Bill > HR1865

This bill, called the "Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025," fundamentally reforms hardrock mining regulations on federal lands by replacing the existing mining claim system with a comprehensive leasing and permitting framework. The legislation closes federal lands to new mining claims and requires existing claims to be converted to leases within 10 years, with shorter timelines for certain claims. It introduces a robust regulatory system that mandates exploration permits, operations permits, and financial assurances to ensure environmental protection and reclamation. The bill establishes a new royalty structure requiring companies to pay at least 12.5% of the gross value of mineral production, creates an Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation Program funded by fees and royalties, and imposes strict environmental standards to prevent unnecessary degradation of public lands. The legislation also includes provisions for consulting with Native American tribes, protecting special places like national parks and conservation areas, and implementing rigorous inspection and enforcement mechanisms with significant penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the bill provides special considerations for small miners and aims to modernize the decades-old mining laws to better balance resource extraction with environmental conservation and public land management.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1865/all-info