Apex Area Technical Corrections Act

Bill Number

H.R. 618

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Became Law

Became Law

Public Law 119-24

Latest Action

2025-07-15: Became Public Law No: 119-24.

Last Updated

2026-07-11T14:08:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation, titled the "Apex Area Technical Corrections Act," amends the Apex Project, Nevada Land Transfer and Authorization Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-67). Its primary goal is to update and expand the original act by incorporating the City of North Las Vegas and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association as eligible entities for land transfers, rights-of-way, and related activities in the Apex Site in Nevada. It also makes technical corrections to clarify processes, ensure perpetual protections, and align with federal environmental laws.

Key Provisions

• Definitions Added: Introduces terms for the "Apex Industrial Park Owners Association" (defined by its 2001 charter and successors on file with the Nevada Secretary of State) and the "City of North Las Vegas" (referring to North Las Vegas, Nevada).
• Expanded Eligibility for Connections and Lands: Allows Clark County, the City of North Las Vegas, and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association to jointly or individually access connections to the Kerr-McGee Site and other conveyed lands, using maps from May 1989 or updated versions by the Secretary of the Interior.
• Grants of Rights-of-Way: During compliance with specified requirements (under section 6), the Secretary of the Interior must grant rights-of-way to Clark County, the City of North Las Vegas, and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association for access across federal lands.
• Perpetual Mineral Withdrawal: Establishes that withdrawals of federal mineral interests in transferred lands continue indefinitely.
• Exemptions for Mineral Material Sales: For sales of mineral materials (like those from grading or land balancing) on parcels where the U.S. retains mineral rights, competition is deemed impracticable, and sales are exempt from quantity and term limits under federal regulations (43 CFR subpart 3602, as of the enactment date).
• Environmental Compliance Requirement: All future land transfers or rights-of-way in the Apex Site must follow federal laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (which requires environmental impact assessments) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (which governs public land use).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Inclusion of New Entities: The original 1989 act primarily involved Clark County; this amends it to explicitly include the City of North Las Vegas and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association, broadening participation in land transfers and infrastructure projects.
• Perpetual Protections: Changes temporary mineral withdrawals to permanent ones, providing long-term certainty for land use without federal mineral extraction interference.
• Streamlined Mineral Sales: Introduces exemptions from competitive bidding and limits on noncompetitive sales, simplifying processes for surface activities on affected lands.
• Enhanced Environmental Safeguards: Adds a new requirement for environmental assessments in all transfers, which was not explicitly stated before, ensuring ongoing compliance with modern federal standards.
• Map Flexibility: Permits use of successor maps created by the Secretary, updating outdated 1989 references.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Bureau of Land Management (under the Department of the Interior) will face increased administrative duties for grants, sales, and environmental reviews, potentially streamlining some processes while adding compliance checks.
• On Citizens and Local Communities: Residents and businesses in North Las Vegas and the Apex Industrial Park may gain better access to industrial lands, supporting economic development through easier infrastructure connections and land use, but could see minor delays from required environmental assessments.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic land management issue focused on U.S. federal lands in Nevada.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Local Governments and Associations: Clark County, City of North Las Vegas, and Apex Industrial Park Owners Association benefit from expanded rights and involvement in land decisions.
• Federal Government: The Department of the Interior (via the Secretary and Bureau of Land Management) handles implementation, including transfers, withdrawals, and regulatory exemptions.
• Private Landowners and Businesses: Owners in the Apex Industrial Park and those involved in mineral material extraction gain flexibility for development activities.
• Environmental Groups: Indirectly affected through mandated compliance with environmental laws, which could influence project timelines.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens adherence to federal land laws by explicitly tying transfers to environmental and management statutes, reducing potential for future legal challenges over non-compliance. The exemptions for mineral sales interpret existing regulations (e.g., 43 CFR) in a way that favors practicality for local projects without altering broader federal policy.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3) to manage federal lands, promoting efficient use while protecting public interests through perpetual withdrawals and environmental mandates.
• Political: Represents a bipartisan technical update to facilitate local economic growth in Nevada's industrial sector, with minimal controversy as it corrects and expands an existing framework rather than introducing new policies. No significant shifts in power balances, but it underscores federal support for urban expansion in growing areas like North Las Vegas.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-15: Became Public Law No: 119-24.
• 2025-07-15: Became Public Law No: 119-24.
• 2025-07-15: Signed by President.
• 2025-07-15: Signed by President.
• 2025-07-03: Presented to President.
• 2025-07-03: Presented to President.
• 2025-06-23: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• 2025-06-18: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3459)
• 2025-06-18: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
• 2025-05-14: Received in the Senate, read twice.
• 2025-05-13: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
• 2025-05-13: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1980-1981)
• 2025-05-13: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1980-1981)
• 2025-05-13: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 618.
• 2025-05-13: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1980-1982)

Bill Versions

• Apex Area Technical Corrections Act — issued 2025-05-13 — PDF (6 pages)
• Apex Area Technical Corrections Act — issued 2025-06-24 — PDF (2 pages)
• Apex Area Technical Corrections Act — issued 2025-01-22 — PDF (6 pages)
• Apex Area Technical Corrections Act — issued 2025-05-14 — PDF (4 pages)
• Apex Area Technical Corrections Act — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (6 pages)