Savings clause

(a) Special application of mining laws Nothing in this Act shall be construed to— (1) repeal or modify any Federal law, regulation, order, or land use plan in effect before the effective date of this Act that prohibits or restricts the application of the general mining laws, including laws that provide for special management criteria for operations under the general mining laws as in effect before the effective date of this Act, to the extent such laws provide for protection of natural and cultural resources and the environment greater than required under this Act; (2) apply to or limit mineral investigations, studies, or other mineral activities conducted by any Federal or State agency acting in the governmental capacity of such agency pursuant to other authority; or (3) affect or limit any assessment, investigation, evaluation, or listing pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) or the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 3251 et seq.). (b) Claims converted to leases Any Federal law described in subsection (a) shall remain in force and effect with respect to claims converted to leases under this Act. (c) Effect on other Federal laws (1) General mining laws The provisions of this Act shall supersede the general mining laws. (2) Other laws Except for the general mining laws, nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede, modify, amend, or repeal any provision of Federal law not expressly superseded, modified, amended, or repealed by this Act. (3) Environmental laws Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter, affect, amend, modify, or change, directly or indirectly, any law which refers to and provides authorities or responsibilities for, or is administered by, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, including— (A) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); (B) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); (C) title XIV of the Public Health Service Act (the Safe Drinking Water Act) (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.); (D) the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); (E) the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13101 et seq.); (F) the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.); (G) the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.); (H) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); (I) the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.); (J) the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq.); (K) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (L) the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); (M) the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.); (N) the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.); (O) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.); (P) the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–499; 100 Stat. 1613); (Q) the Ocean Dumping Act (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.); (R) the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 4365); (S) the Pollution Prosecution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 4321 note; Public Law 101–593); (T) the Federal Facilities Compliance Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–386; 106 Stat. 1505); and (U) any statute containing an amendment to any of such Acts. (4) Federal Indian law Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify or affect any provision of— (A) the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.); (B) the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996); (C) the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.); (D) the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.); or (E) the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq.). (d) Sovereign immunity of Indian Tribes Nothing in this Act shall be construed so as to waive the sovereign immunity of any Indian Tribe.