Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

House Bill

H.R. 1366

119th Congress

Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 336.

Introduced:Feb 14, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Cynthia M. Lummis

Senator

Republican

WY

Cosponsors

2

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Summary

This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for waste disposal and other activities related to mining operations regardless of whether those specific lands contain valuable mineral deposits. It addresses a court decision restricting such uses and creates a fund for abandoned mine reclamation from mill site claim fees.

Latest Action

Received in the Senate.

SponsorCynthia M. Lummis (R-WY)

Introduced2/14/2025

StatusPlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 336.

ChamberHouse

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Vote Prediction

Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for waste disposal and other activities related to mining operations regardless of whether those specific lands contain valuable mineral deposits. It addresses a court decision restricting such uses and cr

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for waste disposal and other activities related to mining operations regardless of whether those specific lands contain valuable mineral deposits. It addresses a court decision restricting such uses and creates a fund for abandoned mine reclamation from mill site claim fees.

Bill Number: 1366
Sponsor: Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY)
Introduced: 2/14/2025
Status: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 336.
Policy Area: Environmental Protection

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
Bill Number: 1366
Sponsor: Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY)
Status: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 336.
Introduced: 2/14/2025
Summary: This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for waste disposal and other activities related to mining operations regardless of whether those specific lands contain valuable mineral deposits. It addresses a court decision restricting such uses and creates a fund for abandoned mine reclamat

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for waste disposal and other activities related to mining operations regardless of whether those specific lands contain valuable mineral deposits. It addresses a court decision restricting such uses and creates a fund for abandoned mine reclamation from mill site claim fees.

Last updated: 1/6/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Mining Regulatory Clarity ActThis bill allows 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). It also establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund.The bill addresses 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 <a href="https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2022/05/12/19-17585.pdf">the Rosemont decision</a>, described further in <a href="https://crs.gov/Reports/R48166">CRS Report R48166</a>). 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.The bill allows a mining operator to (1) 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 (2) use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations.Additionally, the bill requires any revenue generated from fees for such mill site claims to be deposited into the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. The Department of the Interior must use the fund for certain abandoned hardrock mine reclamation activities.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Allows mining waste disposal on federal lands without mineral validity
Addresses Rosemont court decision on mill site claims
Permits multiple mill sites as reasonably necessary for operations
Creates Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund from claim fees
Funds abandoned mine reclamation activities

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Mining companies could use federal lands near their operations for waste disposal and processing facilities. Fees from these claims would fund cleanup of abandoned hardrock mines. This resolves uncertainty from a 2022 court ruling affecting mining operations.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Related Subjects

Government trust funds

Land use and conservation

Mining

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

1366, 119th Congress (2025). "Mining Regulatory Clarity Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1366

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