Bill > HR8928

This bill aims to improve the permitting process for mining on federal land. Key provisions include: 1. Defining key terms like "mineral," "mineral exploration or mine permit," and "mineral project" to clarify the scope of the legislation. 2. Requiring the lead federal agency to complete environmental reviews for mineral projects within 18 months for an environmental assessment and 24 months for an environmental impact statement, with the possibility of a 6-month extension. 3. Limiting judicial review of federal permits, licenses, or approvals for mining projects to 1 year after the action is final, unless a shorter timeframe is specified. 4. Treating certain actions taken by the Secretary of Defense under Presidential Determination 2022-11 as "covered projects" under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, allowing them to be expedited. 5. Allowing mineral exploration activities with limited surface disturbance (up to 5 acres) to proceed after providing notice to the relevant federal agency. 6. Clarifying the rights of mining claimants to use and occupy public lands for prospecting, mining, and other related activities, and satisfying fair market value requirements.