H.Res. 478

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 478 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 478

Expressing disapproval of the withdrawal by the Secretary of the 
Interior of approximately 22,684 acres of Bureau of Land Management 
lands in the Railroad Valley of Nye County, Nevada, from all forms of 
mineral entry under United States law, subject to valid existing 
rights.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 7, 2023

Mr. Amodei submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing disapproval of the withdrawal by the Secretary of the 
Interior of approximately 22,684 acres of Bureau of Land Management 
lands in the Railroad Valley of Nye County, Nevada, from all forms of 
mineral entry under United States law, subject to valid existing 
rights.

Whereas, on April 29, 2021, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) applied for a mineral withdrawal of approximately 22,995 acres in 
Railroad Valley, Nevada, located in Nye County;
Whereas, on July 20, 2021, Nye County requested to be included as a cooperating 
agency in the subsequent National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
process, which NASA subsequently denied;
Whereas, on January 7, 2022, Representatives Mark Amodei, Steven Horsford, and 
Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen sent a letter to NASA reiterating Nye 
County's request to be a cooperating agency, which was once again 
denied;
Whereas, on March 17, 2022, Representative Mark Amodei requested that NASA 
include his office as a cooperating agency, which was subsequently 
denied;
Whereas, on April 27, 2023, the Department of the Interior approved the 
withdrawal of 22,684.07 acres within Railroad Valley Public Land Order 
No. 7921 (88 Fed. Reg. 25682), taking effect that same day;
Whereas there is a longtime precedent in Nevada for the counties, cities, and 
municipalities of jurisdictions to be included as cooperating agencies 
when significant actions are proposed on federal lands within their 
boundaries;
Whereas NASA should have taken into account Nye County's zoning and planning 
jurisdictional input;
Whereas the Bureau of Land Management also prepared a potential mineral report 
in May 2022, which identified moderate to high potential for three 
critical minerals--barite, lithium, and magnesium--to be present in 
Railroad Valley;
Whereas, within the withdrawn area, there are 618 placer mining claims spread 
over 12,360 acres, or approximately 54 percent, of the withdrawal area;
Whereas the availability of minerals and mineral materials are essential for 
economic growth, national security, technological innovation, and the 
manufacturing and agricultural supply chain;
Whereas China currently controls the majority of worldwide lithium production; 
and
Whereas withdrawing areas of high lithium potential from mineral production 
significantly disadvantages the United States national security and 
gives China more control over critical mineral production; Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) disapproves of NASA's decision to decline Nye County's 
request to act as a cooperating agency throughout the 
withdrawal process for Railroad Valley;
(2) disapproves of the Department of the Interior 
authorizing the withdrawal of approximately 22,684 acres in 
Railroad Valley, Nevada; and
(3) strongly recommends Federal agencies to include 
requesting States, counties, cities, and municipalities to be 
included as cooperating agencies for proposed land withdrawals 
in their jurisdiction or vicinity, at their request.
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