Ruby Mountains Protection Act

The Ruby Mountains Protection Act, introduced in the Senate by Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen, would withdraw specific federal lands in Nevada from use under the mineral leasing laws. Specifically, it targets roughly 309,272 acres of National Forest System land in the Ruby Mountains subdistrict of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and about 39,926 acres of National Wildlife Refuge System land in the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (within Elko and White Pine Counties). The withdrawals are designed to prevent mineral leasing and related activities on these lands, effectively limiting mining development while preserving other potential uses. Key details include: the withdrawals apply “subject to valid existing rights” (so rights already in place before enactment are protected), and lands acquired by the United States after enactment would also be withdrawn. For the Ruby Lake Refuge lands, an exception allows noncommercial refuge management activities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to proceed. The bill relies on specific maps to define the exact boundaries and areas of withdrawal, which must be publicly available in federal offices.