Big Horn Bentonite Act
Key claim: This bill would let Interior, with the Army’s consent, award a sole-source contract to mine bentonite from withdrawn military land in Big Horn County, Wyoming, at $1 per ton, and would let the Army halt mining for national-security reasons without liability.
Abstract
(S97 · 109th Congress) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.) Big Horn Bentonite Act - (Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (with the consent of the Secretary of the Army) to permit mining and removal of bentonite on certain land previously withdrawn for military purposes in Big Horn County, Wyoming. Directs the Secretary to enter into a sole-source mining and removal of bentonite contract that provides for payment to the Secretary of $1.00 per ton of bentonite removed from such land. Sets forth contract terms and conditions. (Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary, upon notification by the Secretary of the Army that closure of the land is required for purposes of either national emergency, national defense, or national security, to: (1) order the suspension of such authorized mining activity; and (2) close the land until the Secretary of the Army signals that the closure is no longer necessary. Shields both Secretaries from liability for damages resulting from such closure. Latest action (2005-08-02): Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Why this matters
This bill would let Interior, with the Army’s consent, award a sole-source contract to mine bentonite from withdrawn military land in Big Horn County, Wyoming, at $1 per ton, and would let the Army halt mining for national-security reasons without liability.