H.R. 8616

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8616 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8616

To establish the Caja del Rio Special Management Area and Caja del Rio 
National Conservation Area in the State of New Mexico, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 30, 2026

Ms. Leger Fernandez introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish the Caja del Rio Special Management Area and Caja del Rio 
National Conservation Area in the State of New Mexico, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Caja del Rio 
Protection Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--CAJA DEL RIO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA

Sec. 101. Establishment of the Caja del Rio Special Management Area.
Sec. 102. Management of the Special Management Area.
TITLE II--CAJA DEL RIO NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA

Sec. 201. Establishment of the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area.
Sec. 202. Management of the Conservation Area.
Sec. 203. Land exchanges.
TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Management of Covered Areas.
Sec. 302. Tribal contracting and protected rights.
Sec. 303. Effect.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Conservation area.--The term ``Conservation Area'' 
means the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area established 
by section 201(a)(1).
(2) Covered area.--The term ``covered area'' means each 
of--
(A) the Conservation Area; and
(B) the Special Management Area.
(3) Decommission.--The term ``decommission,'' with respect 
to a road, means--
(A) reestablishing native vegetation on the road;
(B) effectively blocking the road to vehicular 
traffic, where feasible; and
(C) developing and implementing an effective 
monitoring and response plan for invasive species and 
vehicular traffic incursions.
(4) Ecological restoration.--The term ``ecological 
restoration'' has the meaning given the term ``restoration'' in 
section 4 of the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire 
Prevention Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6703).
(5) Indian land.--The term ``Indian land'' has the meaning 
given the term ``Indian lands'' in section 4 of the Indian 
Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703).
(6) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' means the 
governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, 
nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or 
component reservation individually identified (including 
parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of the 
date of enactment of this Act pursuant to section 104 of the 
Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 
5131).
(7) Indigenous knowledge.--The term ``Indigenous 
knowledge'' has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of 
title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
regulation).
(8) Interested indian tribe.--The term ``interested Indian 
Tribe'', with respect to the covered area, means an Indian 
Tribe with--
(A) historic, precontact, cultural, or religious 
connections to the public land within the covered area;
(B) a former reservation located within the covered 
area; or
(C) treaty rights or other reserved rights 
associated with the covered area.
(9) Land grant-merced.--The term ``land grant-merced'' 
means a community land grant issued under the laws or customs 
of the Government of Spain or Mexico that--
(A) is recognized under New Mexico Statutes Chapter 
49, Articles 1 and 4 (or a successor statute);
(B) has a record of traditional historic use in the 
covered area; or
(C) has a patented exterior boundary that is or was 
previously located on or adjacent to the covered area.
(10) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``The 
Caja del Rio Special management Area and National Conservation 
Area'' and dated April 20, 2026.
(11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means--
(A) in title I, the Secretary of Agriculture;
(B) in title II, the Secretary of the Interior; and
(C) in this section and title III--
(i) the Secretary of the Interior, with 
respect to land under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary of the Interior; and
(ii) the Secretary of Agriculture, with 
respect to land under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary of Agriculture.
(12) Special management area.--The term ``Special 
Management Area'' means the Caja del Rio Special Management 
Area established by section 101(a)(1).
(13) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of New 
Mexico.
(14) Traditional historic community.--The term 
``traditional historic community'' means a historic community 
that--
(A) meets the definition of that term in New Mexico 
Statutes Section 3-7-1.1 (or a successor statute); and
(B) has a record of traditional historic use in the 
covered area.
(15) Traditional historic use.--The term ``traditional 
historic use'' means a habitual use conducted by a land grant-
merced or traditional historic community within the covered 
area for noncommercial or personal benefit, including--
(A) hunting, fishing, grazing, wood gathering, 
pinon harvesting, or herb and plant gathering; or
(B) any long-established and habitual and 
sustainable use by the land grant-merced or traditional 
historic community, as determined by the Secretary, in 
coordination with the land grant-merced or traditional 
historic community, that is agreed to in writing by the 
Secretary and the land grant-merced or traditional 
historic community.
(16) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304), except that such organization shall be affiliated with 
an interested Indian Tribe.
(17) Withdrawal area.--The term ``withdrawal area'' means 
the area withdrawn by section 401.

TITLE I--CAJA DEL RIO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAJA DEL RIO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.

(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights, there is 
established the Caja del Rio Special Management Area in the 
State.
(2) Land included.--The Special Management Area shall 
consist of approximately 67,163 acres of Federal land in the 
Santa Fe National Forest in the State as generally depicted as 
``Caja del Rio Special Management Area'' on the Map.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Special Management Area are--
(1) to conserve and permanently protect the cultural, 
spiritual, religious, scenic viewshed, ecological, wildlife 
habitat, natural, geological, historical, and traditional 
values of the Special Management Area; and
(2) to enhance opportunities for interested Indian Tribes 
to engage in the preservation and management of the Special 
Management Area.

SEC. 102. MANAGEMENT OF THE SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA.

(a) In General.--The Secretary shall manage the Special Management 
Area--
(1) subject to valid existing rights;
(2) in accordance with--
(A) this Act;
(B) the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.); and
(C) any other applicable laws; and
(3) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the 
resources of the Special Management Area.
(b) Uses.--The Secretary shall allow only uses of the Special 
Management Area that are consistent with--
(1) opportunities for cultural, spiritual, religious, 
medicinal, and traditional historic practices within the 
Special Management Area; and
(2) the purposes described in section 101(b).
(c) Management Plan.--
(1) Plan required.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a 
comprehensive management plan for the long-term management of 
the Special Management Area.
(2) Coordination and consultation.--The Secretary shall 
prepare and revise the management plan required under paragraph 
(1)--
(A) in coordination with--
(i) the Secretary of the Interior, with 
respect to the development of a management plan 
for the Conservation Area and the withdrawal 
area, as described in section 202(c);
(ii) the Director of the National Park 
Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land 
Management, with respect to the administration, 
protection, and interpretation of the El Camino 
Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail;
(iii) the State; and
(iv) applicable units of local government, 
including any applicable land grant-mercedes or 
traditional historic communities; and
(B) in consultation with interested Indian Tribes.
(3) Travel management.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall include in the 
management plan required under paragraph (1) a travel 
management plan to decrease unauthorized road access 
and motorized use in the Special Management Area.
(B) Designation and maintenance of roads.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
clause (ii), only roads depicted on the Map 
shall be designated and maintained by the 
Secretary in the Special Management Area.
(ii) Additional roads.--The Secretary may 
designate roads in the Special Management Area 
in addition to the roads referred to in clause 
(i) if the Secretary determines the additional 
roads are necessary--
(I) to achieve the purposes 
described in section 101(b); or
(II) not more than 1 mile from the 
historic settlement area commonly known 
as ``Buckman'', to accommodate critical 
water infrastructure or recreation 
access.
(4) Existing agreements.--To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall incorporate into the 
management plan required under paragraph (1) stewardship 
agreements or contracts relating to the Federal land described 
in section 101(a)(2) that exist on the date of enactment of 
this Act.
(5) Cooperating agency.--At the request of an interested 
Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall include the interested Indian 
Tribe as a cooperating agency in the development and revision 
of the management plan required under paragraph (1).
(6) Indigenous knowledge.--At the request of an interested 
Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall ensure that Indigenous 
knowledge is incorporated into the development and revision of 
the management plan required under paragraph (1).
(d) Maps and Legal Descriptions.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file maps and legal 
descriptions of the Special Management Area with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives.
(2) Force of law.--The maps and legal descriptions filed 
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if 
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct 
errors in the maps and legal descriptions.
(3) Public availability.--The maps and legal descriptions 
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for 
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest 
Service.

TITLE II--CAJA DEL RIO NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAJA DEL RIO NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA.

(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights, there is 
established the Caja del Rio National Conservation Area in the 
State.
(2) Land included.--The Conservation Area shall consist of 
approximately 17,837 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in 
the State as generally depicted as ``Caja del Rio-National 
Conservation Area'' on the Map.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Conservation Area are--
(1) to conserve and permanently protect the cultural, 
spiritual, religious, scenic viewshed, ecological, wildlife 
habitat, natural, geological, historical, and traditional 
values of the Conservation Area; and
(2) to enhance opportunities for interested Indian Tribes 
to engage in the preservation and management of the 
Conservation Area.

SEC. 202. MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSERVATION AREA.

(a) In General.--The Secretary shall manage the Conservation Area--
(1) subject to valid and existing rights;
(2) in accordance with--
(A) this Act;
(B) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
(C) any other applicable laws;
(3) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the 
resources of the Conservation Area; and
(4) as a component of the National Landscape Conservation 
System.
(b) Uses.--The Secretary shall allow only uses of the Conservation 
Area that are consistent with--
(1) opportunities to undertake cultural, spiritual, 
religious, medicinal, or traditional historic use practices in 
the Conservation Area; and
(2) the purposes described in section 201(b).
(c) Management Plan.--
(1) Plan required.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a 
comprehensive management plan for the long-term management of 
the Conservation Area and the withdrawal area.
(2) Coordination and consultation.--The Secretary shall 
prepare and revise the management plan required under paragraph 
(1)--
(A) in coordination with--
(i) the Secretary of Agriculture, with 
respect to the development of a management plan 
for the Special Management Area, as described 
in section 102(c);
(ii) the Director of the National Park 
Service and the Chief of the Forest Service, 
with respect to the administration, protection, 
and interpretation of the El Camino Real de 
Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail;
(iii) the State; and
(iv) applicable units of local government, 
including any applicable land grant-mercedes or 
traditional historic communities; and
(B) in consultation with interested Indian Tribes.
(3) Existing agreements.--To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall incorporate into the 
management plan required under paragraph (1) stewardship 
agreements or contracts relating to the Federal land described 
in section 201(a)(2) that exist on the date of enactment of 
this Act.
(4) Cooperating agency.--At the request of an interested 
Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall include the interested Indian 
Tribe as a cooperating agency in the development and revision 
of the management plan required under paragraph (1).
(5) Indigenous knowledge.--At the request of an interested 
Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall ensure that Indigenous 
knowledge is incorporated into the development and revision of 
the management plan required under paragraph (1).
(d) Travel Management.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a travel 
management plan to decrease unauthorized road access and 
motorized use in the Conservation Area and the withdrawal area.
(2) Requirement.--In preparing the travel management plan 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall designate the use of 
motorized vehicles only on--
(A) the road within the Conservation Area 
identified as CR 55C or ``Old Route 66''; and
(B) any roads in the Conservation Area and the 
withdrawal area that the Secretary determines to be 
necessary--
(i) to achieve the purposes described in 
section 201(b); and
(ii) to allow for access to private 
property or critical infrastructure.
(e) Maps and Legal Descriptions.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file maps and legal 
descriptions of the Conservation Area with--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives.
(2) Force of law.--The maps and legal descriptions filed 
under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if 
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct 
errors in the maps and legal descriptions.
(3) Public availability.--The maps and legal descriptions 
filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for 
public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of 
Land Management.

SEC. 203. LAND EXCHANGES.

(a) In General.--Subject to subsections (c) through (f), the 
Secretary shall attempt to enter into an agreement to initiate an 
exchange under section 2201.1 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or successor regulations), with the Commissioner of Public Lands of 
New Mexico, by the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, to provide for a conveyance to the State of all right, 
title, and interest of the United States in and to the Bureau of Land 
Management land in the State identified under subsection (b) in 
exchange for the conveyance by the State to the Secretary of all right, 
title, and interest of the State in and to parcels of State trust land 
within the boundary of the Conservation Area described in section 
201(a)(2) or the boundary of the withdrawal area described in section 
401.
(b) Identification of Land for Exchange.--The Secretary and the 
Commissioner of Public Lands of New Mexico shall jointly identify the 
Bureau of Land Management land in the State and State trust land 
eligible for exchange under this section, the exact acreage and legal 
description of which shall be determined by surveys approved by the 
Secretary and the New Mexico State Land Office.
(c) Applicable Law.--A land exchange under subsection (a) shall be 
carried out in accordance with section 206 of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716).
(d) Conditions.--A land exchange under subsection (a) shall be 
subject to--
(1) valid existing rights; and
(2) such terms as the Secretary and the State shall 
establish.
(e) Valuation, Appraisals, and Equalization.--
(1) In general.--The value of the Bureau of Land Management 
land and the State trust land to be conveyed in a land exchange 
under this section--
(A) shall be equal, as determined by appraisals 
conducted in accordance with paragraph (2); or
(B) if not equal, shall be equalized in accordance 
with paragraph (3).
(2) Appraisals.--
(A) In general.--The Bureau of Land Management land 
and State trust land to be exchanged under this section 
shall be appraised by an independent, qualified 
appraiser that is agreed to by the Secretary and the 
State.
(B) Requirements.--An appraisal under subparagraph 
(A) shall be conducted in accordance with--
(i) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for 
Federal Land Acquisitions; and
(ii) the Uniform Standards of Professional 
Appraisal Practice.
(3) Equalization.--
(A) In general.--If the value of the Bureau of Land 
Management land and the State trust land to be conveyed 
in a land exchange under this section is not equal, the 
value may be equalized by--
(i) making a cash equalization payment to 
the Secretary or to the State, as appropriate, 
in accordance with section 206(b) of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(43 U.S.C. 1716(b)); or
(ii) reducing the acreage of the Bureau of 
Land Management land or State trust land to be 
exchanged, as appropriate.
(B) Cash equalization payments.--Any cash 
equalization payments received by the Secretary under 
subparagraph (A)(i) shall be--
(i) deposited in the Federal Land Disposal 
Account established by section 206(a) of the 
Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (43 
U.S.C. 2305(a)); and
(ii) used in accordance with that Act (43 
U.S.C. 2301 et seq.).
(f) Limitation.--No exchange of land shall be conducted under this 
section unless mutually agreed to by the Secretary and the State.

TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. MANAGEMENT OF COVERED AREAS.

(a) Road Construction.--
(1) Permanent roads.--No new permanent road construction 
shall be permitted in a covered area unless otherwise 
designated under section 102(c)(3)(B) or 202(d)(2).
(2) Temporary roads.--Except as necessary for 
administrative purposes, the protection of health and safety, 
the control of fire, insects, or diseases, to facilitate 
cultural uses, or to provide reasonable access to private 
property, no temporary road construction shall be permitted in 
a covered area.
(3) Decommissioning of roads.--Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
decommission any road in a covered area that has not been 
designated on the Map or in the applicable travel management 
plan for the covered area.
(b) Motorized Vehicles.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
use of motorized vehicles in a covered area shall be permitted 
only on roads that are designated on the Map or in the 
applicable travel management plan for the covered area.
(2) Exceptions.--The use of motorized vehicles may be 
allowed in a covered area on roads not described in paragraph 
(1) if the use is necessary--
(A) for administrative purposes;
(B) to respond to an emergency;
(C) for Tribal religious or cultural practices; or
(D) for grazing in accordance with subsection (d).
(c) Withdrawals.--
(1) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights, all 
Federal land within a covered area, including any land or 
interest in land that is acquired by the United States within 
the covered area after the date of enactment of this Act, is 
withdrawn from--
(A) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal 
under public land laws, including the issuance of new 
rights-of-way on, under, or through the applicable 
Federal land;
(B) location, entry, and patent under mining laws; 
and
(C) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral 
materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
(2) Additional land.--If the Secretary acquires additional 
land within a covered area or the withdrawal area after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the acquired land is withdrawn 
from operation of the laws referred to in paragraph (1) on the 
date of acquisition of the land.
(d) Grazing.--The grazing of livestock in a covered area, as 
established before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be 
permitted to continue--
(1) subject to such reasonable regulations, policies, and 
practices as the Secretary considers necessary;
(2) in accordance with applicable law; and
(3) in a manner consistent with the purposes of the 
applicable covered area described in section 101(b) or 201(b).
(e) Wildfire, Insect, and Disease Management.--Nothing in this Act 
prohibits the Secretary, in cooperation with other Federal, State, and 
local agencies, as appropriate, from conducting any measures necessary 
to control wildland fire, insects, and diseases in a covered area, 
consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(f) Ecological Restoration.--
(1) In general.--Ecological restoration in a covered area 
may be permitted--
(A) if necessary to protect, maintain, or enhance 
the applicable covered area (including the protection 
of traditional food or material gathering);
(B) for any purposes necessary to control wildland 
fire, insects, and diseases; and
(C) to support the resilience of watersheds and 
wildlife habitat.
(2) Requirement.--Ecological restoration under paragraph 
(1) shall be carried out in a covered area--
(A) subject to such reasonable regulations, 
policies, and practices as the Secretary considers 
necessary;
(B) in a manner consistent with the purposes of the 
applicable covered area as described in section 101(b) 
or 201(b); and
(C) in accordance with applicable law.
(g) Acquisition of Land.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire any land or 
interest in land within the boundary of a covered area or 
contiguous to a covered area, as depicted on the Map, by 
donation, purchase from a willing seller, or exchange.
(2) Incorporation of acquired land and interests in land.--
Any land or interest in land acquired under paragraph (1) 
shall--
(A) if the acquired land or interest in land is 
within the Santa Fe National Forest, become part of the 
Special Management Area; or
(B) if the acquired land or interest in land is not 
located within the Santa Fe National Forest, become 
part of the Conservation Area.
(3) Withdrawal area.--The Secretary of the Interior may 
acquire any land or interest in land within the boundary of the 
withdrawal area, as depicted on the Map, by donation, purchase 
from a willing seller, or exchange.
(h) Law Enforcement.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure adequate law 
enforcement presence in a covered area with respect to law 
enforcement matters under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to 
maintain the integrity of the covered area.
(2) No effect on jurisdiction.--Nothing in this Act limits 
or otherwise affects the civil or criminal regulatory 
jurisdiction, including law enforcement, for issues under the 
jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe.
(3) Penalties.--In developing a management plan for a 
covered area, the Secretary may consider provisions for 
increased penalties for unauthorized activities in the covered 
area, including littering, vandalism, damage to cultural sites, 
and unauthorized recreational shooting.
(i) Notice of Available Routes and Prohibited Uses.--The Secretary 
shall ensure that visitors to a covered area have access to adequate 
notice relating to designated routes, roads, and prohibited uses in the 
covered area through--
(1) the placement of appropriate signage along designated 
routes, parking areas, trailheads, or any other highly visited 
area, including notice of penalties for prohibited uses; and
(2) the distribution of maps, safety education materials, 
and other information that the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate.

SEC. 302. TRIBAL CONTRACTING AND PROTECTED RIGHTS.

(a) Tribal Contracting.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may contract with 1 or more 
interested Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations to perform 
administrative or management functions within a covered area 
through--
(A) contracts entered into under the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5301 et seq.);
(B) agreements or contracts entered into under 
section 2 of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 
(25 U.S.C. 3115a);
(C) agreements or contracts for stewardship 
contracting projects entered into under section 604 of 
the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6591c); and
(D) any other applicable authority.
(2) Tribal assistance.--Using any applicable authority, the 
Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to an 
interested Indian Tribe to improve the capacity of the 
interested Indian Tribe to develop, enter into, and carry out 
activities under an agreement or contract entered into under 
paragraph (1).
(b) Tribal Cultural and Religious Uses.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this Act diminishes any Tribal 
rights relating to access to a covered area for Tribal 
activities, including spiritual, cultural, medicinal, and 
traditional food gathering activities.
(2) Tribal uses and interests.--
(A) Access and use.--In accordance with applicable 
law, the Secretary shall ensure access to a covered 
area by members of an interested Indian Tribe for 
traditional cultural and religious purposes.
(B) Temporary closure.--
(i) In general.--In carrying out 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary, on request of 
an interested Indian Tribe, may temporarily 
close to the general public the use of 1 or 
more specific portions of a covered area to 
protect the privacy of cultural, religious, and 
food, medicinal, and materials gathering 
activities by members of the interested Indian 
Tribe.
(ii) Requirements.--
(I) In general.--Any closure under 
clause (i) shall be made so as to 
affect the smallest practicable area 
for the minimum period of time 
necessary.
(II) Access.--Access by members of 
an interested Indian Tribe to a portion 
of a covered area closed under clause 
(i) shall be consistent with the 
purpose and intent of Public Law 95-341 
(commonly known as the ``American 
Indian Religious Freedom Act'') (42 
U.S.C. 1996 et seq.) and other 
applicable law.
(c) Federally Secured Rights.--
(1) Federally secured rights.--Nothing in this Act alters, 
modifies, enlarges, diminishes, or abrogates rights secured by 
treaty, statute, Executive order, or other Federal law of any 
interested Indian Tribe, including off-reservation reserved 
rights.
(2) Indian land.--Nothing in this Act affects any Indian 
land.
(3) Land claims.--The designation of a covered area does 
not affect any legitimate land claims to the covered area that 
were secured by treaty or an Act of Congress.
(d) Plant and Mineral Gathering for Cultural Purposes.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 2.6 of title 36, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), the 
Secretary shall allow an enrolled member of any interested 
Indian Tribe that is culturally affiliated with the land 
located within the boundaries of a covered area or Bandelier 
National Monument to collect plants, including parts or 
products of plants, and mineral resources within the applicable 
covered area or Bandelier National Monument for noncommercial 
traditional and cultural uses.
(2) Application.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), a collection activity under paragraph (1) shall 
be--
(i) consistent with applicable laws; and
(ii) subject to such conditions as the 
Secretary determines to be necessary to protect 
the resources and values of the applicable 
covered area or Bandelier National Monument.
(B) Quantity limitations.--
(i) Existing regulations.--No quantity 
limitation contained in a regulation of the 
National Park Service, Forest Service, or 
Bureau of Land Management, as applicable, in 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act 
shall apply to a collection activity under 
paragraph (1).
(ii) Limitations imposed by the 
secretary.--The Secretary may limit the 
quantity of plants, including parts or products 
of plants, and mineral resources collected 
under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines 
that the limitation is necessary to protect the 
resources and values of the applicable covered 
area or Bandelier National Monument.

SEC. 303. EFFECT.

(a) Treaty Rights.--Nothing in this Act affects the treaty rights 
of any Indian Tribe or land grant-merced.
(b) Water Rights.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this Act--
(A) constitutes an express or implied reservation 
by the United States of water or water rights for any 
purpose;
(B) modifies or otherwise affects any water rights 
existing on the date of enactment of this Act, 
including any water rights held by the United States;
(C) affects an interstate water compact existing on 
the date of enactment of this Act; or
(D) imposes any mandatory streamflow requirement or 
any Federal water quality standard within the covered 
land.
(2) State water law.--The Secretary shall follow the 
procedural and substantive requirements of applicable State law 
to obtain and hold any water rights not in existence on the 
date of enactment of this Act with respect to a covered area.
(c) Drinking Water Infrastructure.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this Act affects valid existing 
rights, including the existing rights-of-way of Santa Fe 
County, the city of Santa Fe, or the Buckman Direct Diversion 
Board in the State, to conduct necessary repair, operations, 
maintenance, replacement, or expansion of drinking water supply 
infrastructure.
(2) New permits or rights-of-way.--The Secretary may grant 
to Santa Fe County or the city of Santa Fe in the State new 
permits or rights-of-way to build water supply infrastructure 
not more than 1 mile from the historic settlement area commonly 
known as ``Buckman'' within the Special Management Area.
(3) Requirement.--Any repair, operations, maintenance, 
replacement, expansion, or new construction of water supply 
infrastructure in a covered area shall be conducted in a manner 
that is consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(d) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this Act affects the 
jurisdiction of the State with respect to fish and wildlife located on 
public land in the State, except that the Secretary, after consultation 
with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, may designate zones 
where, and establish periods during which, hunting shall not be allowed 
within a covered area for reasons of public safety, administration, or 
public use and enjoyment.
(e) Nondisclosure.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall not disclose to the 
public--
(A) information relating to the covered area that 
is derived from Indigenous knowledge that has not 
otherwise been released to the public as of the date of 
enactment of this Act; or
(B) information relating to the nature or location 
of any sacred site in a covered area, if the Secretary 
determines, in consultation with the interested Indian 
Tribe, that such a disclosure may--
(i) risk harm to the cultural resources of 
the sacred site;
(ii) cause a significant invasion of 
privacy; or
(iii) impede the use of the sacred site for 
traditional cultural activities by an Indian 
Tribe or members of an Indian Tribe.
(2) Freedom of information act applicability.--
(A) In general.--Information described in paragraph 
(1) shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552 
of title 5, United States Code.
(B) Applicability.--For purposes of subparagraph 
(A), this subsection shall be considered a statute 
described in section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United 
States Code.

TITLE IV--CAJA DEL RIO WITHDRAWAL AREA

SEC. 401. WITHDRAWAL.

Subject to any valid existing rights, the Federal land and any 
interest in the Federal land depicted as ``Caja del Rio Withdrawal 
Area'' on the Map is withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under 
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, 
and geothermal leasing laws.
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