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H.R.3817 To withdraw the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest in New Mexico from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and for other purposes.

101 thousand acres of the Carson National Forest would be withdrawn from mineral exploration or development. The tract is know as the Valle Vidal Unit and the restriction includes mining claims, mineral leases for geothermal and mining materials. Existing rights would be honored unless they were relinquished or sold.

The Congressional Research Service summarized the land as known for horseback riding and hiking trails, livestock grazing and wildlife habitat and cover about 40,000 acres.

Although the minerals would be off limits the Forest Service is deciding whether or not to allow for the development of oil and gas resources in the same area.

Sponsor: Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM-3^rd)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote July 24, 2006.

Cost to the taxpayers: "CBO cannot predict whether the agency will decide, under current law, to allow oil and gas leasing to occur on the affected land" , "...if the agency decides to implement an oil and gas leasing program, most of the proceeds from such leases would be collected after 2016." "Therefore, we estimate that any net change in direct spending under H.R. 3817 would be insignificant in any of the next 10 years. CBO has no basis, however, for estimating the magnitude of the bill's potential budgetary effects in later years."

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