This bill withdraws approximately 235,000 acres of federal land in the Rio Chama Watershed area of northern New Mexico from mineral extraction and mining claims. The legislation prevents new mining operations on these federally owned minerals while specifically protecting existing rights held by Native American tribes and Spanish and Mexican land grant communities. The bill also preserves traditional uses of common materials like sand, gravel, and stone by local residents for domestic, cultural, religious, and agricultural purposes. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the legislation, which was introduced by Senators Luján and Heinrich in August 2026 and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The withdrawal aims to protect the Rio Chama Watershed's environmental and cultural resources while respecting the historical land and mineral rights of indigenous and Hispanic communities in the region.
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