Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, regardless of whether those lands contain mineral deposits valuable enough to be mined.

Highlights:

• Authorizes mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, regardless of whether those lands contain mineral deposits valuable enough to be mined (mineral validity) (Sec. 2).

• Establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund (Sec. 2).

• Relies on a 2022 decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit related to the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona (commonly known as the Rosemont decision), in which the court held that mining claims are only allowed where mineral validity has been established and that mill site claims are more appropriate means for establishing a mining waste disposal site under the Mining Act (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes a mining operator to do the following (Sec. 2):

• Locate and include within its plan of operations as many mill site claims (e.g., areas for waste rock disposal) as are reasonably necessary for its operations; and

• Use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations.

• Requires any revenue generated from fees for such mill site claims to be deposited into the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund, which the Department of the Interior must use for certain abandoned hardrock mine reclamation activities (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text