S1319-119

What This Bill Does

The Pecos Watershed Protection Act withdraws federal land in New Mexico's Pecos Watershed from all mineral development activities and creates a new 11,599-acre Thompson Peak Wilderness Area. The bill permanently blocks new mining claims, oil and gas leases, and geothermal development on these protected lands while preserving existing rights.

Who Benefits and How

Environmental conservation organizations benefit by gaining a new protected wilderness area that prevents extractive industries from operating in the Pecos Watershed. Recreation and tourism businesses near the protected areas benefit from increased opportunities for wilderness-based tourism and outdoor recreation. Existing livestock grazing operations benefit from explicit protection of their grazing rights in the new wilderness area, ensuring they can continue operations despite the new wilderness designation. New Mexico's state fish and wildlife agencies maintain full authority over hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations within the wilderness area.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Mining companies face a complete ban on filing new mineral claims in the Pecos Watershed and Thompson Peak areas. Oil and gas exploration companies lose the ability to obtain new leasing rights for fossil fuel extraction on these federal lands. Geothermal energy developers are blocked from securing mineral leasing rights for renewable energy development in these areas. The U.S. Forest Service must complete new administrative tasks including filing maps and legal descriptions with Congress, maintaining public inspection files, and managing the wilderness area according to the Wilderness Act.

Key Provisions

• Withdraws all federal land depicted on the "Proposed Mineral Withdrawal Legislative Map" (dated September 11, 2023) from mineral entry, mining claims, and mineral/geothermal leasing
• Designates approximately 11,599 acres of Forest Service land as the Thompson Peak Wilderness Area, making it part of the National Wilderness Preservation System
• Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to file wilderness area maps and legal descriptions with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and House Committee on Natural Resources
• Protects existing livestock grazing rights established before the bill's enactment, allowing ranchers to continue operations under Wilderness Act guidelines
• Preserves New Mexico's jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management, including hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations
• Allows the Forest Service to conduct fire, insect, and disease control measures within the wilderness area as deemed necessary