S. 60Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM UTC

The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act would protect a portion of the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Park County, Montana, by removing it from federal mining and mineral leasing authority. The withdrawal applies to the land shown on a specific map, but it does not affect any existing mining rights that were already in place. Recreational activities such as hunting and fishing would continue as before.

Key Provisions

Defines a map titled “Emigrant Crevice Proposed Withdrawal Area” that shows the land to be protected.
Withdraws the mapped National Forest System land from all mining, mineral, and geothermal leasing laws, while honoring any valid rights that existed before the law takes effect.
Any forest land the United States acquires in the mapped area after the law’s enactment is automatically withdrawn from mining and leasing authority.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to file the map with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, where it becomes legally binding.
Allows the Secretary to correct only clerical or typographical errors on the map, and makes the map publicly available for inspection at Forest Service and BLM offices.
Specifies that the withdrawal does not change any existing recreational uses, such as hunting or fishing, on the protected land.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

January 9, 2019

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 9, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

January 9, 2019

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in SenateIssued January 9, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 60

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 9, 2019

Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. Daines) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To withdraw certain National Forest System land in the Emigrant Crevice area located in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Park County, Montana, from the mining and mineral leasing laws of the United States, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act.

Withdrawal

(a)

Definition of map

In this section, the term map means the map entitled Emigrant Crevice Proposed Withdrawal Area and dated November 10, 2016.

(b)

Withdrawal

Subject to valid existing rights in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, the National Forest System land and interests in the National Forest System land, as depicted on the map, is withdrawn from—

(1)

location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and

(2)

disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing.

(c)

Acquired land

Any land or interest in land within the area depicted on the map that is acquired by the United States after the date of enactment of this Act shall, on acquisition, be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this section.

(d)

Map

(1)

Submission of map

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall file the map with—

(A)

the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(B)

the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Force of law

The map filed under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary of Agriculture may correct clerical and typographical errors in the map.

(3)

Public availability

The map filed under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

(e)

Effect

Nothing in this section affects any recreational use, including hunting or fishing, that is authorized on land within the area depicted on the map under applicable law as of the date of enactment of this Act.