HR 978119th CongressIn Committee

Superior National Forest Restoration Act of 2025

Introduced: Feb 5, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Superior National Forest Restoration Act of 2025 would undo a 2023 Public Land Order that withdrew federal lands in parts of northeastern Minnesota from mineral entry, and would reinstate mineral leases and permits within the Superior National Forest. It sets ambitious timelines to complete environmental and regulatory reviews for Mine Plans of Operations (MPOs) in the forest, aiming to accelerate permitting and mining activity. The bill also reissues mineral leases and related permits that were canceled between January 31, 2021 and enactment on terms that favor longer initial terms and renewal rights, and it creates new preference right leases for certain applications rejected after 2021. In addition, it allows surface-use permits tied to those leases, with oversight by the appropriate federal agency (Interior or Agriculture, depending on the unit). The effect is to expand and expedite mineral development in the Superior National Forest, while embedding new terms and limited avenues for challenge.

Key Points

1Rescission of Public Land Order 7917: The order withdrawing lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN, from mineral entry is repealed, allowing mineral exploration and leasing to proceed in those lands.
2Timely environmental/regulatory reviews for MPOs: The Secretary must complete NEPA and related reviews for MPOs in the Superior National Forest within set deadlines:
3- MPOs submitted or resubmitted in the 10 years after enactment: reviews completed within 18 months of submission.
4- Supplemental MPOs: all necessary reviews completed within 6 months after submission; permits issued within 6 months after MPO approval.
5Reissuance of canceled leases and permits: Mineral leases, preference right leases, and prospecting permits canceled between January 31, 2021 and enactment are to be reissued to the same extent as they were canceled, with key changes:
6- Prospecting permits retain original terms.
7- Mineral leases and preference right leases: initial term of 20 years; nondiscretionary renewal for up to five 10-year terms; potential to adjust rental and royalty terms at renewal.
8No judicial review for reissued leases and permits: Leases and permits issued under the reissuance provision are not subject to judicial review.
9New preference right leases: Within 5 days after enactment, the Secretary must issue preference right leases for eligible applications rejected after January 31, 2021 that had a preliminary valuable deposit determination, with terms aligned to the above (20-year initial term with renewal rights).
10Permits for surface use linked to leases: For lands covered by renewed or new leases, the Secretary (in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture) may issue permits to use surface lands not included in the lease to support exploration, development, and use of the deposits.
11Secretary defined: The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior, or the Secretary of Agriculture when dealing with a unit of the National Forest System.

Impact Areas

Primary affected groups/areas:- Mineral developers and lessees with interests in the Superior National Forest (including those with leases canceled since 2021 and applicants for new preference right leases).- Federal land management agencies (Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service), which would implement the accelerated timelines and leasing changes.Secondary groups/areas affected:- Local communities and counties in northeastern Minnesota (economic activity tied to mining and permitting processes).- Environmental groups and local stakeholders concerned about forest health, groundwater, watershed integrity, and wildlife in the Superior National Forest.- Native tribes and cultural resource groups with interests in lands within or adjacent to the forest.Additional impacts:- Regulatory certainty and potential economic benefits for mineral development due to firm timelines and renewed leases, balanced against reduced ability to challenge decisions (due to limited or no judicial review for reissued leases).- Changes in how surface-use permissions are granted could affect land-use practices and coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forestry) and its management of forest resources.- A shift in environmental oversight speed and scope for MPOs, which could influence local environmental protections and cumulative ecological considerations.Mine Plan of Operations (MPO): A comprehensive plan required for mining activities outlining proposed operations, environmental safeguards, reclamation, and monitoring.National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): the baseline federal process for evaluating environmental impacts of major federal actions.Public Land Order 7917: the 2023 order that withdrew certain federal lands in the specified Minnesota counties from mineral entry; rescission removes that withdrawal.Preference right leases: a leasing mechanism giving certain applicants an enhanced opportunity to acquire leases, typically based on specific prior interest or deposit determinations.

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