Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 111th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

D RahallSponsor

39 cosponsors · 39 D

20 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009 - Applies this Act to any mining claim, millsite claim, or tunnel site claim located under the general mining laws or used for beneficiation or mineral processing activities, regardless of whether legal and beneficial title to the mineral is held by the United States.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jan 27, 2009

Conditions federal issuance of a patent for any such mining or millsite claim upon specified determinations by the Secretary of the Interior.

Subjects production of locatable minerals to a royalty of 8% of the gross income from mining.

Imposes a 4% royalty upon federal lands subject to an existing permit, and specified royalties on certain federal land added to an existing operations permit.

Prescribes a hardrock mining claim maintenance fee for each unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site on federally owned lands.

Designates certain wilderness study areas, areas of critical environmental concern, and related areas as not open to location of mining claims.

Permits a state or local government or Indian tribe to petition the Secretary of the Interior for withdrawal of specific federal land from operation of the general mining laws in order to protect specific values.

Instructs the Secretary to ensure that mineral activities on federal land subject to a claim are carefully controlled to prevent undue degradation of public lands and resources.

Prescribes requirements for the exploration permit process and for operations permits, including financial assurances.

Requires restoration of lands to a condition capable of supporting prior uses or other beneficial uses.

Establishes the Locatable Minerals Fund composed of: (1) penalties, fees, and royalties; (2) the Hardrock Reclamation Account, and (3) the Hardrock Community Impact Assistance Account.

Amends the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to initiate prompt actions to improve the availability and analysis of mineral data in public land use decision-making with respect to National Forest System lands.

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to subject certain oil shale claims to the reclamation requirements of this Act.

Repeals the Building Stone Act and the Saline Placer Act.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009

Latest action (Feb 26, 2009): Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources · Origin: House · Introduced: Jan 27, 2009

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.