3)There are hereby authorized to be appropriated not more than $10,000,000 for the purpose of paragraph (1) of this subsection to be available until expended to the Secretary and to the heads of other departments and agencies which will be involved.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

On and after the

Effective Date

of this Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (k), probably means on and after the date of enactment of Pub. L. 94–579, which was approved Oct. 21, 1976. Act of

February 27, 1976 (90 Stat. 199; 16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), referred to in subsec. (j), is Pub. L. 94–223, Feb. 27, 1976, 90 Stat. 199, which amended section 668dd of Title 16. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. This Act, referred to in subsec. (j), is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, known as the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Mining Law of 1872 (17 Stat. 91, as amended; 30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (l)(1), is act

May 10, 1972, ch. 152, 17 Stat. 91. That act was incorporated into the Revised Statutes as R.S. §§ 2319 to 2328, 2331, 2333 to 2337, and 2344, which are classified to sections 22 to 24, 26 to 28, 29, 30, 33 to 35, 37, 39 to 42, and 47 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining. For complete classification of R.S. §§ 2319 to 2328, 2331, 2333 to 2337, and 2344 to the Code, see Tables. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (41 Stat. 437, as amended; 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (l)(1), is act Feb. 25, 1920, ch. 85, 41 Stat. 437, known as the Mineral Leasing Act, which is classified generally to chapter 3A (§ 181 et seq.) of Title 30. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 181 of Title 30 and Tables.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 113–287 substituted “chapter 3203 of title 54” for “the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225; 16 U.S.C. 431–433)”. 1994—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–437, § 16(d)(1)(A), substituted “Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate” for “Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of either the House of Representatives or the Senate” and “both of those Committees” for “the Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103–437, § 16(d)(1)(B), substituted “Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate” for “Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate”.

§1714 Withdrawals of Lands