H.R. 10054: Chama Basin Watershed Protection Act

This bill would protect certain federal land in the Rio Chama Watershed area of New Mexico by removing it from eligibility for new mining claims, mining leases, and related mineral patents under federal mining laws. In plain terms, it means the federal government would no longer allow new hard-rock mining activity on the covered federal land if that activity depends on the usual mining claim process.

What land is covered

The land affected is the federal land within the area shown on a specific map titled “Rio Chama Watershed Draft”, dated April 22, 2026. The bill refers to that mapped area as the Rio Chama Watershed.

What the withdrawal does

The bill says the covered federal land is withdrawn from:

• Location under mining laws
• Entry under mining laws
• Patent under mining laws

This means new mining claims generally could not be filed there, and existing federal mineral rights in that area would be managed under this restriction going forward, subject to the bill’s exceptions.

What the bill does not change

The bill makes clear that it applies only to minerals owned by the United States. It does not affect mineral rights owned by, held in trust for, or claimed by:

• Qualified land grant-merced communities
• Indian Tribes

It also states that it does not interfere with traditional, customary, or personal use of common materials such as stone, sand, gravel, clay, adobe, mineral earths, and similar materials by members of qualified land grant-merced communities, acequia communities, or other individuals, when used for domestic, cultural, religious, ceremonial, subsistence, agricultural, or noncommercial construction purposes, as allowed under applicable federal law and National Forest System management rules.

Who counts under the bill’s definitions

The bill defines:

• Indian Tribe as federally recognized tribes and related tribal governments listed under federal law.
• Qualified land grant-merced as a recognized New Mexico community land grant with historical or traditional use in the area, or with a patented exterior boundary on or adjacent to the affected federal land.

Relevant Companies

None found