March 9, 2026
Mr. Stauber introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To provide for the leasing of certain deposits of minerals located within the City of Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Section 1. Leasing of certain deposits of minerals located within City of Carlsbad, New Mexico
(a) In general
Notwithstanding the exclusion in the first section of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181) or the first sentence of section 3 of the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 352) with respect to incorporated cities, towns, and villages, and subject to written consent provided by the City of Carlsbad, New Mexico, to the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary may lease deposits of the minerals described in such section and such sentence that are located on covered land in accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.), as applicable, and any other applicable Federal mineral leasing law.
(b) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Acquired land
The term acquired land has the meaning given the term acquired lands in section 2 of the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351).
(2) Covered land
The term covered land means land that—
(A)
is—
(i)
owned by the United States within the meaning of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.); or
(ii)
acquired land; and
(B)
located within the City of Carlsbad, New Mexico.