S.Amdt. 6434

This amendment, submitted by Mr. HEINRICH, aims to add a new section to bill S. 4784 regarding land in New Mexico. It focuses on two main changes:

Federal Land Withdrawal It seeks to withdraw federal land in the Pecos Watershed Area from:

• Entry, appropriation, or disposal under public land laws.
• Location, entry, and patent under mining laws.
• Disposition under laws for mineral materials or geothermal and mineral leasing.

Wilderness Area Designation It aims to designate approximately 11,599 acres of Forest Service land as the Thompson Peak Wilderness Area, making it part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

This designation includes the following:

• The Secretary of Agriculture will manage the area according to the Wilderness Act.
• The area is withdrawn from mining and mineral leasing.
• Existing livestock grazing established before the act is allowed to continue.
• The Secretary can take necessary actions to control diseases, insects, or fire.
• The state keeps its jurisdiction and responsibilities for managing fish and wildlife, such as trapping, fishing, and hunting.
• The designation does not create buffer zones or protective perimeters around the area.