Bill > HR1366

This bill establishes new regulations for hardrock mining mill sites on public lands and creates an Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. Specifically, the bill allows mining operators to locate multiple mill sites (up to 5 acres each) that are reasonably necessary for their mining operations, clarifying existing mining laws. These mill sites can be used for waste rock disposal, tailings, and other mining-related activities, but do not convey any mineral rights to the operator. The bill creates a new fund in the U.S. Treasury that will collect claim maintenance fees from these mill sites, with the money to be used specifically for abandoned mine cleanup efforts as outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The legislation maintains existing protections for federal lands, ensuring that the new mill site provisions do not override environmental regulations, historic preservation laws, or previous land withdrawals. The bill also makes technical amendments to existing mining claim maintenance fee regulations, updating references and restructuring fee-related language. Importantly, mill sites established under this bill would not be eligible for patenting, and the location of a mill site would not affect the validity of existing lode or placer mining claims.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1366/all-info