H.R. 10669: Legislative Approval for National Designations Act

This bill would change how large federal land withdrawals and national monument designations can be made.

Congressional approval for large land withdrawals

The bill would require explicit approval from Congress before a federal agency could withdraw more than 5,000 acres of federal land from uses such as settlement, sale, mining claims, mineral leasing, or geothermal leasing. In simple terms, agencies could not set aside large areas of federal land on their own unless Congress first authorizes it.

There are two main exceptions:

• Temporary public land withdrawals that last 5 years or less and are not extended beyond that period.
• Withdrawals the President determines are necessary for national security.

Limits on national monuments

The bill would change the rules for presidential national monument designations under the Antiquities Act. After enactment, new national monuments generally could not:

• exceed 640 acres;
• be placed within 50 miles of another national monument boundary; or
• include non-federal property unless the owner gives written consent.

The bill also narrows the kinds of things that can be protected as a national monument. It replaces the current broader language with a definition centered on “objects of antiquity,” such as:

• relics;
• artifacts;
• human remains;
• fossils other than fossil fuels; and
• certain buildings built before the bill’s enactment.

It would exclude protection based on natural geographic features, landscapes, ecosystems, or broad “values.”

Emergency monument designations

The bill would allow a larger national monument designation only in an emergency situation where there is imminent and irreparable harm to the specific object or objects being protected. Such an emergency designation would last for one year, could be used only once for that land, and could not later be converted into a permanent national monument under this provision.

Existing rights, funding, and water rights

Land designated as a national monument under the emergency provision would still remain subject to valid existing rights and to land uses allowed under the applicable management plan before the designation.

The bill would also say that monument designations do not themselves authorize additional federal funding.

It would further provide that water rights are not automatically reserved by a monument designation and must instead be obtained under state law.

Relevant Companies

• EOG — Could be affected if large federal land withdrawals or monument designations change access to federal lands with oil and gas potential.
• APA — Could be affected through changes to federal land access for exploration and production activities.
• COP — Could be affected if federal land and mineral leasing opportunities are reduced or require more congressional approval.
• FCX — Could be affected if access to federal lands for mineral development is limited by withdrawals or monument restrictions.