I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2141

To modify the requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain 

lands, consistent with the principles of self-initiation of mining claims, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 15, 2003

Mr. RAHALL (for himself, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. 

BAIRD, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. GEORGE MILLER

of California, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. KIND, Mr. 

FRANK of Massachusetts, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. 

GRIJALVA, Ms. SOLIS, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. SCHIFF, and Mr. 

MCDERMOTT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To modify the requirements applicable to locatable minerals 

on public domain lands, consistent with the principles 

of self-initiation of mining claims, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Mineral Exploration and Development Act of 2003’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—
2

•HR 2141 IH 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions and references. 

TITLE I—MINERAL EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT 

Sec. 101. Lands open to location. 

Sec. 102. Rights under this Act. 

Sec. 103. Claim maintenance requirements. 

Sec. 104. Location fee. 

Sec. 105. Co-ownership. 

Sec. 106. Other requirements. 

Sec. 107. Fee adjustments. 

Sec. 108. Use of fees. 

Sec. 109. Prohibition. 

Sec. 110. Failure to comply. 

Sec. 111. Limitation on patents. 

Sec. 112. Royalty. 

TITLE II—ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS OF MINERAL 

EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT 

Sec. 201. Surface management standard. 

Sec. 202. Permits. 

Sec. 203. Operations permit. 

Sec. 204. Persons ineligible for permits. 

Sec. 205. Financial assurance. 

Sec. 206. Operation and reclamation. 

Sec. 207. State law and regulation. 

Sec. 208. Unsuitability review. 

Sec. 209. Certain mineral activities covered by other law. 

TITLE III—ABANDONED LOCATABLE MINERALS MINE 

RECLAMATION FUND 

Sec. 301. Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation. 

Sec. 302. Use and objectives of the Fund. 

Sec. 303. Eligible lands and waters. 

Sec. 304. Fund expenditures. 

Sec. 305. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

Subtitle A—Administrative Provisions 

Sec. 401. Policy functions. 

Sec. 402. User fees. 

Sec. 403. Inspection and monitoring. 

Sec. 404. Citizens suits. 

Sec. 405. Administrative and judicial review. 

Sec. 406. Enforcement. 

Sec. 407. Regulations; effective dates. 

Subtitle B—Miscellaneous Provisions 

Sec. 411. Transitional rules; surface management requirements. 

Sec. 412. Oil shale claims subject to special rules. 

Sec. 413. Purchasing power adjustment. 

Sec. 414. Savings clause. 
3

•HR 2141 IH 

Sec. 415. Availability of public records. 

Sec. 416. Miscellaneous powers. 

Sec. 417. Multiple mineral development and surface resources. 

Sec. 418. Mineral materials. 

Sec. 419. Application of Act to beneficiation and processing of non-Federal 

minerals on Federal lands.

1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS AND REFERENCES. 

2 (a) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this Act:

3 (1) The term ‘‘affiliate’’ means with respect to 

4 any person, any of the following: 

5 (A) Any person who controls, is controlled 

6 by, or is under common control with such per7 son. 

8 (B) Any partner of such person. 

9 (C) Any person owning at least 10 percent 

10 of the voting shares of such person. 

11 (2) The term ‘‘applicant’’ means any person ap12 plying for a permit under this Act or a modification 

13 to or a renewal of a permit under this Act. 

14 (3) The term ‘‘beneficiation’’ means the crush15 ing and grinding of locatable mineral ore and such 

16 processes as are employed to free the mineral from 

17 other constituents, including but not necessarily lim18 ited to, physical and chemical separation techniques. 

19 (4) The term ‘‘claim holder’’ means a person 

20 holding a mining claim located or converted under 

21 this Act. Such term may include an agent of a claim 

22 holder. 
4

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (5) The term ‘‘control’’ means having the abil2 ity, directly or indirectly, to determine (without re3 gard to whether exercised through one or more cor4 porate structures) the manner in which an entity 

5 conducts mineral activities, through any means, in6 cluding without limitation, ownership interest, au7 thority to commit the entity’s real or financial as8 sets, position as a director, officer, or partner of the 

9 entity, or contractual arrangement. The Secretary 

10 and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly pro11 mulgate such rules as may be necessary under this 

12 paragraph. 

13 (6) The term ‘‘exploration’’ means those tech14 niques employed to locate the presence of a locatable 

15 mineral deposit and to establish its nature, position, 

16 size, shape, grade and value not associated with min17 ing, beneficiation, processing or marketing of min18 erals. 

19 (7) The term ‘‘Indian lands’’ means lands held 

20 in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe or indi21 vidual or held by an Indian tribe or individual sub22 ject to a restriction by the United States against 

23 alienation. 

24 (8) The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ means any Indian 

25 tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group 
5

•HR 2141 IH 

1 or community, including any Alaska Native village 

2 or regional corporation as defined in or established 

3 pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 

4 Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 and following), which is recog5 nized as eligible for the special programs and serv6 ices provided by the United States to Indians be7 cause of their status as Indians. 

8 (9) The term ‘‘land use plans’’ means those 

9 plans required under section 202 of the Federal 

10 Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 

11 U.S.C. 1712) or the land management plans for Na12 tional Forest System units required under section 6 

13 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 

14 Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604), whichever 

15 is applicable. 

16 (10) The term ‘‘legal subdivisions’’ means an 

17 aliquot quarter quarter section of land as established 

18 by the official records of the public land survey sys19 tem, or a single lot as established by the official 

20 records of the public land survey system if the perti21 nent section is irregular and contains fractional lots, 

22 as the case may be.

23 (11)(A) The term ‘‘locatable mineral’’ means 

24 any mineral, the legal and beneficial title to which 
6

•HR 2141 IH 

1 remains in the United States and which is not sub2 ject to disposition under any of the following: 

3 (i) The Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 

4 181 and following). 

5 (ii) The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 

6 (30 U.S.C. 1001 and following).

7 (iii) The Act of July 31, 1947, commonly 

8 known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 

9 601 and following). 

10 (iv) The Mineral Leasing for Acquired 

11 Lands Act (30 U.S.C. 351 and following).

12 (B) The term ‘‘locatable mineral’’ does not in13 clude any mineral held in trust by the United States 

14 for any Indian or Indian tribe, as defined in section 

15 2 of the Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982 

16 (25 U.S.C. 2101), or any mineral owned by any In17 dian or Indian tribe, as defined in that section, that 

18 is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed 

19 by the United States.

20 (12) The term ‘‘millsite claim’’ means a claim 

21 to public land that—

22 (A) does not exceed 5 acres for each 20 

23 acres of mining claim for a vein or lode; 

24 (B) is noncontiguous to such vein or lode; 

25 and 
7

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (C) is needed by a mining claim holder for 

2 mining, milling, processing, beneficiation, or 

3 other similar operations in connection with the 

4 mining claim.

5 (13) The term ‘‘mineral activities’’ means any 

6 activity on Federal lands for, related to, or inci7 dental to, mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, 

8 processing, or reclamation activities for any locatable 

9 mineral. 

10 (14) The term ‘‘minimize’’ means to reduce the 

11 adverse impact of an operation to the lowest prac12 tical level.

13 (15) The term ‘‘mining’’ means the processes 

14 employed for the extraction of a locatable mineral 

15 from the earth. 

16 (16) The term ‘‘National Conservation System 

17 unit’’ means any unit of the National Park System, 

18 National Wildlife Refuge System, National Wild and 

19 Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System, or a 

20 National Conservation Area, National Recreation 

21 Area, a National Monument or any unit of the Na22 tional Wilderness Preservation System. 

23 (17) The term ‘‘operator’’ means any person, 

24 conducting mineral activities subject to this Act or 

25 any agent of such a person. 
8

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (18) The term ‘‘person’’ means an individual, 

2 Indian tribe, partnership, association, society, joint 

3 venture, joint stock company, firm, company, cor4 poration, cooperative, or other organization and any 

5 instrumentality of State or local government includ6 ing any publicly owned utility or publicly owned cor7 poration of State or local government. 

8 (19) The term ‘‘processing’’ means processes 

9 downstream of beneficiation employed to prepare 

10 locatable mineral ore into the final marketable prod11 uct, including but not limited to, smelting and elec12 trolytic refining. 

13 (20) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

14 of the Interior, unless otherwise specified. 

15 (21) The term ‘‘surface management require16 ments’’ means the requirements and standards of 

17 title II, and such other standards as are established 

18 by the Secretary governing mineral activities pursu19 ant to this Act. 

20 (b) REFERENCES.—(1) Any reference in this Act to 

21 the term ‘‘general mining laws’’ is a reference to those 

22 Acts which generally comprise chapters 2, 12A, and 16, 

23 and sections 161 and 162 of title 30 of the United States 

24 Code. 
9

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (2) Any reference in this Act to the ‘‘Act of July 23, 

2 1955’’, is a reference to the Act of July 23, 1955, entitled 

3 ‘‘An Act to amend the Act of July 31, 1947 (61 Stat. 

4 681) and the mining laws to provide for multiple use of 

5 the surface of the same tracts of the public lands, and 

6 for other purposes’’ (30 U.S.C. 601 and following). 

7 TITLE I—MINERAL EXPLO8 RATION AND DEVELOPMENT 

9 SEC. 101. LANDS OPEN TO LOCATION. 

10 (a) LANDS OPEN TO LOCATION.—Except as provided 

11 in subsection (b), mining claims may be located under this 

12 Act on lands and interests in lands owned by the United 

13 States if—

14 (1) such lands and interests were open to the 

15 location of mining claims under the general mining 

16 laws on the date of enactment of this Act; or 

17 (2) such lands and interests are opened to the 

18 location of mining claims after the date of enact19 ment of this Act by reason of any administrative ac20 tion or statute. 

21 (b) LANDS NOT OPEN TO LOCATION.—

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

23 provision of law and subject to valid existing rights, 

24 each of the following shall not be open to the loca-
10

•HR 2141 IH 

1 tion of mining claims under this Act on or after the 

2 date of enactment of this Act: 

3 (A) Lands recommended for wilderness 

4 designation by the agency managing the sur5 face, pending a final determination by the Con6 gress of the status of such recommended lands, 

7 or otherwise being managed as roadless areas 

8 under an applicable land use plan. 

9 (B) Lands being managed by the Sec10 retary, acting through Bureau of Land Manage11 ment, as wilderness study areas or National 

12 Monuments on the date of enactment of this 

13 Act except where the location of mining claims 

14 is specifically allowed to continue by the statute 

15 designating the study area, pending a final de16 termination by the Congress of the status of 

17 such lands. 

18 (C) Lands that are—

19 (i) in designated Wild and Scenic Riv20 ers and under study for inclusion in the 

21 National Wild and Scenic River System 

22 pursuant to section 5(a) of the Wild and 

23 Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)), 

24 pending a final determination by the Con25 gress of the status of such lands; 
11

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (ii) determined by a Federal agency 

2 under section 5(d) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 

3 1276(d)) to be eligible for inclusion in such 

4 system, pending a final determination by 

5 the Congress of the status of such lands; 

6 or 

7 (iii) designated Wild and Scenic Riv8 ers that have been withdrawn from mineral 

9 entry by action of the Secretary of the In10 terior. 

11 (D) Lands withdrawn or segregated from 

12 mineral entry under authority of other law. 

13 (E) Lands designated as Areas of Critical 

14 Environmental Concern. 

15 (F) Lands identified as ‘‘sacred sites’’ in 

16 accordance with Executive Order 13007. 

17 (2) DEFINITIONS.—(A) As used in this sub18 section, the term ‘‘valid existing rights’’ means a 

19 mining claim or millsite claim located on lands de20 scribed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a), that—

21 (i) was properly located and maintained 

22 under this Act prior to and on the applicable 

23 date, or 
12

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (ii) was properly located and maintained 

2 under the general mining laws prior to the ap3 plicable date, and 

4 (I) was supported by a discovery of a 

5 valuable mineral deposit within the mean6 ing of the general mining laws on the ap7 plicable date, or satisfies the limitations 

8 under existing law for millsite claims, and

9 (II) continues to be valid under this 

10 Act. 

11 (B) As used in this paragraph, the term ‘‘appli12 cable date’’ means one of the following:

13 (i) In the case of lands described in para14 graph (1)(A), such term means the date of the 

15 recommendation referred to in paragraph 

16 (1)(A) if such recommendation is made on or 

17 after the date of the enactment of this Act.

18 (ii) In the case of lands described in para19 graph (1)(A), if the recommendation referred to 

20 in paragraph (1)(A) was made before the date 

21 of the enactment of this Act, such term means 

22 the earlier of (I) the date of enactment of this 

23 Act or (II) the date of any withdrawal of such 

24 lands from mineral activities. 
13

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (iii) For lands described in paragraph 

2 (1)(B), such term means the date of the enact3 ment of this Act. 

4 (iv) For lands referred to in paragraph 

5 (1)(C)(i) and (1)(C)(iii), such term means the 

6 date of the enactment of the amendment to the 

7 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act listing the river seg8 ment for study and for lands referred to in 

9 paragraph (1)(C)(ii), such term means the date 

10 of the eligibility determination. 

11 (v) For lands referred to in paragraph 

12 (1)(D), such term means the date of the with13 drawal. 

14 SEC. 102. RIGHTS UNDER THIS ACT. 

15 The holder of a mining claim located under the gen16 eral mining laws and maintained in compliance with this 

17 Act shall have the exclusive right of possession and use 

18 of the claimed land for mineral activities, including the 

19 right of ingress and egress to such claimed lands for such 

20 activities, subject to the rights of the United States under 

21 this Act and other applicable Federal law. Such rights of 

22 the claim holder shall terminate upon completion of min23 eral activities of lands to the satisfaction of the Secretary. 

24 In cases where an area is determined unsuitable under 

25 section 208, holders of claims located under the general 
14

•HR 2141 IH 

1 mining laws shall be entitled to receive a refund of claim 

2 maintenance fees. 

3 SEC. 103. CLAIM MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. 

4 (a) CLAIM MAINTENANCE FEE.—Except as provided 

5 in subsections (c), (d), and (e), the holder of each 

6 unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site located pur7 suant to the general mining laws, whether located before 

8 or after the enactment of this Act, shall pay to the Sec9 retary, on or before August 31 of each year, a claim main10 tenance fee of $100 per claim. Such claim maintenance 

11 fee shall be in lieu of the assessment work requirement 

12 contained in the general mining laws and the related filing 

13 requirements contained in section 314(a) of the Federal 

14 Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 

15 1744(a)). 

16 (b) TIME OF PAYMENT.—The claim maintenance fee 

17 payable pursuant to subsection (a) for any assessment 

18 year (as defined under the general mining laws) shall be 

19 paid before the commencement of the assessment year.

20 (c) OIL SHALE CLAIMS SUBJECT TO CLAIM MAINTE21 NANCE FEES UNDER ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 1992.—

22 This section shall not apply to any oil shale claims for 

23 which a fee is required to be paid under section 2511(e)(2) 

24 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 3111; 30 

25 U.S.C. 242). 
15

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (d) WAIVER FOR PATENT APPLICANTS.—The Sec2 retary may waive the claim maintenance fee required 

3 under this section for a claimant who certifies in writing 

4 to the Secretary that on the date the payment was due, 

5 the claimant and all related parties—

6 (1) had filed a patent application with the Sec7 retary on or before September 30, 1994; and 

8 (2) had fully complied with all requirements es9 tablished under sections 2325 and 2326 of the Re10 vised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 29 and 30) for vein or 

11 lode claims and sections 2329, 2330, 2331, and 

12 2333 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 35, 36, and 

13 37) for placer claims, and section 2337 of the Re14 vised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 42) for millsite claims, by 

15 that date. 

16 (e) EXCEPTIONS FOR CLAIMANTS HOLDING 10 OR

17 FEWER MINING CLAIMS.—

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—A claimant may elect to per19 form the assessment work required under the gen20 eral mining laws in lieu of paying the maintenance 

21 fee required under this section if the claimant cer22 tifies in writing to the Secretary that on the date the

23 payment was due, the claimant and all related par24 ties—
16

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (A) are producing hard rock minerals 

2 under a valid notice or plan of operation which 

3 production results in not less than $1,500 and 

4 not more than $800,000 in gross revenues per 

5 year from a total of 10 or fewer claims; 

6 (B) are performing exploration work to 

7 disclose, expose, or otherwise make known pos8 sible valuable mineralization on a total of 10 or 

9 fewer claims under a valid notice or plan of op10 eration; and 

11 (C) have less than 10 acres of unreclaimed 

12 surface disturbance from such mining activity 

13 or such exploration work. 

14 (2) CLAIMANTS ELECTING TO DO ASSESSMENT

15 WORK.—A claimant holding 10 or fewer mining 

16 claims, who elects to do the assessment work re17 quired by the general mining laws in lieu of paying 

18 the claim maintenance fee required under this sec19 tion shall be required to meet the filing requirements 

20 of section 314(a) and (c) of the Federal Land Policy 

21 and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1744(a) and (c)) 

22 on such 10 or fewer claims and shall certify the per23 formance of such assessment work to the Secretary 

24 by August 31 of each year. 
17

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (f) CO-OWNERSHIP.—Upon the failure of any one or 

2 more of several co-claimants to contribute such co-claim3 ant or claimants’ portion of the fee under this section, any 

4 co-claimant who has paid such fee may, after the payment 

5 due date, give the delinquent co-claimant or claimants no6 tice of such failure in writing (or by publication in the 

7 newspaper nearest the claim for at least once a week for 

8 at least 90 days). If at the expiration of 90 days after 

9 such notice in writing or by publication, any delinquent 

10 co-claimant fails or refuses to contribute the co-claimant’s 

11 portion, the co-claimant’s interest in the claim shall be12 come the property of the co-claimants who have paid the 

13 required fee.

14 (g) FUND.—All moneys received by the United States 

15 under this section shall be deposited in the Abandoned 

16 Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund established 

17 under title III. 

18 (h) CREDIT AGAINST ROYALTY.—The amount of the 

19 annual claim maintenance fee required to be paid under 

20 this section for any claim for any period shall be credited 

21 against the amount of royalty required to be paid under 

22 section 112 for the same period with respect to that claim. 

23 (i) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 

24 (1) With respect to any claimant, the term ‘‘re25 lated party’’ means—
18

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (A) the spouse and dependent children (as 

2 defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue 

3 Code of 1986), of the claimant; and 

4 (B) any affiliate of the claimant, including 

5 a person who controls, is controlled by, or is 

6 under common control with the claimant. 

7 (2) The term ‘‘control’’ includes actual control, 

8 legal control, and the power to exercise control, 

9 through or by common directors, officers, stock10 holders, a voting trust, or a holding company or in11 vestment company, or any other means. 

12 SEC. 104. LOCATION FEE. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi14 sion of law, for every unpatented mining claim, mill, or 

15 tunnel site located after the date of enactment of this Act, 

16 pursuant to the general mining laws, the locator shall, at 

17 the time the location notice is recorded with the Bureau 

18 of Land Management, pay to the Secretary a location fee, 

19 in addition to the claim maintenance fee required by sec20 tion 103, of $25.00 per claim. 

21 (b) TIME OF PAYMENT.—The location fee imposed 

22 under subsection (a) shall be payable not later than 90 

23 days after the date of location. 
19

•HR 2141 IH 

1 SEC. 105. CO-OWNERSHIP. 

2 The co-ownership provisions of the general mining 

3 laws shall remain in effect, except that in applying such 

4 provisions, the annual claim maintenance fee required 

5 under this title shall, where applicable, replace applicable 

6 assessment requirements and expenditures. 

7 SEC. 106. OTHER REQUIREMENTS. 

8 Nothing in this title shall change or modify the re9 quirements of section 314(b) of the Federal Land Policy 

10 and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1744(b)), re11 lated to filings required by section 314(b), and such re12 quirements shall remain in effect with respect to claims 

13 and mill or tunnel sites for which fees are required to be 

14 paid under this section.

15 SEC. 107. FEE ADJUSTMENTS. 

16 (a) INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS.—The Secretary of 

17 the Interior shall adjust the fees required by this section 

18 to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index published 

19 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of 

20 Labor, every 5 years after the date of the enactment of 

21 this Act or more frequently if the Secretary determines 

22 an adjustment to be reasonable. 

23 (b) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall provide claimants 

24 notice of any adjustment made under this section not later 

25 than July 1 of any year in which the adjustment is made. 
20

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (c) APPLICATION OF ADJUSTMENT.—A fee adjust2 ment under this section shall begin to apply during the 

3 first assessment year (as defined under the general mining 

4 laws) that begins at noon on the first day of September 

5 after the adjustment is made. 

6 SEC. 108. USE OF FEES. 

7 All moneys received by the United States under this 

8 title shall be deposited in the Abandoned Locatable Min9 erals Mine Reclamation Fund established under title III. 

10 SEC. 109. PROHIBITION. 

11 If the Secretary prohibits the use of a mining claim 

12 for mineral activities pursuant to section 208 of this Act 

13 (relating to unsuitability), the provisions of sections 101 

14 through 107 shall no longer apply with respect to that 

15 claim. 

16 SEC. 110. FAILURE TO COMPLY. 

17 (a) FORFEITURE.—The failure of the claim holder to 

18 file the notice of location, to pay the location fee, or to 

19 comply with the claim maintenance provisions of section 

20 103 for a mining claim as required by this title shall be 

21 deemed conclusively to constitute forfeiture of the mining 

22 claim by operation of law. Forfeiture shall not relieve any 

23 person of any obligation created under this Act, including 

24 reclamation.
21

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (b) PROHIBITION.—No claim holder may locate a new 

2 claim on the lands such claim holder included in a for3 feited claim for 2 years from the date such claim is 

4 deemed forfeited. 

5 (c) RELINQUISHMENT.—A claim holder deciding not 

6 to pursue mineral activities on a claim may relinquish such 

7 claim by notifying the Secretary. A claim holder relin8 quishing a claim is responsible for reclamation as required 

9 by section 206 of this Act and all other applicable require10 ments. A claim holder who relinquishes a claim shall not 

11 be subject to the prohibition of subsection (b) of this sec12 tion unless the Secretary determines that the claim is 

13 being relinquished and relocated for the purpose of avoid14 ing compliance with any provision of this Act, including 

15 payment of the claim maintenance fee. 

16 SEC. 111. LIMITATION ON PATENTS. 

17 (a) MINING CLAIMS.—

18 (1) DETERMINATIONS REQUIRED.—After the 

19 date of enactment of this Act, no patent shall be 

20 issued by the United States for any mining claim lo21 cated under the general mining laws unless the Sec22 retary determines that, for the claim concerned—

23 (A) a patent application was filed with the 

24 Secretary on or before September 30, 1994; 

25 and 
22

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (B) all requirements established under sec2 tions 2325 and 2326 of the Revised Statutes 

3 (30 U.S.C. 29 and 30) for vein or lode claims 

4 and sections 2329, 2330, 2331, and 2333 of 

5 the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 35, 36, and 

6 37) for placer claims were fully complied with 

7 by that date. 

8 (2) RIGHT TO PATENT.—If the Secretary makes 

9 the determinations referred to in subparagraphs (A) 

10 and (B) of paragraph (1) for any mining claim, the 

11 holder of the claim shall be entitled to the issuance 

12 of a patent in the same manner and degree to which 

13 such claim holder would have been entitled to prior 

14 to the enactment of this Act, unless and until such 

15 determinations are withdrawn or invalidated by the 

16 Secretary or by a court of the United States. 

17 (b) MILLSITE CLAIMS.—

18 (1) DETERMINATIONS REQUIRED.—After the 

19 date of enactment of this Act, no patent shall be 

20 issued by the United States for any millsite claim lo21 cated under the general mining laws unless the Sec22 retary determines that for the millsite concerned—

23 (A) a patent application for such land was 

24 filed with the Secretary on or before September 

25 30, 1994; and 
23

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (B) all requirements applicable to such 

2 patent application were fully complied with by 

3 that date. 

4 (2) RIGHT TO PATENT.—If the Secretary makes 

5 the determinations referred to in subparagraphs (A) 

6 and (B) of paragraph (1) for any millsite claim, the 

7 holder of the claim shall be entitled to the issuance 

8 of a patent in the same manner and degree to which 

9 such claim holder would have been entitled to prior 

10 to the enactment of this Act, unless and until such 

11 determinations are withdrawn or invalidated by the 

12 Secretary or by a court of the United States.

13 SEC. 112. ROYALTY. 

14 (a) RESERVATION OF ROYALTY.—Production of all 

15 locatable minerals from any mining claim located under 

16 the general mining laws and maintained in compliance 

17 with this Act, or mineral concentrates or products derived 

18 from locatable minerals from any mining claim located 

19 under the general mining laws and maintained in compli20 ance with this Act, as the case may be, shall be subject 

21 to a royalty of 8 percent of the net smelter return from 

22 such production. The claim holder and any operator to 

23 whom the claim holder has assigned the obligation to make 

24 royalty payments under the claim and any person who 
24

•HR 2141 IH 

1 controls such claim holder or operator shall be jointly and 

2 severally liable for payment of such royalties. 

3 (b) DUTIES OF CLAIM HOLDERS, OPERATORS, AND

4 TRANSPORTERS.—(1) A person—

5 (A) who is required to make any royalty pay6 ment under this section shall make such payments 

7 to the United States at such times and in such man8 ner as the Secretary may by rule prescribe; and 

9 (B) shall notify the Secretary, in the time and 

10 manner as may be specified by the Secretary, of any 

11 assignment that such person may have made of the 

12 obligation to make any royalty or other payment 

13 under a mining claim. 

14 (2) Any person paying royalties under this section 

15 shall file a written instrument, together with the first roy16 alty payment, affirming that such person is liable to the 

17 Secretary for making proper payments for all amounts due 

18 for all time periods for which such person has a payment 

19 responsibility. Such liability for the period referred to in 

20 the preceding sentence shall include any and all additional 

21 amounts billed by the Secretary and determined to be due 

22 by final agency or judicial action. Any person liable for 

23 royalty payments under this section who assigns any pay24 ment obligation shall remain jointly and severally liable 

25 for all royalty payments due for the claim for the period.
25

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (3) A person conducting mineral activities shall—

2 (A) develop and comply with the site security 

3 provisions in operations permit designed to protect 

4 from theft the locatable minerals, concentrates or 

5 products derived therefrom which are produced or 

6 stored on a mining claim, and such provisions shall 

7 conform with such minimum standards as the Sec8 retary may prescribe by rule, taking into account the 

9 variety of circumstances on mining claims; and 

10 (B) not later than the 5th business day after 

11 production begins anywhere on a mining claim, or 

12 production resumes after more than 90 days after 

13 production was suspended, notify the Secretary, in 

14 the manner prescribed by the Secretary, of the date 

15 on which such production has begun or resumed. 

16 (4) The Secretary may by rule require any person en17 gaged in transporting a locatable mineral, concentrate, or 

18 product derived therefrom to carry on his or her person, 

19 in his or her vehicle, or in his or her immediate control, 

20 documentation showing, at a minimum, the amount, ori21 gin, and intended destination of the locatable mineral, con22 centrate, or product derived therefrom in such cir23 cumstances as the Secretary determines is appropriate. 

24 (c) RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIRE25 MENTS.—(1) A claim holder, operator, or other person di-
26

•HR 2141 IH 

1 rectly involved in developing, producing, processing, trans2 porting, purchasing, or selling locatable minerals, con3 centrates, or products derived therefrom, subject to this 

4 Act, through the point of royalty computation shall estab5 lish and maintain any records, make any reports, and pro6 vide any information that the Secretary may reasonably 

7 require for the purposes of implementing this section or 

8 determining compliance with rules or orders under this 

9 section. Such records shall include, but not be limited to, 

10 periodic reports, records, documents, and other data. Such 

11 reports may also include, but not be limited to, pertinent 

12 technical and financial data relating to the quantity, qual13 ity, composition volume, weight, and assay of all minerals 

14 extracted from the mining claim. Upon the request of any 

15 officer or employee duly designated by the Secretary or 

16 any State conducting an audit or investigation pursuant 

17 to this section, the appropriate records, reports, or infor18 mation which may be required by this section shall be 

19 made available for inspection and duplication by such offi20 cer or employee or State.

21 (2) Records required by the Secretary under this sec22 tion shall be maintained for 6 years after release of finan23 cial assurance under section 205 unless the Secretary noti24 fies the operator that the Secretary has initiated an audit 

25 or investigation involving such records and that such 
27

•HR 2141 IH 

1 records must be maintained for a longer period. In any 

2 case when an audit or investigation is underway, records 

3 shall be maintained until the Secretary releases the oper4 ator of the obligation to maintain such records. 

5 (d) AUDITS.—The Secretary is authorized to conduct 

6 such audits of all claim holders, operators, transporters, 

7 purchasers, processors, or other persons directly or indi8 rectly involved in the production or sales of minerals cov9 ered by this Act, as the Secretary deems necessary for the 

10 purposes of ensuring compliance with the requirements of 

11 this section. For purposes of performing such audits, the 

12 Secretary shall, at reasonable times and upon request, 

13 have access to, and may copy, all books, papers and other 

14 documents that relate to compliance with any provision 

15 of this section by any person. 

16 (e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—(1) The Secretary 

17 is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the 

18 Secretary of Agriculture to share information concerning 

19 the royalty management of locatable minerals, con20 centrates, or products derived therefrom, to carry out in21 spection, auditing, investigation, or enforcement (not in22 cluding the collection of royalties, civil or criminal pen23 alties, or other payments) activities under this section in 

24 cooperation with the Secretary, and to carry out any other 

25 activity described in this section. 
28

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3)(A) of this 

2 subsection (relating to trade secrets), and pursuant to a 

3 cooperative agreement, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, 

4 upon request, have access to all royalty accounting infor5 mation in the possession of the Secretary respecting the 

6 production, removal, or sale of locatable minerals, con7 centrates, or products derived therefrom from claims on 

8 lands open to location under this Act. 

9 (3) Trade secrets, proprietary, and other confidential 

10 information shall be made available by the Secretary pur11 suant to a cooperative agreement under this subsection to 

12 the Secretary of Agriculture upon request only if—

13 (A) the Secretary of Agriculture consents in 

14 writing to restrict the dissemination of the informa15 tion to those who are directly involved in an audit 

16 or investigation under this section and who have a 

17 need to know; 

18 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture accepts liabil19 ity for wrongful disclosure; and 

20 (C) the Secretary of Agriculture demonstrates 

21 that such information is essential to the conduct of 

22 an audit or investigation under this subsection. 

23 (f) INTEREST AND SUBSTANTIAL UNDERREPORTING

24 ASSESSMENTS.—(1) In the case of mining claims where 

25 royalty payments are not received by the Secretary on the 
29

•HR 2141 IH 

1 date that such payments are due, the Secretary shall 

2 charge interest on such underpayments at the same inter3 est rate as is applicable under section 6621(a)(2) of the 

4 Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In the case of an under5 payment, interest shall be computed and charged only on 

6 the amount of the deficiency and not on the total amount. 

7 (2) If there is any underreporting of royalty owed on 

8 production from a claim for any production month by any 

9 person liable for royalty payments under this section, the 

10 Secretary may assess a penalty of 10 percent of the 

11 amount of that underreporting.

12 (3) If there is a substantial underreporting of royalty 

13 owed on production from a claim for any production 

14 month by any person liable for the royalty, the Secretary 

15 may assess a penalty of 25 percent of the amount of that 

16 underreporting. 

17 (4) For the purposes of this subsection, the term 

18 ‘‘underreporting’’ means the difference between the roy19 alty on the value of the production which should have been 

20 reported and the royalty on the value of the production 

21 which was reported, if the value which should have been 

22 reported is greater than the value which was reported. An 

23 underreporting constitutes a ‘‘substantial underreporting’’ 

24 if such difference exceeds 10 percent of the royalty on the 

25 value of production which should have been reported.
30

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (5) The Secretary shall not impose the assessment 

2 provided in paragraphs (2) or (3) of this subsection if the 

3 person liable for royalty payments under this section cor4 rects the underreporting before the date such person re5 ceives notice from the Secretary that an underreporting 

6 may have occurred, or before 90 days after the date of 

7 the enactment of this section, whichever is later. 

8 (6) The Secretary shall waive any portion of an as9 sessment under paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection 

10 attributable to that portion of the underreporting for 

11 which the person responsible for paying the royalty dem12 onstrates that—

13 (A) such person had written authorization from 

14 the Secretary to report royalty on the value of the 

15 production on basis on which it was reported, 

16 (B) such person had substantial authority for 

17 reporting royalty on the value of the production on 

18 the basis on which it was reported, 

19 (C) such person previously had notified the Sec20 retary, in such manner as the Secretary may by rule 

21 prescribe, of relevant reasons or facts affecting the 

22 royalty treatment of specific production which led to 

23 the underreporting, or 

24 (D) such person meets any other exception 

25 which the Secretary may, by rule, establish. 
31

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (7) All penalties collected under this subsection shall 

2 be deposited in the Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine 

3 Reclamation Fund established under title III. 

4 (g) DELEGATION.—For the purposes of this section, 

5 the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior 

6 acting through the Director of the Minerals Management 

7 Service. 

8 (h) EXPANDED ROYALTY OBLIGATIONS.—Each per9 son liable for royalty payments under this section shall 

10 be jointly and severally liable for royalty on all locatable 

11 minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom lost 

12 or wasted from a mining claim located under the general 

13 mining laws and maintained in compliance with this Act 

14 when such loss or waste is due to negligence on the part 

15 of any person or due to the failure to comply with any 

16 rule, regulation, or order issued under this section. 

17 (i) NET SMELTER RETURN DEFINED.—For the pur18 poses of this section, for any locatable mineral, the term 

19 ‘‘net smelter return’’ has the same meaning as the term 

20 ‘‘gross income’’ in section 613(c)(1) of the Internal Rev21 enue Code of 1986. 

22 (j) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The royalty under this sec23 tion shall take effect with respect to the production of 

24 locatable minerals after the enactment of this Act, but any 

25 royalty payments attributable to production during the 
32

•HR 2141 IH 

1 first 12 calendar months after the enactment of this Act 

2 shall be payable at the expiration of such 12-month period. 

3 (k) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ROYALTY REQUIRE4 MENTS.—Any person who fails to comply with the require5 ments of this section or any regulation or order issued to 

6 implement this section shall be liable for a civil penalty 

7 under section 109 of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty 

8 Management Act (30 U.S.C. 1719) to the same extent as 

9 if the claim located under the general mining laws and 

10 maintained in compliance with this Act were a lease under 

11 that Act. 

12 TITLE II—ENVIRONMENTAL 

13 CONSIDERATIONS OF MIN14 ERAL EXPLORATION AND DE15 VELOPMENT 

16 SEC. 201. SURFACE MANAGEMENT STANDARD. 

17 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in 

18 accordance with this title and applicable law, the Secretary 

19 shall require that mineral activities on Federal lands con20 ducted by any person shall minimize adverse impacts to 

21 the environment.

22 SEC. 202. PERMITS. 

23 (a) PERMITS REQUIRED.—No person may engage in 

24 mineral activities on Federal lands that may cause a dis25 turbance of surface resources, including but not limited 
33

•HR 2141 IH 

1 to land, air, ground water and surface water, and fish and 

2 wildlife, unless—

3 (1) the claim was properly located or converted 

4 under this Act and properly maintained; and 

5 (2) a permit was issued to such person under 

6 this title authorizing such activities.

7 (b) NEGLIGIBLE DISTURBANCE.—Notwithstanding 

8 subsection (a)(2), a permit under this title shall not be 

9 required for mineral activities that are a casual use of the 

10 public lands, including the collection of geochemical, rock, 

11 soil, or mineral specimens using hand tools; and hand pan12 ning. Casual use does not include—

13 (1) the use of mechanized earth moving equip14 ment, suction dredging, explosives; 

15 (2) the use of motor vehicles in areas closed to 

16 off-road vehicles; and 

17 (3) the construction of roads, drill pads, or the 

18 use of toxic or hazardous materials. 

19 SEC. 203. OPERATIONS PERMIT. 

20 (a) OPERATIONS PERMIT.—Any claim holder may 

21 apply to the Secretary, or for National Forest System 

22 lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, for an operations per23 mit authorizing the claim holder to carry out mineral ac24 tivities on Federal lands for any activity greater than cas25 ual use (as that term is used in section 202(b)). If the 
34

•HR 2141 IH 

1 Secretary decides to issue such permit, the permit shall 

2 include such terms and conditions as prescribed by such 

3 Secretary to carry out this title. 

4 (b) PERMIT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—An ap5 plication for an operations permit under this section shall 

6 be submitted in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary 

7 concerned and shall contain an operations plan, a reclama8 tion plan, such documentation as necessary to ensure com9 pliance with applicable Federal and State environmental 

10 laws and regulations, and each of the following: 

11 (1) An identification of the mining claims that 

12 will be subject to the plan of operations. 

13 (2) The name, mailing address, and social secu14 rity number or tax identification number, as applica15 ble, of each of the following: 

16 (A) The applicant for the permit and any 

17 agent of the applicant. 

18 (B) The operator (if different than the ap19 plicant) of the claim concerned. 

20 (C) Each claim holder (if different than 

21 the applicant) of the claim concerned. 

22 (D) Each affiliate and each officer or di23 rector of the applicant. 

24 (3) A statement of whether a person referred to 

25 in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (2)
35

•HR 2141 IH 

1 is currently in violation of, or was, during the 3-

2 year period preceding the date of application, found 

3 to be in violation of any of the following and if so, 

4 a brief explanation of the facts involved, including 

5 identification of the site and the nature of the viola6 tion: 

7 (A) Any provision of this Act or any regu8 lation under this Act.

9 (B) Any applicable toxic substance, solid 

10 waste, air, water quality, or fish and wildlife 

11 conservation law or regulation at any site where 

12 mining, beneficiation, or processing activities 

13 are occurring or have occurred. 

14 (C) The Surface Mining Control and Rec15 lamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 and fol16 lowing) or the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 

17 181 and following) or any regulation under 

18 those Acts at any site where surface coal min19 ing operations have occurred or are occurring. 

20 (4) A statement of any current or previous per21 mits or plans of operations issued under the Surface 

22 Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 

23 U.S.C. 1201 and following) or the Federal Land 

24 Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 

25 1701 and following). 
36

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (5) A description of the type and method of 

2 mineral activities proposed, the engineering tech3 niques proposed to be used, and the equipment pro4 posed to be used.

5 (6) The anticipated starting and termination 

6 dates of each phase of the mineral activities pro7 posed, including any planned temporary cessation of 

8 operations. 

9 (7) Maps, to an appropriate scale, clearly show10 ing the lands, watersheds, and surface waters, to be 

11 affected by the proposed mineral activities; surface 

12 and mineral ownership; facilities, including roads 

13 and other man-made structures; proposed disturb14 ances; soils and vegetation; topography; and water 

15 supply intakes and surface water bodies. 

16 (8) A description of the biological resources in 

17 or associated with the area subject to mineral activi18 ties, including vegetation, fish and wildlife, and ri19 parian and wetland habitats. 

20 (9) A description of measures planned to ex21 clude fish and wildlife resources from the area sub22 ject to mineral activities by covering, containment, 

23 or fencing of open waters, beneficiation, and proc24 essing materials; or maintenance of all facilities in a 

25 condition that is not harmful to fish and wildlife. 
37

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (10) A description of the quantity and quality 

2 of surface and ground water resources in or associ3 ated with the area subject to mineral activities, 

4 based on predisturbance monitoring sufficient to es5 tablish seasonal variations. 

6 (11) An analysis of the probable hydrologic con7 sequences of the mineral activities, both on and off 

8 the area subject to mineral activities, with respect to 

9 the hydrologic regime, quantity and quality of water 

10 in surface and ground water systems including the 

11 dissolved and suspended solids under seasonal flow 

12 conditions and the collection of sufficient data for 

13 the mine site and surrounding areas so that an as14 sessment can be made by the Secretary concerned of 

15 the probable cumulative impacts of the anticipated 

16 mineral activities in the area upon the hydrology of 

17 the area and particularly upon water availability and 

18 quality. 

19 (12) A description of the monitoring systems to 

20 be used to detect and determine whether compliance 

21 has and is occurring consistent with the surface 

22 management requirements, including the type and 

23 location of monitoring devices, sampling parameters 

24 and frequency, analytical methods, reporting proce25 dures, and procedures to respond to reporting re-
38

•HR 2141 IH 

1 sults, which will monitor the effects of mineral ac2 tivities on the site and surrounding environment, in3 cluding but not limited to, ground water, surface 

4 water, air, soils, and fish and wildlife resources. 

5 (13) Accident contingency plans that include, 

6 but are not limited to, immediate response strategies 

7 and corrective measures to mitigate environmental 

8 impacts and appropriate insurance to cover accident 

9 contingencies. 

10 (14) Any measures to comply with any condi11 tions on minerals activities that are required in the 

12 applicable land use plan or any condition stipulated 

13 pursuant to section 208. 

14 (15) Information determined necessary by the 

15 Secretary concerned to assess the cumulative im16 pacts of mineral activities, as required to comply 

17 with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 

18 if impacts of the proposed mineral activities are ad19 ditions to the impacts associated with other mineral 

20 activities. 

21 (16) Such other environmental baseline data as 

22 the Secretaries, by joint regulation, shall require suf23 ficient to validate the determinations required for 

24 issuance of a permit under this Act. 
39

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (17) Evidence of appropriate financial assur2 ance as specified in section 205. 

3 (18) A description of the site security provisions 

4 designed to protect from theft the locatable min5 erals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom 

6 that will be produced or stored on a mining claim. 

7 (19) A full characterization of soils and geology 

8 in the area to be affected by mineral activities. 

9 (20) A demonstration that the mining claim is 

10 economically valuable for development, taking into 

11 account the costs of compliance with this Act and 

12 other applicable law. 

13 (21) A copy of the applicant’s advertisement to 

14 be published as required by subsection (k). 

15 (c) OPERATION AND RECLAMATION PLAN APPLICA16 TION REQUIREMENTS.—The operation and reclamation 

17 plan referred to in subsection (b) shall include such rec18 lamation measures as prescribed by the Secretary, or for 

19 National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri20 culture, and each of the following: 

21 (1) A description of the condition of the land, 

22 including the fish and wildlife resources and habitat 

23 contained thereon, subject to the permit prior to the 

24 commencement of any mineral activities.
40

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (2) A description of operation and reclamation 

2 measures proposed pursuant to the requirements of 

3 section 206. 

4 (3) The engineering techniques to be used in 

5 operation and reclamation and the equipment pro6 posed to be used. 

7 (4) The anticipated starting and termination 

8 dates of each phase of the reclamation proposed. 

9 (5) A description of the proposed condition of 

10 the land, including the fish and wildlife resources 

11 and habitat contained thereon, following the comple12 tion of reclamation. 

13 (6) A description of the maintenance measures 

14 that will be necessary to meet the surface manage15 ment requirements of this Act, such as, but not lim16 ited to, drainage water treatment facilities, or liner 

17 maintenance and control. 

18 (7) The consideration which has been given to 

19 making the condition of the land after the comple20 tion of mineral activities and final reclamation con21 sistent with the applicable land use plan.

22 (d) PERMIT ISSUANCE OR DENIAL.—(1) After pro23 viding notice and opportunity for public comment and 

24 hearing pursuant to subsection (k), the Secretary, or for 

25 National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
41

•HR 2141 IH 

1 culture, shall issue an operations permit if such Secretary 

2 makes each of the following determinations in writing, and 

3 such Secretary shall deny a permit which he or she finds 

4 does not fully meet the requirements of this paragraph: 

5 (A) The permit application, operations plan, 

6 and reclamation plan are complete and accurate. 

7 (B) The applicant has demonstrated that the 

8 proposed reclamation in the operation and reclama9 tion plan can be accomplished. 

10 (C) The condition of the land including the fish 

11 and wildlife resources and habitat contained thereon, 

12 after the completion of mineral activities and final 

13 reclamation, conforms to the land use plan applica14 ble to the area subject to mineral activities and are 

15 returned to a productive use. 

16 (D) The area subject to the proposed plan is 

17 not included within an area designated unsuitable or 

18 not open to location for the types of mineral activi19 ties proposed. 

20 (E) The applicant has obtained the necessary 

21 Federal, State, and local permits to demonstrate 

22 that the mineral activities will be in compliance with 

23 this Act and all other applicable Federal require24 ments, and any State requirements agreed to by the 

25 appropriate Secretary pursuant to cooperative agree-
42

•HR 2141 IH 

1 ments under section 207 and local land use and zon2 ing requirements.

3 (F) The assessment of the probable cumulative 

4 impact of all anticipated mining in the area on the 

5 hydrologic balance specified in subsections (b)(10) 

6 and (11) have been made and the proposed oper7 ation has been designed to minimize disturbances to 

8 the prevailing hydrologic balance of the permit area. 

9 (G) The applicant has fully complied with the 

10 requirements of section 205 (relating to financial as11 surance) and is not ineligible to receive a permit 

12 under section 204. 

13 (2) Issuance of an operations permit under this sec14 tion shall be based on information supplied by the appli15 cant or other interested parties and the applicant shall 

16 have the burden of establishing that the application com17 plies with paragraph (1). 

18 (3) With respect to any activities specified in the rec19 lamation plan referred to in subsection (b) which con20 stitute a removal or remedial action under section 101 of 

21 the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensa22 tion and Liability Act of 1980, the Secretary shall consult 

23 with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 

24 Agency prior to the issuance of an operations permit. To 

25 the extent practicable, the Administrator shall ensure that 
43

•HR 2141 IH 

1 the reclamation plan does not require activities which 

2 would increase the costs or likelihood of removal or reme3 dial actions under Comprehensive Environmental Re4 sponse, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 or correc5 tive actions under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. 

6 (e) TERM OF PERMIT; RENEWAL.—(1) An operations 

7 permit shall be for a stated term. The term shall be no 

8 greater than that necessary to accomplish the proposed 

9 mineral activities subject to the permit, and in no case 

10 for more than 10 years, unless the applicant demonstrates 

11 to the satisfaction of the Secretary, or for National Forest 

12 System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, that a specified 

13 longer term is reasonably needed for such mineral activi14 ties. 

15 (2) Failure by the operator to commence mineral ac16 tivities within one year of the date scheduled in an oper17 ations permit shall require a modification of the permit 

18 unless the Secretary concerned determines that the delay 

19 was beyond the control of the applicant. 

20 (3) An operations permit shall carry with it the right 

21 of successive renewal upon expiration only with respect to 

22 operations on areas within the boundaries of the existing 

23 permit as issued. A renewal of such permit shall not be 

24 issued if such Secretary determines, in writing, any of the 

25 following: 
44

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (A) The terms and conditions of the existing 

2 permit are not being met. 

3 (B) The operator has not demonstrated that 

4 the financial assurance would continue to apply in 

5 full force and effect for the renewal term. 

6 (C) Any additional revised or updated informa7 tion required by the Secretary concerned has not 

8 been provided. 

9 (D) The applicant has not demonstrated that 

10 the mineral activities will be in compliance with the 

11 requirements of all other applicable Federal require12 ments, and any State requirements agreed to by the 

13 Secretary concerned pursuant to cooperative agree14 ments under section 207.

15 (4) A renewal of an operations permit shall be for 

16 a term of 10 years or for such additional term as the Sec17 retary concerned deems appropriate. Application for re18 newal shall be made at least one year prior to the expira19 tion of the existing permit. Where a renewal application 

20 has been timely submitted and a permit expires prior to 

21 Secretarial action on the renewal application, reclamation 

22 shall and other mineral activities may continue in accord23 ance with the terms of the expired permit until the Sec24 retary concerned makes a decision on the renewal applica25 tion.
45

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (f) PERMIT MODIFICATION.—(1) During the term of 

2 an operations permit the operator may submit an applica3 tion to modify the permit (including the operations plan 

4 or reclamation plan, or both). To approve a proposed 

5 modification, the Secretary, or for National Forest System 

6 lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall make the same 

7 determinations as are required in the case of an original 

8 operations permit, except that the Secretaries may estab9 lish joint rules regarding the extent to which requirements 

10 for original permits under this section shall apply to appli11 cations to modify a permit based on whether such modi12 fications are deemed significant or minor. Such rules shall 

13 provide that all requirements applicable to a new permit 

14 shall apply to any extension of the area covered by the 

15 permit (except for incidental boundary revisions). 

16 (2) The Secretary, or for National Forest System 

17 lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may, at any time, re18 quire reasonable modification to any operations plan or 

19 reclamation plan upon a determination that the require20 ments of this Act cannot be met if the plan is followed 

21 as approved. Such determination shall be based on a writ22 ten finding and subject to notice and hearing requirements 

23 established by the Secretary concerned. 

24 (3) A permit modification is required before changes 

25 are made to the approved plan of operations, or if unan-
46

•HR 2141 IH 

1 ticipated events or conditions exist on the mine site, in2 cluding in the case of—

3 (A) development of acid or toxic drainage; 

4 (B) loss of springs or water supplies; 

5 (C) the need for long-term water treatment; 

6 (D) reclamation failure; 

7 (E) the discovery of significant scientific, cul8 tural, or biological resources that were not addressed 

9 in the original plan; or 

10 (F) the discovery of hazards to public safety. 

11 (g) TEMPORARY CESSATION OF OPERATIONS.—(1) 

12 An operator conducting mineral activities under an oper13 ations permit in effect under this title may not cease min14 eral activities for a period of 180 days or more under an 

15 operations permit unless the Secretary concerned has ap16 proved such temporary cessation or unless the temporary 

17 cessation is permitted under the original permit. Any oper18 ator temporarily ceasing mineral activities for a period of 

19 180 days or more under an existing operations permit 

20 shall submit, before the expiration of such 180-day period, 

21 a complete application for temporary cessation of oper22 ations to the Secretary concerned for approval unless the 

23 temporary cessation is permitted under the original per24 mit. 
47

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (2) An application for approval of temporary ces2 sation of operations shall include such information re3 quired under subsection (b) and any other provisions pre4 scribed by the Secretary concerned to minimize impacts 

5 on the environment. After receipt of a complete applica6 tion for temporary cessation of operations such Secretary 

7 shall conduct an inspection of the area for which tem8 porary cessation of operations has been requested. 

9 (3) To approve an application for temporary ces10 sation of operations, the Secretary concerned shall make 

11 each of the following determinations: 

12 (A) A determination that the methods for se13 curing surface facilities and restricting access to the 

14 permit area, or relevant portions thereof, will effec15 tively ensure against hazards to the health and safe16 ty of the public and fish and wildlife. 

17 (B) A determination that reclamation is in com18 pliance with the approved reclamation plan, except 

19 in those areas specifically designated in the applica20 tion for temporary cessation of operations for which 

21 a delay in meeting such standards is necessary to fa22 cilitate the resumption of operations. 

23 (C) A determination that the amount of finan24 cial assurance filed with the permit application is 

25 sufficient to assure completion of the reclamation ac-
48

•HR 2141 IH 

1 tivities identified in the approved reclamation plan in 

2 the event of forfeiture. 

3 (D) A determination that any outstanding no4 tices of violation and cessation orders incurred in 

5 connection with the plan for which temporary ces6 sation is being requested are either stayed pursuant 

7 to an administrative or judicial appeal proceeding or 

8 are in the process of being abated to the satisfaction 

9 of the Secretary concerned. 

10 (h) PERMIT REVIEWS.—The Secretary, or for Na11 tional Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, 

12 shall review each permit issued under this section every 

13 3 years during the term of such permit, shall provide pub14 lic notice of the permit review, and, based upon a written 

15 finding, such Secretary shall require the operator to take 

16 such actions as the Secretary deems necessary to assure 

17 that mineral activities conform to the permit, including 

18 adjustment of financial assurance requirements. 

19 (i) FEES.—Each application for a permit pursuant 

20 to this section shall be accompanied by a fee payable to 

21 the Secretary or for the National Forest System, the Sec22 retary of Agriculture, in such amount as may be estab23 lished by such Secretary, or for National Forest System 

24 lands by the Secretary of Agriculture. Such amount shall 

25 be equal to the actual or anticipated cost to the Secretary, 
49

•HR 2141 IH 

1 or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri2 culture, of reviewing, administering, and enforcing such 

3 permit, as determined by such Secretary. All moneys re4 ceived under this subsection shall be deposited in the 

5 Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund 

6 established under title III. 

7 (j) TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT, OR SALE OF RIGHTS.—

8 (1) No transfer, assignment, or sale of rights granted by 

9 a permit under this section shall be made without the prior 

10 written approval of the Secretary, or for National Forest 

11 System lands the Secretary of Agriculture. 

12 (2) The Secretary, or for National Forest System 

13 lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, may allow a person 

14 holding a permit to transfer, assign, or sell rights under 

15 the permit to a successor, if such Secretary finds, in writ16 ing, that the successor—

17 (A) is eligible to receive a permit in accordance 

18 with section 204; 

19 (B) has submitted evidence of financial assur20 ance satisfactory under section 205; and 

21 (C) meets any other requirements specified by 

22 such Secretary. 

23 (3) The successor in interest shall assume the liability 

24 and reclamation responsibilities established by the existing 

25 permit and shall conduct the mineral activities in full com-
50

•HR 2141 IH 

1 pliance with this Act, and the terms and conditions of the 

2 permit as in effect at the time of transfer, assignment, 

3 or sale.

4 (4) Each application for approval of a permit trans5 fer, assignment, or sale pursuant to this subsection shall 

6 be accompanied by a fee payable to the Secretary of the 

7 Interior, or for National Forest System lands, the Sec8 retary of Agriculture, in such amount as may be estab9 lished by such Secretary, or for National Forest System 

10 lands, by the Secretary of Agriculture. Such amount shall 

11 be equal to the actual or anticipated cost to the Secretary 

12 or, for National Forest System lands, to the Secretary of 

13 Agriculture, of reviewing and approving or disapproving 

14 such transfer, assignment, or sale, as determined by such 

15 Secretary. All moneys received under this subsection shall 

16 be deposited in the Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine 

17 Reclamation Fund established under title III. 

18 (k) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—(1) Concurrent with 

19 submittal of an application for a permit under this section 

20 or a renewal or significant modification thereof, the appli21 cant shall publish a notice in a newspaper of local circula22 tion at least once a week for 4 consecutive weeks and in 

23 the Federal Register. The notice shall include: the name 

24 of the applicant, the location of the proposed mineral ac25 tivities, the type and expected duration of the proposed 
51

•HR 2141 IH 

1 mineral activities, the proposed use of the land after the 

2 completion of mineral activities and a location where such 

3 plans are publicly available. The applicant shall also notify 

4 in writing other Federal, State, and local government 

5 agencies and Indian tribes that regulate mineral activities 

6 or land planning decisions in the area subject to mineral 

7 activities or that manage lands adjacent to the area sub8 ject to mineral activities. The applicant shall provide proof 

9 of such notification to the Secretary, or for National For10 est System lands, the Secretary of Agriculture. 

11 (2) The applicant for a permit under this section 

12 shall make paper and digital copies of the complete permit 

13 application, permit modifications, or permit renewals 

14 available for public review at the office of the responsible 

15 Federal surface management agency located nearest to the 

16 location of the proposed mineral activities, and at such 

17 other public locations deemed appropriate by the State or 

18 local government for the county in which the proposed 

19 mineral activities will occur prior to final decision by the 

20 Secretary, or for National Forest System lands, the Sec21 retary of Agriculture. Any person, and the authorized rep22 resentative of a Federal, State, or local governmental 

23 agency or Indian tribe, shall have the right to file written 

24 comments relating to the approval or disapproval of the 

25 permit application until 30 days after the last day of news-
52

•HR 2141 IH 

1 paper publication. The Secretary concerned shall promptly 

2 make such comments available to the applicant. 

3 (3) Any person may file written comments during the 

4 comment period specified in paragraph (2) and any person 

5 who is, or may be, adversely affected by the proposed min6 eral activities may request a nonadjudicatory public hear7 ing to be held in the county in which the mineral activities 

8 are proposed. The Secretary concerned shall consider all 

9 written comments filed during such period. If a hearing 

10 is requested by any person who is, or may be, adversely 

11 affected by the proposed mineral activities, the Secretary 

12 concerned shall consider such request and may conduct 

13 such hearing. When a hearing is to be held, notice of such 

14 hearing shall be published in a newspaper of local circula15 tion at least once a week for 2 weeks prior to the hearing 

16 date. 

17 (4) The public participation requirements in this sec18 tion shall apply to permit modifications that are consid19 ered more than minor under subsection (f). 

20 SEC. 204. PERSONS INELIGIBLE FOR PERMITS. 

21 (a) CURRENT VIOLATIONS.—Unless corrective action 

22 has been taken in accordance with subsection (c), no per23 mit under this title shall be issued or transferred to an 

24 applicant if the applicant or any agent of the applicant, 

25 the operator (if different than the applicant) of the claim 
53

•HR 2141 IH 

1 concerned, any claim holder (if different than the appli2 cant) of the claim concerned, or any affiliate or officer 

3 or director of the applicant is currently in violation of any 

4 of the following: 

5 (1) A provision of this Act or any regulation 

6 under this Act. 

7 (2) An applicable toxic substance, solid waste, 

8 air, water quality, or fish and wildlife conservation 

9 law or regulation at any site where mining, 

10 beneficiation, or processing activities are occurring 

11 or have occurred. 

12 (3) The Surface Mining Control and Reclama13 tion Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 and following) or 

14 any regulation implementing that Act at any site 

15 where surface coal mining operations have occurred 

16 or are occurring. 

17 (b) SUSPENSION.—The Secretary, or for National 

18 Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall 

19 suspend an operations permit, in whole or in part, if such 

20 Secretary determines that any of the entities described in 

21 subsection (a) were in violation of any requirement listed 

22 in subsection (a) at the time the permit was issued. 

23 (c) CORRECTION.—(1) The Secretary, or for National 

24 Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may 

25 issue or reinstate a permit under this title if the applicant
54

•HR 2141 IH 

1 submits proof that the violation referred to in subsection 

2 (a) or (b) has been corrected or is in the process of being 

3 corrected to the satisfaction of such Secretary or if the 

4 applicant submits proof that the violator has filed and is 

5 presently pursuing, a direct administrative or judicial ap6 peal to contest the existence of the violation. For purposes 

7 of this section, an appeal of any applicant’s relationship 

8 to an affiliate shall not constitute a direct administrative 

9 or judicial appeal to contest the existence of the violation. 

10 (2) Any permit which is issued or reinstated based 

11 upon proof submitted under this subsection shall be condi12 tionally approved or conditionally reinstated, as the case 

13 may be. If the violation is not successfully abated or the 

14 violation is upheld on appeal, the permit shall be sus15 pended or revoked. 

16 (d) PATTERN OF WILLFUL VIOLATIONS.—No permit 

17 under this Act may be issued to any applicant if there 

18 is a demonstrated pattern of willful violations of the sur19 face management requirements of this Act by the appli20 cant, any affiliate of the applicant, or the operator or 

21 claim holder if different than the applicant, and such vio22 lations are of such nature and duration, and with such 

23 resulting irreparable damage to the environment, as to 

24 clearly indicate an intent not to comply with the surface 

25 management requirements and other applicable statutes. 
55

•HR 2141 IH 

1 SEC. 205. FINANCIAL ASSURANCE. 

2 (a) FINANCIAL ASSURANCE REQUIRED.—(1) Before 

3 any permit is issued under this title, the operator shall 

4 file with the Secretary, or for National Forest System 

5 lands the Secretary of Agriculture, evidence of financial 

6 assurance payable to the United States on a form pre7 scribed and furnished by such Secretary and conditional 

8 upon faithful performance of such permit and all other 

9 requirements of this Act. The financial assurance shall be 

10 provided in the form of a surety bond, trust fund, letters 

11 of credits, government securities, certificates of deposit, 

12 cash or equivalent. 

13 (2) The financial assurance shall cover all lands with14 in the initial permit area, and shall be extended to cover 

15 all lands added pursuant to any permit modification made 

16 under section 203(f) (relating to operations permits), or 

17 affected by mineral activities. 

18 (b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the financial assur19 ance required under this section shall be sufficient to as20 sure the completion of reclamation satisfying the require21 ments of this Act if the work were to be performed by 

22 the Secretary concerned in the event of forfeiture, includ23 ing the construction and maintenance costs for any treat24 ment facilities necessary to meet Federal and State envi25 ronmental requirements. The calculation of such amount 

26 shall take into account the maximum level of financial ex-
56

•HR 2141 IH 

1 posure which shall arise during the mineral activity and 

2 administrative costs associated with a government agency 

3 reclaiming the site. 

4 (c) DURATION.—The financial assurance required 

5 under this section shall be held for the duration of the 

6 mineral activities and for an additional period to cover the 

7 operator’s responsibility for revegetation as specified 

8 under section 206(b)(6)(B), and effluent treatment as 

9 specified in subsection (g).

10 (d) ADJUSTMENTS.—The amount of the financial as11 surance and the terms of the acceptance of the assurance 

12 may be adjusted by the Secretary concerned from time to 

13 time as the area requiring coverage is increased or de14 creased, or where the costs of reclamation or treatment 

15 change, or pursuant to section 203(h) (relating to oper16 ations permits), but the financial assurance shall other17 wise be in compliance with this section. The Secretary con18 cerned shall review the financial guarantee as part of the 

19 permit review under section 203(h).

20 (e) RELEASE.—Upon request, and after notice and 

21 opportunity for public comment, and after inspection by 

22 the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands, the 

23 Secretary of Agriculture, such Secretary may, after con24 sultation with the Administrator of the Environmental 

25 Protection Agency, release in whole or in part the financial 
57

•HR 2141 IH 

1 assurance required under this section if the Secretary 

2 makes both of the following determinations: 

3 (1) A determination that reclamation covered 

4 by the financial assurance has been accomplished as 

5 required by this Act. 

6 (2) A determination that the terms and condi7 tions of any other applicable Federal requirements, 

8 and State requirements applicable pursuant to coop9 erative agreements under section 207, have been ful10 filled. 

11 (f) RELEASE SCHEDULE.—The release referred to in 

12 subsection (e) shall be according to the following schedule: 

13 (1) After the operator has completed any re14 quired backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of 

15 an area subject to mineral activities and covered by 

16 the financial assurance, and has commenced revege17 tation on the regraded areas subject to mineral ac18 tivities in accordance with the approved plan, that 

19 portion of the total financial assurance secured for 

20 the area subject to mineral activities attributable to 

21 the completed activities may be released. 

22 (2) After the operator has completed success23 fully all remaining mineral activities and reclamation 

24 activities and all requirements of the operations plan 

25 and the reclamation plan (including the provisions of
58

•HR 2141 IH 

1 section 206(b)(6)(B) relating to revegetation and ef2 fluent treatment required by subsection (g)), and all 

3 other requirements of this Act have in fact been 

4 fully met, the remaining portion of the financial as5 surance may be released. 

6 During the period following release of the financial assur7 ance as specified in paragraph (1), until the remaining 

8 portion of the financial assurance is released as provided 

9 in paragraph (2), the operator shall be required to comply 

10 with the permit issued under this title. 

11 (g) EFFLUENT.—Notwithstanding section 206(b)(4), 

12 where any discharge resulting from the mineral activities 

13 requires treatment in order to meet the applicable effluent 

14 limitations and water quality standards, the financial as15 surance shall include the estimated cost of maintaining 

16 such treatment for the projected period that will be needed 

17 after the cessation of mineral activities. The portion of the 

18 financial assurance attributable to such estimated cost of 

19 treatment shall not be released until the discharge has 

20 ceased for a period of 5 years, or, if the discharge con21 tinues, until the operator has met all applicable effluent 

22 limitations and water quality standards for 5 full years 

23 without treatment. 

24 (h) ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.—If the Secretary, 

25 or for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Ag-
59

•HR 2141 IH 

1 riculture, determines, after final release of financial assur2 ance, that an environmental hazard resulting from the 

3 mineral activities exists, or the terms and conditions of 

4 the operations permit of this Act were not fulfilled in fact 

5 at the time of release, such Secretary shall issue an order 

6 under section 406 requiring the claim holder or operator 

7 (or any person who controls the claim holder or operator) 

8 to correct the condition such that applicable laws and reg9 ulations and any conditions from the plan of operations 

10 are met. 

11 SEC. 206. OPERATION AND RECLAMATION. 

12 (a) GENERAL RULE.—(1) Except as provided under 

13 paragraphs (5) and (7) of subsection (b), the operator 

14 shall restore lands subject to mineral activities carried out 

15 under a permit issued under this title to a condition capa16 ble of supporting—

17 (A) the uses which such lands were capable of 

18 supporting prior to surface disturbance by the oper19 ator, or 

20 (B) other beneficial uses which conform to ap21 plicable land use plans as determined by the Sec22 retary, or for National Forest System lands, the 

23 Secretary of Agriculture. 

24 (2) Reclamation shall proceed as contemporaneously 

25 as practicable with the conduct of mineral activities. 
60

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (b) OPERATION AND RECLAMATION STANDARDS.—

2 Mineral activities shall be conducted in accordance with 

3 the following standards, as well as any additional stand4 ards the Secretaries may jointly promulgate under section 

5 201 and subsection (a) of this section to address specific 

6 environmental impacts of selected methods of mining: 

7 (1) SOILS.—

8 (A) Soils, including top soils and subsoils 

9 removed from lands subject to mineral activi10 ties, shall be segregated from waste material 

11 and protected to minimize erosion and sustain 

12 revegetation when reclamation begins. If such 

13 soil is not replaced on a backfill area within a 

14 time-frame short enough to avoid deterioration 

15 of the topsoil, vegetative cover or other means 

16 shall be used so that the soil is preserved from 

17 wind and water erosion, remains free of con18 tamination by acid or other toxic material, and 

19 is in a usable condition for sustaining vegeta20 tion when restored during reclamation. 

21 (B) In the event the topsoil from lands 

22 subject to mineral activities is of insufficient 

23 quantity or of inferior quality for sustaining 

24 vegetation, and other suitable growth media re25 moved from the lands subject to the mineral ac-
61

•HR 2141 IH 

1 tivities are available that shall support vegeta2 tion, the best available growth medium shall be 

3 removed, segregated and preserved in a like 

4 manner as under subparagraph (A) for sus5 taining vegetation when restored during rec6 lamation. 

7 (C) In the event the soil (other than top8 soil) from lands subject to mineral activities is 

9 of insufficient quantity or of inferior quality for 

10 sustaining vegetation, and other suitable growth 

11 media removed from the lands subject to the 

12 mineral activities are available that support re13 vegetation, these substitute materials shall be 

14 removed, segregated, or preserved in a like 

15 manner as under subparagraph (A) for later 

16 use in reclamation. 

17 (D) Mineral activities shall be conducted to 

18 prevent contamination of soils to the extent 

19 possible using the best technology currently 

20 available. If contamination occurs, the operator 

21 shall decontaminate or dispose of any contami22 nated soils which have resulted from the min23 eral activities. 

24 (2) STABILIZATION.—All surface areas subject 

25 to mineral activities, including segregated soils or
62

•HR 2141 IH 

1 other growth medium, waste material piles, ore piles, 

2 subgrade ore piles, and open or partially backfilled 

3 mine pits that meet the requirements of paragraph 

4 (5), shall be engineered to a stable condition to ef5 fectively control fugitive dust and erosion and other6 wise comply with toxic substance, solid waste, air 

7 and water pollution control laws and other environ8 mental laws. 

9 (3) SEDIMENTS, EROSION, AND DRAINAGE.—

10 Facilities such as, but not limited to basins, ditches, 

11 stream bank stabilization, diversions or other meas12 ures, shall be designed, constructed and maintained 

13 where necessary to control sediments, erosion, and 

14 drainage of the area subject to mineral activities. 

15 (4) HYDROLOGIC BALANCE.—(A) Mineral ac16 tivities shall be conducted to minimize disturbances 

17 to the prevailing hydrologic balance of the permit 

18 area and surrounding hydrologic basins affected by 

19 mining activities existing prior to the mineral activi20 ties in the permit area and in the surrounding wa21 tershed, as established by the baseline information 

22 provided pursuant to section 203(b)(10) (relating to 

23 operations permits). Hydrologic balance includes the 

24 quality and quantity of ground water and surface 

25 water and their interrelationships, including re-
63

•HR 2141 IH 

1 charge and discharge rates. In all cases, the operator 

2 shall comply with Federal and State laws related to 

3 the quality and quantity of such waters. 

4 (B) Mineral activities shall be conducted to pre5 vent where possible the formation of acidic, toxic, or 

6 other contaminated water. Where the formation of 

7 acidic, toxic, or other contaminated water occurs, 

8 standard mineral activities shall be conducted so as 

9 to minimize the formation of acidic, toxic, or other 

10 contaminated water. 

11 (C) Mineral activities shall prevent any damage 

12 off-site from contamination of surface and ground 

13 water with acid or other toxic mine pollutants and 

14 shall prevent or remove water from contact with acid 

15 or toxic producing deposits. 

16 (D) Reclamation shall restore approximate hy17 drologic balance existing prior to the mineral activi18 ties before the applicable water quality permit issued 

19 under State or Federal law expires or is subject to 

20 renewal.

21 (E) Where the quality of surface water or 

22 ground water used for domestic, municipal, agricul23 tural, or industrial purposes is adversely impacted 

24 by mineral activities, such water shall be treated, or 

25 replaced with the same quantity and approximate 
64

•HR 2141 IH 

1 quality of water, comparable to premining conditions 

2 as established in paragraph (10) of section 203(b) 

3 (relating to operations permits). 

4 (5) SURFACE RESTORATION.—(A) The surface 

5 area disturbed by mineral activities shall be shaped, 

6 graded, and contoured to its natural topography. 

7 Backfilling of an open pit mine shall be required 

8 only if the Secretary, or for National Forest System 

9 lands the Secretary of Agriculture, finds that such 

10 open pit or partially backfilled, graded, or contoured 

11 pit would pose a significant threat to the public 

12 health, safety, or have a significant adverse effect on 

13 the environment in terms of surface water or 

14 groundwater pollution. 

15 (B) In instances where complete backfilling of 

16 an open pit is not required, the pit shall be graded 

17 to blend with the surrounding topography as much 

18 as practicable to minimize disturbance to the hydro19 logic balance, and revegetated in accordance with 

20 paragraph (6), and the water quality in the pit and 

21 other water impoundments and wells adjacent or 

22 hydrologically connected by groundwater shall com23 ply with applicable Federal, State, and, where appro24 priate, local government water quality standards. 
65

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (6) VEGETATION.—(A) The area subject to 

2 mineral activities shall be vegetated in order to es3 tablish a diverse, effective, and permanent vegetative 

4 cover of the same seasonal variety native to the area 

5 subject to mineral activities, capable of self-regen6 eration and plant succession and at least equal in 

7 extent of cover to the natural revegetation of the 

8 surrounding area, except that introduced species 

9 may be used at the discretion of the Secretary, or 

10 for National Forest System lands the Secretary of 

11 Agriculture, in consultation with the Director of the 

12 United States Fish and Wildlife Service, if such in13 troduction of such species is necessary as an interim 

14 step in, and is part of a program to restore a native 

15 plant community. In such instances where the com16 plete backfill of an open mine pit is not required 

17 under paragraph (5), such Secretary shall prescribe 

18 such vegetation requirements as conform to the ap19 plicable land use plan. 

20 (B) In order to ensure compliance with sub21 paragraph (A), the period for determining successful 

22 revegetation shall be for a period of 5 full years 

23 after the last year of augmented seeding, fertilizing, 

24 irrigation, or other work, except that such period 

25 shall be 10 full years where the annual average pre-
66

•HR 2141 IH 

1 cipitation is 26 inches or less. The period may be for 

2 a longer time at the discretion of the Secretary con3 cerned where the average precipitation is 26 inches 

4 or less. 

5 (7) EXCESS WASTE.—(A) Waste material in ex6 cess of that required to comply with paragraph (5) 

7 shall be transported and placed in approved areas, 

8 in a controlled manner in such a way so as to assure 

9 long-term mass stability, to prevent mass movement, 

10 and to facilitate reclamation. In addition to the 

11 measures described under paragraph (3), internal 

12 drainage systems shall be employed, as may be re13 quired, to control erosion and drainage. The design 

14 of such excess waste material piles shall be certified 

15 by a qualified professional engineer. 

16 (B) Excess waste material piles shall be graded 

17 and contoured to blend with the surrounding topog18 raphy as much as practicable and revegetated in ac19 cordance with paragraph (6). 

20 (8) SEALING.—All drill holes, and openings on 

21 the surface associated with underground mineral ac22 tivities, shall be backfilled, sealed, or otherwise con23 trolled when no longer needed for the conduct of 

24 mineral activities to ensure protection of the public
67

•HR 2141 IH 

1 and the environment, protection of groundwater, and 

2 management of fish and wildlife and livestock. 

3 (9) STRUCTURES.—All buildings, structures, or 

4 equipment constructed, used, or improved during 

5 mineral activities shall be removed, unless the Sec6 retary concerned, in consultation with the affected 

7 land managing agency, determines that use of the 

8 buildings, structures, or equipment would be con9 sistent with subsection (a) or for environmental 

10 monitoring and the Secretary concerned takes own11 ership of such structures. 

12 (10) CULTURAL, PALEONTOLOGICAL, AND CAVE

13 RESOURCES.—The operator shall not knowingly dis14 turb, alter, injure, or destroy any scientifically im15 portant paleontologic remains or any historic, 

16 archeologic, or cave-related sites, structure, building, 

17 resource or object without including in the plan of 

18 operations a proposed action to preserve the re19 source that is approved by the Secretary prior to the 

20 disturbance taking place. 

21 (11) ROADS AND STRUCTURES.—All buildings, 

22 structures, roads, and equipment constructed, used, 

23 or improved during mineral activities shall be de24 signed, constructed, and maintained to minimize ero25 sion, siltation, and air pollution and then removed 
68

•HR 2141 IH 

1 after mining, unless the Secretary concerned in con2 sultation with the affected land managing agency, 

3 determines that use of the buildings, structures, 

4 roads, or equipment would be consistent with sub5 section (a) or for environmental monitoring, and the 

6 Secretary concerned takes ownership of such struc7 tures, buildings, or equipment, or roads. 

8 (12) DRILL HOLES.—(A) Drilling fluids shall 

9 not be allowed to flow off the site. 

10 (B) All drill holes shall be drilled, operated, and 

11 plugged to prevent mixing of water from aquifers, 

12 impacts to beneficial uses, and downward or upward 

13 water loss. 

14 (13) LEACHING OPERATIONS AND IMPOUND15 MENTS.—Leach pads, tailing impoundments, waste 

16 rock and overburden, ponds, and solution holding fa17 cilities shall be designed, constructed, and operated 

18 according to standard engineering practices to 

19 achieve and maintain the stability of the site and fa20 cilitate reclamation. These facilities shall be con21 structed with a low-permeability liner or contain22 ment system that will detect leaks, and prevent the 

23 release of solutions to the environment. All leaching 

24 facilities and impoundments shall withstand a local 
69

•HR 2141 IH 

1 24-hour, 100-year storm event in addition to the so2 lution expected for the facility. 

3 (14) FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.—All 

4 applicable Federal and State fire laws and regula5 tions shall be complied with, including taking all rea6 sonable measures to prevent and suppress fire in the 

7 project area. 

8 (15) TEMPORARY CESSATION.—During tem9 porary cessation of operations, the operator shall 

10 maintain the site, and take measures to stabilize the 

11 excavation and workings, control toxic or deleterious 

12 materials, and monitor site conditions. 

13 (c) SPECIAL RULE.—A modified reclamation plan 

14 shall not be required for mineral activities related to rec15 lamation where a mining claim is forfeited, relinquished, 

16 or lapsed, or a plan is revoked or suspended or has expired 

17 in any such case. Reclamation activities shall continue 

18 only as approved by the Secretary, or for National Forest 

19 System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to the 

20 previously approved reclamation plan.

21 (d) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section: 

22 (1) The term ‘‘waste material’’ means the mate23 rial resulting from mineral activities involving ex24 traction, beneficiation, and processing, including but 

25 not limited to tailings, and such material resulting 
70

•HR 2141 IH 

1 from mineral activities involving processing, to the 

2 extent such material is not subject to subtitle C of 

3 the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 3251 and 

4 following) or the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation 

5 Control Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 7901 and following).

6 (2) The term ‘‘ore piles’’ means ore stockpiled 

7 for beneficiation prior to the completion of mineral 

8 activities. 

9 (3) The term ‘‘subgrade ore’’ means ore that is 

10 too low in grade to be processed at the time of ex11 traction but which could reasonably be processed in 

12 the foreseeable future. 

13 (4) The term ‘‘soil’’ means the earthy or sandy 

14 layer, ranging in thickness from a few inches to sev15 eral feet, composed of finely divided rock debris, of 

16 whatever origin, mixed with decomposing vegetal and 

17 animal matter, which forms the surface of the 

18 ground and in which plants grow or may grow. 

19 SEC. 207. STATE LAW AND REGULATION. 

20 (a) STATE LAW.—(1) Any reclamation standard or 

21 requirement in State law or regulation that meets or ex22 ceeds the requirements of section 206 shall not be con23 strued to be inconsistent with any such standard. 

24 (2) Any bonding standard or requirement in State 

25 law or regulation that meets or exceeds the requirements 
71

•HR 2141 IH 

1 of section 205 shall not be construed to be inconsistent 

2 with such requirements. 

3 (3) Any inspection standard or requirement in State 

4 law or regulation that meets or exceeds the requirements 

5 of section 403 shall not be construed to be inconsistent 

6 with such requirements. 

7 (b) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER STATE REQUIRE8 MENTS.—(1) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as af9 fecting any toxic substance, solid waste, or air or water 

10 quality, standard or requirement of any State, county, 

11 local, or tribal law or regulation, which may be applicable 

12 to mineral activities on lands subject to this Act. 

13 (2) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting 

14 in any way the right of any person to enforce or protect, 

15 under applicable law, such person’s interest in water re16 sources affected by mineral activities on lands subject to 

17 this Act. 

18 (c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—(1) Any State 

19 may enter into a cooperative agreement with the Sec20 retary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary 

21 of Agriculture, for the purposes of such Secretary applying 

22 such standards and requirements referred to in subsection 

23 (a) and subsection (b) to mineral activities or reclamation 

24 on lands subject to this Act.
72

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (2) In such instances where the proposed mineral ac2 tivities would affect lands not subject to this Act in addi3 tion to lands subject to this Act, in order to approve a 

4 plan of operations the Secretary concerned shall enter into 

5 a cooperative agreement with the State that sets forth a 

6 common regulatory framework consistent with the surface 

7 management requirements of this Act for the purposes of 

8 such plan of operations. 

9 (3) The Secretary concerned shall not enter into a 

10 cooperative agreement with any State under this section 

11 until after notice in the Federal Register and opportunity 

12 for public comment. 

13 (d) PRIOR AGREEMENTS.—Any cooperative agree14 ment or such other understanding between the Secretary 

15 concerned and any State, or political subdivision thereof, 

16 relating to the surface management of mineral activities 

17 on lands subject to this Act that was in existence on the 

18 date of enactment of this Act may only continue in force 

19 until one year after the date of enactment of this Act. 

20 During such one-year period, the State and the Secretary 

21 shall review the terms of the agreement and make changes 

22 that are necessary to be consistent with this Act. 

23 (e) DELEGATION.—The Secretary, or for National 

24 Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall 

25 not delegate to any State, or political subdivision thereof, 
73

•HR 2141 IH 

1 the Secretary’s authorities, duties, and obligations under 

2 this Act, including with respect to any cooperative agree3 ments entered into under this section. 

4 (f) PREEMPTION.—Subject to section 414(b), the re5 quirements of this Act shall preempt any conflicting re6 quirements of any State, or political subdivision thereof 

7 relating to mineral activities for locatable minerals. 

8 SEC. 208. UNSUITABILITY REVIEW. 

9 (a) AUTHORITY.—(1) As provided for in this section, 

10 the Secretary of the Interior, in carrying out that Sec11 retary’s responsibilities under the Federal Land Policy 

12 and Management Act of 1976, and the Secretary of Agri13 culture, in carrying out that Secretary’s responsibilities 

14 under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 

15 Planning Act of 1974, shall each review lands that are 

16 subject to this Act in order to determine, in accordance 

17 with the provisions of subsection (b), whether there are 

18 any areas on such lands that are either unsuitable for all 

19 types of mineral activities or conditionally suitable for cer20 tain types of mineral activities. 

21 (2) Any determination made in accordance with sub22 section (b) shall be immediately effective. Such determina23 tion shall be incorporated into the applicable land use plan 

24 when such plan is adopted, revised, or significantly amend25 ed pursuant to provisions of law other than this Act. 
74

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (3) In any instance where a determination is made 

2 in accordance with subsection (b) that an area is condi3 tionally suitable for all or certain mineral activities, the 

4 Secretary concerned shall take appropriate steps to notify 

5 the public that any operations permit application relevant 

6 to that area shall be conditioned accordingly. 

7 (b) SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS.—(1) The Secretary, 

8 or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri9 culture, shall determine that an area open to location is 

10 unsuitable for all or certain mineral activities if such Sec11 retary finds that such activities would result in significant, 

12 permanent, and irreparable damage to special characteris13 tics as described in paragraph (3) that cannot be pre14 vented by the imposition of conditions in the operations 

15 permit required under section 203(b). 

16 (2) The Secretary, or for National Forest System 

17 lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, may determine, after 

18 notice and opportunity for public comment, that an area 

19 is conditionally suitable for all or certain types of mineral 

20 activities, if the Secretary concerned determines that any 

21 of the special characteristics of such area, as listed in 

22 paragraph (3), require protection from the effects of min23 eral activities.
75

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (3) Any of the following shall be considered special 

2 characteristics of an area which contains lands or interests 

3 in lands open to location under this Act: 

4 (A) The existence of significant water resources 

5 or supplies in or associated with such area, such as 

6 aquifers and aquifer recharge areas.

7 (B) The presence in such area of publicly 

8 owned places which are listed on or are determined 

9 eligible for listing on the National Register of His10 toric Places. 

11 (C) The designation of all or any portion of 

12 such area or any adjacent area as a National Con13 servation System unit. 

14 (D) The designation of all or any portion of 

15 such area or any adjacent area as critical habitat for 

16 threatened or endangered species under the Endan17 gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 and fol18 lowing). 

19 (E) The designation of all or any portion of 

20 such area as Class I under section 162 of the Clean 

21 Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401). 

22 (F) The presence of such other resource values 

23 as the Secretary, or for National Forest System 

24 lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, may, by joint
76

•HR 2141 IH 

1 rule, specify based upon field testing that verifies 

2 such criteria. 

3 (G) Areas that are designated as or adjacent to 

4 Research Natural Areas. 

5 (H) Lands containing Native American ‘‘sacred 

6 sites’’ as defined in Executive Order 13007, and 

7 other cultural and religious values. 

8 (c) EFFECT OF DETERMINATION.—(1) In any in9 stance in which a determination of unsuitability is made 

10 for any area in accordance with subsection (b)(1), all min11 eral activities shall be prohibited in such area, and the 

12 Secretary shall (with the consent of the Secretary of Agri13 culture for National Forest System lands) withdraw such 

14 area pursuant to section 204 of the Federal Land Policy 

15 and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1714). The Sec16 retary’s determination under this section shall constitute 

17 the documentation required to be provided under section 

18 204(c)(12) of the Federal Land Policy and Management 

19 Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1714). 

20 (2) In any instance where the Secretary, or for Na21 tional Forest System lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, 

22 determines in accordance with subsection (b)(2) that, by 

23 reason of any of the special characteristics listed in sub24 section (b)(3), an area is conditionally suitable for all or 

25 certain mineral activities, the Secretary concerned shall in-
77

•HR 2141 IH 

1 clude such additional conditions in each permit for mineral 

2 activities in such area as necessary to limit or control min3 eral activities to the extent necessary to protect the special 

4 characteristics concerned. 

5 (3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as af6 fecting lands where mineral activities were being con7 ducted on the date of enactment of this Act under ap8 proved plans of operations or under notice (as provided 

9 for in the regulations of the Secretary of the Interior in 

10 effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act relating 

11 to operations that cause a cumulative disturbance of 5 

12 acres or less). 

13 (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as pro14 hibiting mineral activities at a specific site, where substan15 tial legal and financial commitments in such mineral ac16 tivities were in existence on the date of enactment of this 

17 Act, but nothing in this section shall be construed as pro18 hibiting either Secretary from regulating such activities in 

19 accordance with other authority of law. As used in this 

20 paragraph, the term ‘‘substantial legal and financial com21 mitments’’ means, with respect to a specific site, signifi22 cant investments, expenditures, or undertakings that have 

23 been made to explore or develop any mining claim and 

24 or millsite located at such site under the general mining 

25 laws, such as but not limited to: contracts for minerals 
78

•HR 2141 IH 

1 produced; construction; contracts for the construction; or 

2 commitment to raise capital for the construction of proc3 essing, beneficiation, extraction, or refining facilities, or 

4 transportation or utility infrastructure; exploration activi5 ties conducted to delineate proven or probable ore re6 serves; acquisition of mining claims (but only if such ac7 quisition is part of other significant investments specified 

8 in this paragraph); and such other costs or expenditures 

9 related to mineral activities at such site as are similar to 

10 the foregoing itemized costs or expenditures and as may 

11 be specified by the Secretaries by joint rule. 

12 (d) WITHDRAWAL REVIEW.—(1) In carrying out the 

13 responsibilities referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary 

14 or, for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Ag15 riculture, shall review all administrative withdrawals of 

16 land under such Secretary’s jurisdiction (other than wil17 derness study areas) to determine whether the revocation 

18 or modification of such withdrawal for the purpose of al19 lowing such lands to be opened to the location of mining 

20 claims under this Act is appropriate as a result of either 

21 of the following: 

22 (A) The imposition of any conditions imposed 

23 as part of the land use planning process or the im24 position of any conditions as a result of the review 

25 process under subsection (a). 
79

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (B) The limitation of section 111 (relating to 

2 limitation on patent issuance). 

3 (2) The Secretary concerned shall publish the review 

4 referred to in paragraph (1) in the Federal Register no 

5 later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. 

6 After providing notice and opportunity for comment, the 

7 Secretary may issue a revocation or modification of such 

8 administrative withdrawals as he deems appropriate by 

9 reason of the criteria listed in subparagraph (A) or (B) 

10 of paragraph (1). 

11 SEC. 209. CERTAIN MINERAL ACTIVITIES COVERED BY 

12 OTHER LAW. 

13 This title shall not apply to any mineral activities 

14 that are subject to the Stockraising Homestead Acts (43 

15 U.S.C. 218 and following).

16 TITLE III—ABANDONED 

17 LOCATABLE MINERALS MINE 

18 RECLAMATION FUND 

19 SEC. 301. ABANDONED LOCATABLE MINERALS MINE REC20 LAMATION. 

21 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) There is established on 

22 the books of the Treasury of the United States a trust 

23 fund to be known as the Abandoned Locatable Minerals 

24 Mine Reclamation Fund (hereinafter in this title referred 

25 to as the ‘‘Fund’’). The Fund shall be administered by 
80

•HR 2141 IH 

1 the Secretary acting through the Director of the Office 

2 of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. 

3 (2) The Secretary shall notify the Secretary of the 

4 Treasury as to what portion of the Fund is not, in the 

5 Secretary’s judgment, required to meet current with6 drawals. The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such 

7 portion of the Fund in public debt securities with matu8 rities suitable for the needs of such Fund and bearing in9 terest at rates determined by the Secretary of the Treas10 ury, taking into consideration current market yields on 

11 outstanding marketplace obligations of the United States 

12 of comparable maturities. The income on such investments 

13 shall be credited to, and form a part of, the Fund. 

14 (b) AMOUNTS.—The following amounts shall be cred15 ited to the Fund: 

16 (1) All moneys received from the collection of 

17 claim maintenance fees under section 103. 

18 (2) All moneys collected pursuant to section 

19 110 (relating to failure to comply), section 406 (re20 lating to enforcement) and section 404 (relating to 

21 citizens suits).

22 (3) All permit fees and transfer fees received 

23 under section 203.
81

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (4) All donations by persons, corporations, as2 sociations, and foundations for the purposes of this 

3 title. 

4 (5) All amounts referred to in section 112 (re5 lating to royalties and penalties for underreporting).

6 (6) All other receipts from fees, royalties, pen7 alties and other sources collected under this Act. 

8 (7) All moneys received pursuant to section 111 

9 from issuance of patents. 

10 (c) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—(1) In calculating the 

11 amount to be deposited in the Fund during any fiscal year 

12 under subsection (b), the enacted appropriation of the De13 partment of the Interior during the preceding year attrib14 utable to administering this Act shall be deducted from 

15 the total of the amounts listed in subsection (b) prior to 

16 the transfer of such amounts to the Fund. 

17 (2) The amount deducted under paragraph (1) of this 

18 section shall be available to the Secretary, subject to ap19 propriation, for payment of the costs of administering this 

20 Act.

21 SEC. 302. USE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FUND. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized, sub23 ject to appropriations, to use moneys in the Fund for the 

24 reclamation and restoration of land and water resources 

25 adversely affected by past mineral activities on lands the 
82

•HR 2141 IH 

1 legal and beneficial title to which resides in the United 

2 States, land within the exterior boundary of any national 

3 forest system unit, or other lands described in subsection 

4 (d) or section 303, including any of the following: 

5 (1) Preventing, abating, treating, and control6 ling water pollution created by abandoned mine 

7 drainage. 

8 (2) Reclaiming and restoring abandoned surface 

9 and underground mined areas. 

10 (3) Reclaiming and restoring abandoned milling 

11 and processing areas. 

12 (4) Backfilling, sealing, or otherwise control13 ling, abandoned underground mine entries. 

14 (5) Revegetating land adversely affected by past 

15 mineral activities in order to prevent erosion and 

16 sedimentation, to enhance wildlife habitat, and for 

17 any other reclamation purpose. 

18 (6) Controlling of surface subsidence due to 

19 abandoned underground mines. 

20 (b) PRIORITIES.—Expenditures of moneys from the 

21 Fund shall reflect the following priorities in the order stat22 ed: 

23 (1) The protection of public health, safety, gen24 eral welfare, and property from extreme danger from 

25 the adverse effects of past mineral activities, espe-
83

•HR 2141 IH 

1 cially as relates to surface water and groundwater 

2 contaminants. 

3 (2) The protection of public health, safety, and 

4 general welfare from the adverse effects of past min5 eral activities. 

6 (3) The restoration of land, water, and fish and 

7 wildlife resources previously degraded by the adverse 

8 effects of past mineral activities.

9 (c) HABITAT.—Reclamation and restoration activities 

10 under this title, particularly those identified under sub11 section (a)(4), shall include appropriate mitigation meas12 ures to provide for the continuation of any established 

13 habitat for wildlife in existence prior to the commencement 

14 of such activities. 

15 (d) OTHER AFFECTED LANDS.—Where mineral ex16 ploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, or reclamation 

17 activities have been carried out with respect to any mineral 

18 which would be a locatable mineral if the legal and bene19 ficial title to the mineral were in the United States, if such 

20 activities directly affect lands managed by the Bureau of 

21 Land Management as well as other lands and if the legal 

22 and beneficial title to more than 50 percent of the affected 

23 lands resides in the United States, the Secretary is author24 ized, subject to appropriations, to use moneys in the Fund 
84

•HR 2141 IH 

1 for reclamation and restoration under subsection (a) for 

2 all directly affected lands. 

3 (e) RESPONSE OR REMOVAL ACTIONS.—Reclamation 

4 and restoration activities under this title which constitute 

5 a removal or remedial action under section 101 of the 

6 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 

7 and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601), shall be con8 ducted with the concurrence of the Administrator of the 

9 Environmental Protection Agency. The Secretary and the 

10 Administrator shall enter into a Memorandum of Under11 standing to establish procedures for consultation, concur12 rence, training, exchange of technical expertise and joint 

13 activities under the appropriate circumstances, which pro14 vide assurances that reclamation or restoration activities 

15 under this title, to the extent practicable, shall not be con16 ducted in a manner that increases the costs or likelihood 

17 of removal or remedial actions under the Comprehensive 

18 Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

19 of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 and following), and which avoid 

20 oversight by multiple agencies to the maximum extent 

21 practicable. 

22 SEC. 303. ELIGIBLE LANDS AND WATERS. 

23 (a) ELIGIBILITY.—Reclamation expenditures under 

24 this title may only be made with respect to Federal lands 

25 or Indian lands or water resources that traverse or are 
85

•HR 2141 IH 

1 contiguous to Federal lands or Indian lands where such 

2 lands or water resources have been affected by past min3 eral activities, including any of the following: 

4 (1) Lands and water resources which were used 

5 for, or affected by, mineral activities and abandoned 

6 or left in an inadequate reclamation status before 

7 the effective date of this Act. 

8 (2) Lands for which the Secretary makes a de9 termination that there is no continuing reclamation 

10 responsibility of a claim holder, operator, or other 

11 person who abandoned the site prior to completion 

12 of required reclamation under State or other Federal 

13 laws. 

14 (3) Lands for which it can be established that 

15 such lands do not contain locatable minerals which 

16 could economically be extracted through the reproc17 essing or remining of such lands, unless such consid18 erations are in conflict with the priorities set forth 

19 under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 302(b). 

20 (b) SPECIFIC SITES AND AREAS NOT ELIGIBLE.—

21 The provisions of section 411(d) of the Surface Mining 

22 Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 

23 1240a(d)) shall apply to expenditures made from the 

24 Fund established under this title.
86

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (c) INVENTORY.—The Secretary shall prepare and 

2 maintain an inventory of abandoned locatable minerals 

3 mines on Federal lands and any abandoned mine on In4 dian lands which may be eligible for expenditures under 

5 this title. 

6 SEC. 304. FUND EXPENDITURES. 

7 Moneys available from the Fund may be expended for 

8 the purposes specified in section 302 directly by the Direc9 tor of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and En10 forcement. The Director may also make such money avail11 able for such purposes to the Director of the Bureau of 

12 Land Management, the Chief of the United States Forest 

13 Service, the Director of the National Park Service, or Di14 rector of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to 

15 any other agency of the United States, to an Indian tribe, 

16 or to any public entity that volunteers to develop and im17 plement, and that has the ability to carry out, all or a 

18 significant portion of a reclamation program under this 

19 title.

20 SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

21 Amounts credited to the Fund are authorized to be 

22 appropriated for the purpose of this title without fiscal 

23 year limitation.
87

•HR 2141 IH 

1 TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATIVE AND 

2 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

3 Subtitle A—Administrative 

4 Provisions 

5 SEC. 401. POLICY FUNCTIONS. 

6 (a) MINERALS POLICY.—Section 2 of the Mining and 

7 Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 21a) is amended 

8 by adding at the end thereof the following: ‘‘It shall also 

9 be the responsibility of the Secretary of Agriculture to 

10 carry out the policy provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) 

11 of this section.’’. 

12 (b) MINERAL DATA.—Section 5(e)(3) of the National 

13 Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development 

14 Act of 1980 (30 U.S.C. 1604(e)(3)) is amended by insert15 ing before the period the following: ‘‘, except that for Na16 tional Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture 

17 shall promptly initiate actions to improve the availability 

18 and analysis of mineral data in Federal land use decision19 making’’.

20 SEC. 402. USER FEES. 

21 The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture are 

22 each authorized to establish and collect from persons sub23 ject to the requirements of this Act such user fees as may 

24 be necessary to reimburse the United States for the ex25 penses incurred in administering such requirements. Fees 
88

•HR 2141 IH 

1 may be assessed and collected under this section only in 

2 such manner as may reasonably be expected to result in 

3 an aggregate amount of the fees collected during any fiscal 

4 year which does not exceed the aggregate amount of ad5 ministrative expenses referred to in this section. 

6 SEC. 403. INSPECTION AND MONITORING. 

7 (a) INSPECTIONS.—(1) The Secretary, or for Na8 tional Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, 

9 shall make inspections of mineral activities so as to ensure 

10 compliance with the surface management requirements of 

11 title II. 

12 (2) The Secretary concerned shall establish a fre13 quency of inspections for mineral activities conducted 

14 under a permit issued under title II, but in no event shall 

15 such inspection frequency be less than one complete in16 spection per calendar quarter or, two per calendar quarter 

17 in the case of a permit for which the Secretary concerned 

18 approves an application under section 203(g) (relating to 

19 temporary cessation of operations). After revegetation has 

20 been established in accordance with a reclamation plan, 

21 such Secretary shall conduct annually 2 complete inspec22 tions. Such Secretary shall have the discretion to modify 

23 the inspection frequency for mineral activities that are 

24 conducted on a seasonal basis. Inspections shall continue 
89

•HR 2141 IH 

1 under this subsection until final release of financial assur2 ance. 

3 (3)(A) Any person who has reason to believe he or 

4 she is or may be adversely affected by mineral activities 

5 due to any violation of the surface management require6 ments may request an inspection. The Secretary, or for 

7 National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri8 culture, shall determine within 10 working days of receipt 

9 of the request whether the request states a reason to be10 lieve that a violation exists. If the person alleges and pro11 vides reason to believe that an imminent threat to the en12 vironment or danger to the health or safety of the public 

13 exists, the 10-day period shall be waived and the inspec14 tion shall be conducted immediately. When an inspection 

15 is conducted under this paragraph, the Secretary con16 cerned shall notify the person requesting the inspection, 

17 and such person shall be allowed to accompany the Sec18 retary concerned or the Secretary’s authorized representa19 tive during the inspection. The Secretary shall not incur 

20 any liability for allowing such person to accompany an au21 thorized representative. The identity of the person sup22 plying information to the Secretary relating to a possible 

23 violation or imminent danger or harm shall remain con24 fidential with the Secretary if so requested by that person, 
90

•HR 2141 IH 

1 unless that person elects to accompany an authorized rep2 resentative on the inspection. 

3 (B) The Secretaries shall, by joint rule, establish pro4 cedures for the review of (i) any decision by an authorized 

5 representative not to inspect; or (ii) any refusal by such 

6 representative to ensure that remedial actions are taken 

7 with respect to any alleged violation. The Secretary con8 cerned shall furnish such persons requesting the review 

9 a written statement of the reasons for the Secretary’s final 

10 disposition of the case. 

11 (b) MONITORING.—(1) The Secretary, or for Na12 tional Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, 

13 shall require all operators to develop and maintain a moni14 toring and evaluation system which shall identify compli15 ance with all surface management requirements. 

16 (2) Monitoring shall be conducted as close as tech17 nically feasible to the mineral activity involved, and in all 

18 cases such monitoring shall be conducted within the per19 mit area. 

20 (3) The point of compliance referred to in paragraph 

21 (1) shall be as close to the mineral activity involved as 

22 is technically feasible, but in any event shall be located 

23 to comply with applicable State and Federal standards. 

24 In no event shall the point of compliance be outside the 

25 permit area.
91

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (4) The Secretary concerned may require additional 

2 monitoring be conducted as necessary to assure compli3 ance with the reclamation and other environmental stand4 ards of this Act. 

5 (5) The operator shall file reports with the Secretary, 

6 or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri7 culture, on a frequency determined by the Secretary con8 cerned, on the results of the monitoring and evaluation 

9 process, except that if the monitoring and evaluation show 

10 a violation of the surface management requirements under 

11 this Act, it shall be reported immediately to the Secretary 

12 concerned. Information received pursuant to this sub13 section from any natural person shall not be used against 

14 any such natural person in any criminal case, except a 

15 prosecution for perjury or for giving a false statement. 

16 The Secretary shall evaluate the reports submitted pursu17 ant to this paragraph, and based on those reports and any 

18 necessary inspection shall take enforcement action pursu19 ant to this section. 

20 (6) The Secretary, or for National Forest System 

21 lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall determine what 

22 information shall be reported by the operator pursuant to 

23 paragraph (5). A failure to report as required by the Sec24 retary concerned shall constitute a violation of this Act 
92

•HR 2141 IH 

1 and subject the operator to enforcement action pursuant 

2 to section 406.

3 SEC. 404. CITIZENS SUITS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

5 (b), any person may commence a civil action on his or 

6 her own behalf to compel compliance—

7 (1) against any person (including the Secretary 

8 or the Secretary of Agriculture) alleged to have vio9 lated (if there is evidence the alleged violation has 

10 been repeated), or to be in violation of, any of the 

11 provisions of this Act or any regulation promulgated 

12 pursuant to title II or any term or condition of any 

13 permit issued under title II; or 

14 (2) against the Secretary or the Secretary of 

15 Agriculture where there is alleged a failure of such 

16 Secretary to perform any act or duty under this Act, 

17 or to promulgate any regulation under title II, which 

18 is not within the discretion of the Secretary con19 cerned. 

20 The United States district courts shall have jurisdiction 

21 over actions brought under this section, without regard to 

22 the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties, 

23 including actions brought to apply any civil penalty under 

24 this Act. The district courts of the United States shall 

25 have jurisdiction to compel agency action unreasonably de-
93

•HR 2141 IH 

1 layed, except that an action to compel agency action re2 viewable under section 405 may only be filed in a United 

3 States district court within the circuit in which such action 

4 would be reviewable under section 405. 

5 (b) EXCEPTIONS.—(1) No action may be commenced 

6 under subsection (a) prior to 60 days after the plaintiff 

7 has given notice in writing of such alleged violation to the 

8 Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Sec9 retary of Agriculture, except that any such action may be 

10 brought immediately after such notification if the violation 

11 complained of constitutes an imminent threat to the envi12 ronment or to the health or safety of the public. 

13 (2) No action may be brought against any person 

14 other than the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture 

15 under subsection (a)(1) if such Secretary has commenced 

16 and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action in 

17 a court of the United States to require compliance. 

18 (3) No action may be commenced under paragraph 

19 (2) of subsection (a) against either Secretary to review any 

20 rule promulgated by, or to any permit issued or denied 

21 by such Secretary if such rule or permit issuance or denial 

22 is judicially reviewable under section 405 or under any 

23 other provision of law at any time after such promulga24 tion, issuance, or denial is final. 
94

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (c) VENUE.—Venue of all actions brought under this 

2 section shall be determined in accordance with section 

3 1391 of title 28, United States Code.

4 (d) COSTS.—The court, in issuing any final order in 

5 any action brought pursuant to this section may award 

6 costs of litigation (including attorney and expert witness 

7 fees) to any party whenever the court determines such 

8 award is appropriate. The court may, if a temporary re9 straining order or preliminary injunction is sought, require 

10 the filing of a bond or equivalent security in accordance 

11 with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

12 (e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 

13 restrict any right which any person (or class of persons) 

14 may have under chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, 

15 under this section, or under any other statute or common 

16 law to bring an action to seek any relief against the Sec17 retary or the Secretary of Agriculture or against any other 

18 person, including any action for any violation of this Act 

19 or of any regulation or permit issued under this Act or 

20 for any failure to act as required by law. Nothing in this 

21 section shall affect the jurisdiction of any court under any 

22 provision of title 28, United States Code, including any 

23 action for any violation of this Act or of any regulation 

24 or permit issued under this Act or for any failure to act 

25 as required by law. Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
95

•HR 2141 IH 

1 to be a waiver of the sovereign immunity of an Indian tribe 

2 except as provided for in section 203.

3 SEC. 405. ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REVIEW. 

4 (a) REVIEW BY SECRETARY.—(1)(A) Any person 

5 issued a notice of violation or cessation order under sec6 tion 406, or any person having an interest which is or 

7 may be adversely affected by such notice or order, may 

8 apply to the Secretary, or for National Forest System 

9 lands the Secretary of Agriculture, for review of the notice 

10 or order within 30 days after receipt thereof, or as the 

11 case may be, within 30 days after such notice or order 

12 is modified, vacated, or terminated. 

13 (B) Any person who is subject to a penalty assessed 

14 under section 110 (relating to failure to comply), or sec15 tion 406 may apply to the Secretary concerned for review 

16 of the assessment within 45 days of notification of such 

17 penalty. 

18 (C) Any person may apply to such Secretary for re19 view of the decision within 30 days after it is made. 

20 (D) Pending a review by the Secretary or resolution 

21 of an administrative appeal, final decisions (except en22 forcement actions under section 406) shall be stayed. 

23 (2) The Secretary concerned shall provide an oppor24 tunity for a public hearing at the request of any party 

25 to the proceeding as specified in paragraph (1). The filing
96

•HR 2141 IH 

1 of an application for review under this subsection shall not 

2 operate as a stay of any order or notice issued under sec3 tion 406. 

4 (3) For any review proceeding under this subsection, 

5 the Secretary concerned shall make findings of fact and 

6 shall issue a written decision incorporating therein an 

7 order vacating, affirming, modifying, or terminating the 

8 notice, order, or decision, or with respect to an assess9 ment, the amount of penalty that is warranted. Where the 

10 application for review concerns a cessation order issued 

11 under section 406 the Secretary concerned shall issue the 

12 written decision within 30 days of the receipt of the appli13 cation for review or within 30 days after the conclusion 

14 of any hearing referred to in paragraph (2), whichever is 

15 later, unless temporary relief has been granted by the Sec16 retary concerned under paragraph (4). 

17 (4) Pending completion of any review proceedings 

18 under this subsection, the applicant may file with the Sec19 retary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary 

20 of Agriculture, a written request that the Secretary grant 

21 temporary relief from any order issued under section 406 

22 together with a detailed statement giving reasons for such 

23 relief. The Secretary concerned shall expeditiously issue 

24 an order or decision granting or denying such relief. The 

25 Secretary concerned may grant such relief under such con-
97

•HR 2141 IH 

1 ditions as he may prescribe only if such relief shall not 

2 adversely affect the health or safety of the public or cause 

3 imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water re4 sources. 

5 (5) The availability of review under this subsection 

6 shall not be construed to limit the operation of rights 

7 under section 404 (relating to citizen suits). 

8 (b) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—(1) Any final action by the 

9 Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture in promul10 gating regulations to implement this Act, or any other 

11 final actions constituting rulemaking to implement this 

12 Act, shall be subject to judicial review only in the United 

13 States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Any 

14 action subject to judicial review under this subsection shall 

15 be affirmed unless the court concludes that such action 

16 is arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise inconsistent with law. 

17 A petition for review of any action subject to judicial re18 view under this subsection shall be filed within 60 days 

19 from the date of such action, or after such date if the 

20 petition is based solely on grounds arising after the 60th 

21 day. Any such petition may be made by any person who 

22 commented or otherwise participated in the rulemaking or 

23 any person who may be adversely affected by the action 

24 of the Secretaries. 
98

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (2) Final agency action under this Act, including 

2 such final action on those matters described under sub3 section (a), shall be subject to judicial review in accord4 ance with paragraph (4) and pursuant to section 1391 of 

5 title 28, United States Code, on or before 60 days from 

6 the date of such final action. Any action subject to judicial 

7 review under this subsection shall be affirmed unless the 

8 court concludes that such action is arbitrary, capricious, 

9 or otherwise inconsistent with law. 

10 (3) The availability of judicial review established in 

11 this subsection shall not be construed to limit the oper12 ations of rights under section 404 (relating to citizens 

13 suits). 

14 (4) The court shall hear any petition or complaint 

15 filed under this subsection solely on the record made be16 fore the Secretary or Secretaries concerned. The court 

17 may affirm or vacate any order or decision or may remand 

18 the proceedings to the Secretary or Secretaries for such 

19 further action as it may direct. 

20 (5) The commencement of a proceeding under this 

21 section shall not, unless specifically ordered by the court, 

22 operate as a stay of the action, order, or decision of the 

23 Secretary or Secretaries concerned.

24 (c) COSTS.—Whenever a proceeding occurs under 

25 subsection (a) or (b), at the request of any person, a sum 
99

•HR 2141 IH 

1 equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses 

2 (including attorney fees) as determined by the Secretary 

3 or Secretaries concerned or the court to have been reason4 ably incurred by such person for or in connection with par5 ticipation in such proceedings, including any judicial re6 view of the proceeding, may be assessed against either 

7 party as the court, in the case of judicial review, or the 

8 Secretary or Secretaries concerned in the case of adminis9 trative proceedings, deems proper if it is determined that 

10 such party prevailed in whole or in part, achieving some 

11 success on the merits, and that such party made a sub12 stantial contribution to a full and fair determination of 

13 the issues. 

14 SEC. 406. ENFORCEMENT. 

15 (a) ORDERS.—(1) If the Secretary, or for National 

16 Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, or an 

17 authorized representative of such Secretary, determines 

18 that any person is in violation of any surface management 

19 or monitoring requirement, such Secretary or authorized 

20 representative shall issue to such person a notice of viola21 tion describing the violation and the corrective measures 

22 to be taken. The Secretary concerned, or the authorized 

23 representative of such Secretary, shall provide such person 

24 with a period of time not to exceed 30 days to abate the 

25 violation. Such period of time may be extended by the Sec-
100

•HR 2141 IH 

1 retary concerned upon a showing of good cause by such 

2 person. If, upon the expiration of time provided for such 

3 abatement, the Secretary concerned, or the authorized 

4 representative of such Secretary, finds that the violation 

5 has not been abated he shall immediately order a cessation 

6 of all mineral activities or the portion thereof relevant to 

7 the violation. 

8 (2) If the Secretary concerned, or the authorized rep9 resentative of the Secretary concerned, determines that 

10 any condition or practice exists, or that any person is in 

11 violation of any surface management or monitoring re12 quirement, and such condition, practice or violation is 

13 causing, or can reasonably be expected to cause—

14 (A) an imminent danger to the health or safety 

15 of the public; or 

16 (B) significant, imminent environmental harm 

17 to land, air, water, or fish or wildlife resources; 

18 such Secretary or authorized representative shall imme19 diately order a cessation of mineral activities or the por20 tion thereof relevant to the condition, practice, or viola21 tion. 

22 (3)(A) A cessation order pursuant to paragraphs (1) 

23 or (2) shall remain in effect until such Secretary, or au24 thorized representative, determines that the condition, 

25 practice, or violation has been abated, or until modified,
101

•HR 2141 IH 

1 vacated or terminated by the Secretary or authorized rep2 resentative. In any such order, the Secretary or authorized 

3 representative shall determine the steps necessary to abate 

4 the violation in the most expeditious manner possible and 

5 shall include the necessary measures in the order. The 

6 Secretary concerned shall require appropriate financial as7 surances to ensure that the abatement obligations are met. 

8 (B) Any notice or order issued pursuant to para9 graphs (1) or (2) may be modified, vacated, or terminated 

10 by the Secretary concerned or an authorized representa11 tive of such Secretary. Any person to whom any such no12 tice or order is issued shall be entitled to a hearing on 

13 the record. 

14 (4) If, after 30 days of the date of the order referred 

15 to in paragraph (3)(A) the required abatement has not 

16 occurred, the Secretary concerned shall take such alter17 native enforcement action against the claim holder or op18 erator (or any person who controls the claim holder or op19 erator) as will most likely bring about abatement in the 

20 most expeditious manner possible. Such alternative en21 forcement action may include, but is not necessarily lim22 ited to, seeking appropriate injunctive relief to bring about 

23 abatement. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the 

24 Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Sec-
102

•HR 2141 IH 

1 retary of Agriculture, from taking alternative enforcement 

2 action prior to the expiration of 30 days. 

3 (5) If a claim holder or operator (or any person who 

4 controls the claim holder or operator) fails to abate a vio5 lation or defaults on the terms of the permit, the Sec6 retary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary 

7 of Agriculture, shall forfeit the financial assurance for the 

8 plan as necessary to ensure abatement and reclamation 

9 under this Act. The Secretary concerned may prescribe 

10 conditions under which a surety may perform reclamation 

11 in accordance with the approved plan in lieu of forfeiture. 

12 (6) The Secretary, or for National Forest System 

13 lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall not cause for14 feiture of the financial assurance while administrative or 

15 judicial review is pending. 

16 (7) In the event of forfeiture, the claim holder, oper17 ator, or any affiliate thereof, as appropriate as determined 

18 by the Secretary by rule, shall be jointly and severally lia19 ble for any remaining reclamation obligations under this 

20 Act.

21 (b) COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary, or for National 

22 Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may re23 quest the Attorney General to institute a civil action for 

24 relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction or 

25 restraining order, or any other appropriate enforcement 
103

•HR 2141 IH 

1 order, including the imposition of civil penalties, in the dis2 trict court of the United States for the district in which 

3 the mineral activities are located whenever a person—

4 (1) violates, fails, or refuses to comply with any 

5 order issued by the Secretary concerned under sub6 section (a); or 

7 (2) interferes with, hinders, or delays the Sec8 retary concerned in carrying out an inspection under 

9 section 403. 

10 Such court shall have jurisdiction to provide such relief 

11 as may be appropriate. Any relief granted by the court 

12 to enforce an order under paragraph (1) shall continue 

13 in effect until the completion or final termination of all 

14 proceedings for review of such order unless the district 

15 court granting such relief sets it aside. 

16 (c) DELEGATION.—Notwithstanding any other provi17 sion of law, the Secretary may utilize personnel of the Of18 fice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to 

19 ensure compliance with the requirements of this Act. 

20 (d) PENALTIES.—(1) Any person who fails to comply 

21 with any surface management requirement shall be liable 

22 for a penalty of not more than $25,000 per violation. Each 

23 day of violation may be deemed a separate violation for 

24 purposes of penalty assessments. 
104

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (2) A person who fails to correct a violation for which 

2 a cessation order has been issued under subsection (a) 

3 within the period permitted for its correction shall be as4 sessed a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 per violation 

5 for each day during which such failure continues. 

6 (3) Whenever a corporation is in violation of a surface 

7 management requirement or fails or refuses to comply 

8 with an order issued under subsection (a), any director, 

9 officer, or agent of such corporation who knowingly au10 thorized, ordered, or carried out such violation, failure, or 

11 refusal shall be subject to the same penalties as may be 

12 imposed upon the person referred to in paragraph (1). 

13 (e) SUSPENSIONS OR REVOCATIONS.—The Secretary, 

14 or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri15 culture, shall suspend or revoke a permit issued under title 

16 II, in whole or in part, if the operator or person con17 ducting mineral activities—

18 (1) knowingly made or knowingly makes any 

19 false, inaccurate, or misleading material statement 

20 in any mining claim, notice of location, application, 

21 record, report, plan, or other document filed or re22 quired to be maintained under this Act; 

23 (2) fails to abate a violation covered by a ces24 sation order issued under subsection (a); 
105

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (3) fails to comply with an order of the Sec2 retary concerned; 

3 (4) refuses to permit an audit pursuant to this 

4 Act;

5 (5) fails to maintain an adequate financial as6 surance under section 205; 

7 (6) fails to pay claim maintenance fees or other 

8 moneys due and owing under this Act; or 

9 (7) with regard to plans conditionally approved 

10 under section 204(c)(2), fails to abate a violation to 

11 the satisfaction of the Secretary concerned, or if the 

12 validity of the violation is upheld on the appeal 

13 which formed the basis for the conditional approval. 

14 (f) FALSE STATEMENTS; TAMPERING.—Any person 

15 who knowingly—

16 (1) makes any false material statement, rep17 resentation, or certification in, or omits or conceals 

18 material information from, or unlawfully alters, any 

19 mining claim, notice of location, application, record, 

20 report, plan, or other documents filed or required to 

21 be maintained under this Act; or 

22 (2) falsifies, tampers with, renders inaccurate, 

23 or fails to install any monitoring device or method 

24 required to be maintained under this Act,
106

•HR 2141 IH 

1 shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more 

2 than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 2 

3 years, or by both. If a conviction of a person is for a viola4 tion committed after a first conviction of such person 

5 under this paragraph, punishment shall be by a fine of 

6 not more than $20,000 per day of violation, or by impris7 onment of not more than 4 years, or both. Each day of 

8 continuing violation may be deemed a separate violation 

9 for purposes of penalty assessments. 

10 (g) KNOWING VIOLATIONS.—Any person who know11 ingly—

12 (1) engages in mineral activities without a per13 mit required under title II, or 

14 (2) violates any other surface management re15 quirement of this Act or any provision of a permit 

16 issued under this Act (including any exploration or 

17 operations plan on which such permit is based), or 

18 condition or limitation thereof, 

19 shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less 

20 than $5,000 nor more than $50,000 per day of violation, 

21 or by imprisonment for not more than 3 years, or both. 

22 If a conviction of a person is for a violation committed 

23 after the first conviction of such person under this para24 graph, punishment shall be a fine of not less than $10,000 
107

•HR 2141 IH 

1 per day of violation, or by imprisonment of not more than 

2 6 years, or both. 

3 (h) KNOWING AND WILLFUL VIOLATIONS.—Any per4 son who knowingly and willfully commits an act for which 

5 a civil penalty is provided in paragraph (1) of subsection 

6 (g) shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not 

7 more than $50,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 

8 2 years, or both. 

9 (i) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 

10 term ‘‘person’’ includes a person as defined in section 

11 3(a)(19) and any officer, agent, or employee of any such 

12 person.

13 SEC. 407. REGULATIONS; EFFECTIVE DATES. 

14 (a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The provisions of this Act 

15 shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, ex16 cept as otherwise provided in this Act. 

17 (b) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary and the Secretary 

18 of Agriculture may issue such regulations as may be nec19 essary under this Act. The regulations implementing title 

20 II and the provisions of title IV which affect the United 

21 States Forest Service shall be joint regulations issued by 

22 both Secretaries. 

23 (c) NOTICE.—Within 180 days after the date of en24 actment of this Act, the Secretary shall give notice to hold-
108

•HR 2141 IH 

1 ers of mining claims and millsites maintained under the 

2 general mining laws as to the requirements of section 106. 

3 Subtitle B—Miscellaneous 

4 Provisions 

5 SEC. 411. TRANSITIONAL RULES; SURFACE MANAGEMENT 

6 REQUIREMENTS. 

7 (a) NEW CLAIMS.—Notwithstanding any other provi8 sion of law, any mining claim for a locatable mineral on 

9 lands subject to this Act located after the date of enact10 ment of this Act shall be subject to the requirements of 

11 title II. 

12 (b) PREEXISTING CLAIMS.—(1) Notwithstanding any 

13 other provision of law, any unpatented mining claim or 

14 millsite located under the general mining laws before the 

15 date of enactment of this Act for which a plan of operation 

16 has not been approved or a notice filed prior to the date 

17 of enactment shall, upon the effective date of this Act, 

18 be subject to the requirements of title II, except as pro19 vided in paragraphs (2) and (3). 

20 (2)(A) If a plan of operations had been approved for 

21 mineral activities on any claim or site referred to in para22 graph (1) prior to the date of enactment of this Act, for 

23 a period of 5 years after the effective date of this Act min24 eral activities at such claim or site shall be subject to such 

25 plan of operations (or a modification or amendment there-
109

•HR 2141 IH 

1 to prepared in accordance with the provisions of law appli2 cable prior to the enactment of this Act). During such 5-

3 year period, modifications of, or amendments to, any such 

4 plan may be made in accordance with the provisions of 

5 law applicable prior to the enactment of this Act if such 

6 modifications or amendments are deemed minor by the 

7 Secretary concerned. After such 5-year period the require8 ments of title II shall apply, subject to the limitations of 

9 section 208. In order to meet the requirements of title II, 

10 the person conducting mineral activities under such plan 

11 of operations (or modified or amended plan) shall apply 

12 for a modification under section 203(f) no later than 3 

13 years after the date of enactment of this Act. For purposes 

14 of this paragraph, any modification or amendment that 

15 extends the area covered by the plan (except for incidental 

16 boundary revisions) or that increases the risk of adverse 

17 effects on the environment shall not be subject to this 

18 paragraph and shall be subject to other provisions of this 

19 Act. 

20 (B) During the 5-year period referred to in subpara21 graph (A), the provisions of section 403 (relating to in22 spection and monitoring) and section 406 (relating to en23 forcement) shall apply on the basis of the surface manage24 ment requirements applicable to such plans of operations 

25 prior to the effective date of this Act.
110

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (C) Where an application for modification or amend2 ment of a plan of operations referred to in subparagraph 

3 (A) has been timely submitted and an approved plan ex4 pires prior to Secretarial action on the application, mineral 

5 activities and reclamation may continue in accordance 

6 with the terms of the expired plan until the Secretary 

7 makes an administrative decision on the application. 

8 (3)(A) If a substantially complete application for ap9 proval of a plan of operations or for a modification of, 

10 or amendment to, a plan of operations had been submitted 

11 by the date of enactment of this Act and either a scoping 

12 document or an environmental assessment prepared for 

13 purposes of compliance with the National Environmental 

14 Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 and following) had 

15 been published with respect to such plan, modification, or 

16 amendment before the date of the enactment of this Act 

17 but the submitted plan of operations or modification or 

18 amendment had not been approved for mineral activities 

19 on any claim or site referred to in paragraph (1) prior 

20 to such date of enactment, for a period of 5 years after 

21 the effective date of this Act mineral activities at such 

22 claim or site shall be subject to the provisions of law appli23 cable prior to the enactment of this Act. During such 5-

24 year period, subsequent modifications of, or amendments 

25 to, any such plan may be made in accordance with the
111

•HR 2141 IH 

1 provisions of law applicable prior to the enactment of this 

2 Act if such subsequent modifications or amendments are 

3 deemed minor by the Secretary concerned. After such 5-

4 year period, the requirements of title II shall apply, sub5 ject to the limitations of section 208. For purposes of this 

6 paragraph, any subsequent modification or amendment 

7 which extends the area covered by the plan (except for 

8 incidental boundary revisions) or which significantly in9 creases the risk of adverse effects on the environment shall 

10 not be subject to this paragraph and shall be subject to 

11 other provisions of this Act. 

12 (B) In order to meet the requirements of title II, the 

13 person conducting mineral activities under a plan of oper14 ations (or modified or amended plan referred to in sub15 paragraph (A)) shall apply for a modification under sec16 tion 203(f) no later than 3 years after the date of enact17 ment of this Act. During such 5-year period the provisions 

18 of section 403 (relating to inspection and monitoring) and 

19 section 406 (relating to enforcement) shall apply on the 

20 basis of the surface management requirements applicable 

21 to such plans of operations prior to the effective date of 

22 this Act. 

23 (C) Where an application for modification or amend24 ment of a plan of operations referred to in subparagraph 

25 (A) has been timely submitted and an approved plan ex-
112

•HR 2141 IH 

1 pires prior to Secretarial action on the application, mineral 

2 activities and reclamation may continue in accordance 

3 with the terms of the expired plan until the Secretary 

4 makes an administrative decision on the application. 

5 (4) If a notice had been filed with the authorized offi6 cer in the applicable office of the Bureau of Land Manage7 ment or the United States Forest Service (as provided for 

8 in the regulations of the Secretary of the Interior or the 

9 Secretary of Agriculture, respectively, in effect prior to the 

10 date of enactment of this Act) prior to the date of enact11 ment of this Act, mineral activities may continue under 

12 such notice or notice of intent for a period of 2 years after 

13 the effective date of this Act, after which time the require14 ments of title II shall apply, subject to the limitations of 

15 section 208(d)(2). In order to meet the requirements of 

16 title II, the person conducting mineral activities under 

17 such notice shall apply for a permit under section 203 no 

18 later than 18 months after the effective date of this Act, 

19 unless such mineral activities are conducted pursuant to 

20 section 202(b). During such 2-year period the provisions 

21 of sections 403 (relating to inspection and monitoring) 

22 and 406 (relating to enforcement) shall apply on the basis 

23 of the surface management requirements applicable to 

24 such notices prior to the effective date of this Act.
113

•HR 2141 IH 

1 SEC. 412. OIL SHALE CLAIMS SUBJECT TO SPECIAL RULES. 

2 (a) The provisions of section 411 shall apply to oil 

3 shale claims referred to in section 2511(e)(2) of the En4 ergy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–486).

5 (b) Section 2511(f) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 

6 (Public Law 102–486) is amended as follows: 

7 (1) By striking ‘‘as prescribed by the Sec8 retary’’. 

9 (2) By inserting the following before the period: 

10 ‘‘in the same manner as if such claims were subject 

11 to title II of the Mineral Exploration and Develop12 ment Act of 2003’’. 

13 SEC. 413. PURCHASING POWER ADJUSTMENT. 

14 The Secretary shall adjust all location fees, claim 

15 maintenance rates, penalty amounts, and other dollar 

16 amounts established in this Act for changes in the pur17 chasing power of the dollar every 10 years following the 

18 date of enactment of this Act, employing the Consumer 

19 Price Index for All-Urban Consumers published by the De20 partment of Labor as the basis for adjustment, and round21 ing according to the adjustment process of conditions of 

22 the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 

23 1990 (104 Stat. 890). 

24 SEC. 414. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 

25 (a) SPECIAL APPLICATION OF MINING LAWS.—Noth26 ing in this Act shall be construed as repealing or modi-
114

•HR 2141 IH 

1 fying any Federal law, regulation, order, or land use plan, 

2 in effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act that 

3 prohibits or restricts the application of the general mining 

4 laws, including laws that provide for special management 

5 criteria for operations under the general mining laws as 

6 in effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act, to 

7 the extent such laws provide environmental protection 

8 greater than required under this Act, and any such prior 

9 law shall remain in force and effect with respect to claims 

10 located (or proposed to be located) or converted under this 

11 Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as applying 

12 to or limiting mineral investigations, studies, or other min13 eral activities conducted by any Federal or State agency 

14 acting in its governmental capacity pursuant to other au15 thority. Nothing in this Act shall affect or limit any as16 sessment, investigation, evaluation, or listing pursuant to 

17 the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensa18 tion, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 and fol19 lowing), or the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 3251 

20 and following). 

21 (b) EFFECT ON OTHER FEDERAL LAWS.—The provi22 sions of this Act shall supersede the general mining laws, 

23 but, except for the general mining laws, nothing in this 

24 Act shall be construed as superseding, modifying, amend25 ing, or repealing any provision of Federal law not ex-
115

•HR 2141 IH 

1 pressly superseded, modified, amended, or repealed by this 

2 Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as altering, 

3 affecting, amending, modifying, or changing, directly or 

4 indirectly, any law which refers to and provides authorities 

5 or responsibilities for, or is administered by, the Environ6 mental Protection Agency or the Administrator of the En7 vironmental Protection Agency, including the Federal 

8 Water Pollution Control Act, title XIV of the Public 

9 Health Service Act (the Safe Drinking Water Act), the 

10 Clean Air Act, the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, the 

11 Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, 

12 Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Federal Food, Drug, 

13 and Cosmetic Act, the Motor Vehicle Information and 

14 Cost Savings Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, 

15 the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Atomic Energy 

16 Act, the Noise Control Act of 1972, the Solid Waste Dis17 posal Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 

18 Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund 

19 Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Ocean 

20 Dumping Act, the Environmental Research, Development, 

21 and Demonstration Authorization Act, the Pollution Pros22 ecution Act of 1990, and the Federal Facilities Compli23 ance Act of 1992, or any statute containing an amend24 ment to any of such Acts. Nothing in this Act shall be 

25 construed as modifying or affecting any provision of the
116

•HR 2141 IH 

1 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act 

2 (Public Law 101–601) or any provision of the American 

3 Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996). 

4 (c) PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION AREAS.—In 

5 order to protect the resources and values of National Con6 servation System units, the Secretary, as appropriate, 

7 shall utilize authority under this Act and other applicable 

8 law to the fullest extent necessary to prevent mineral ac9 tivities within the boundaries of such units that could have 

10 an adverse impact on the resources or values for which 

11 such units were established. 

12 SEC. 415. AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC RECORDS. 

13 Copies of records, reports, inspection materials, or in14 formation obtained by the Secretary or the Secretary of 

15 Agriculture under this Act shall be made immediately 

16 available to the public, consistent with section 552 of title 

17 5, United States Code, in central and sufficient locations 

18 in the county, multicounty, and State area of mineral ac19 tivity or reclamation so that such items are conveniently 

20 available to residents in the area proposed or approved for 

21 mineral activities and on the Internet.

22 SEC. 416. MISCELLANEOUS POWERS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out his or her duties 

24 under this Act, the Secretary, or for National Forest Sys25 tem lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may conduct any 
117

•HR 2141 IH 

1 investigation, inspection, or other inquiry necessary and 

2 appropriate and may conduct, after notice, any hearing 

3 or audit, necessary and appropriate to carrying out his 

4 or her duties. 

5 (b) ANCILLARY POWERS.—In connection with any 

6 hearing, inquiry, investigation, or audit under this Act, the 

7 Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Sec8 retary of Agriculture, is authorized to take any of the fol9 lowing actions: 

10 (1) Require, by special or general order, any 

11 person to submit in writing such affidavits and an12 swers to questions as the Secretary concerned may 

13 reasonably prescribe, which submission shall be 

14 made within such reasonable period and under oath 

15 or otherwise, as may be necessary. 

16 (2) Administer oaths. 

17 (3) Require by subpoena the attendance and 

18 testimony of witnesses and the production of all 

19 books, papers, records, documents, matter, and ma20 terials, as such Secretary may request. 

21 (4) Order testimony to be taken by deposition 

22 before any person who is designated by such Sec23 retary and who has the power to administer oaths, 

24 and to compel testimony and the production of evi-
118

•HR 2141 IH 

1 dence in the same manner as authorized under para2 graph (3) of this subsection. 

3 (5) Pay witnesses the same fees and mileage as 

4 are paid in like circumstances in the courts of the 

5 United States. 

6 (c) ENFORCEMENT.—In cases of refusal to obey a 

7 subpoena served upon any person under this section, the 

8 district court of the United States for any district in which 

9 such person is found, resides, or transacts business, upon 

10 application by the Attorney General at the request of the 

11 Secretary concerned and after notice to such person, shall 

12 have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person 

13 to appear and produce documents before the Secretary 

14 concerned. Any failure to obey such order of the court may 

15 be punished by such court as contempt thereof and subject 

16 to a penalty of up to $10,000 a day. 

17 (d) ENTRY AND ACCESS.—Without advance notice 

18 and upon presentation of appropriate credentials, the Sec19 retary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary 

20 of Agriculture, or any authorized representative thereof—

21 (1) shall have the right of entry to, upon, or 

22 through the site of any claim, mineral activities, or 

23 any premises in which any records required to be 

24 maintained under this Act are located;
119

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (2) may at reasonable times, and without delay, 

2 have access to records, inspect any monitoring 

3 equipment, or review any method of operation re4 quired under this Act;

5 (3) may engage in any work and do all things 

6 necessary or expedient to implement and administer 

7 the provisions of this Act; 

8 (4) may, on any mining claim located under the 

9 general mining laws and maintained in compliance 

10 with this Act, and without advance notice, stop and 

11 inspect any motorized form of transportation that 

12 such Secretary has probable cause to believe is car13 rying locatable minerals, concentrates, or products 

14 derived therefrom from a claim site for the purpose 

15 of determining whether the operator of such vehicle 

16 has documentation related to such locatable min17 erals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom as 

18 required by law, if such documentation is required 

19 under this Act; and 

20 (5) may, if accompanied by any appropriate law 

21 enforcement officer, or an appropriate law enforce22 ment officer alone, stop and inspect any motorized 

23 form of transportation which is not on a claim site 

24 if he or she has probable cause to believe such vehi25 cle is carrying locatable minerals, concentrates, or
120

•HR 2141 IH 

1 products derived therefrom from a claim site on 

2 Federal lands or allocated to such claim site. Such 

3 inspection shall be for the purpose of determining 

4 whether the operator of such vehicle has the docu5 mentation required by law, if such documentation is 

6 required under this Act. 

7 SEC. 417. MULTIPLE MINERAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUR8 FACE RESOURCES. 

9 The provisions of sections 4 and 6 of the Act of Au10 gust 13, 1954 (30 U.S.C. 524 and 526), commonly known 

11 as the Multiple Minerals Development Act, and the provi12 sions of section 4 of the Act of July 23, 1955 (30 U.S.C. 

13 612), shall apply to all mining claims located or converted 

14 under this Act. 

15 SEC. 418. MINERAL MATERIALS. 

16 (a) DETERMINATIONS.—Section 3 of the Act of July 

17 23, 1955 (30 U.S.C. 611), is amended as follows: 

18 (1) By inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before the first sentence. 

19 (2) By inserting ‘‘mineral materials, including 

20 but not limited to’’ after ‘‘varieties of’’ in the first 

21 sentence. 

22 (3) By striking ‘‘or cinders’’ and inserting in 

23 lieu thereof ‘‘cinders, and clay’’.

24 (4) By adding the following new subsection at 

25 the end thereof: 
121

•HR 2141 IH 

1 ‘‘(b)(1) Subject to valid existing rights, after the date 

2 of enactment of the Mineral Exploration and Development 

3 Act of 2003, notwithstanding the reference to common va4 rieties in subsection (a) and to the exception to such term 

5 relating to a deposit of materials with some property giv6 ing it distinct and special value, all deposits of mineral 

7 materials referred to in such subsection, including the 

8 block pumice referred to in such subsection, shall be sub9 ject to disposal only under the terms and conditions of 

10 the Materials Act of 1947. 

11 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘valid 

12 existing rights’ means that a mining claim located for any 

13 such mineral material had some property giving it the dis14 tinct and special value referred to in subsection (a), or 

15 as the case may be, met the definition of block pumice 

16 referred to in such subsection, was properly located and 

17 maintained under the general mining laws prior to the 

18 date of enactment of the Mineral Exploration and Devel19 opment Act of 2003, and was supported by a discovery 

20 of a valuable mineral deposit within the meaning of the 

21 general mining laws as in effect immediately prior to the 

22 date of enactment of the Mineral Exploration and Devel23 opment Act of 2003 and that such claim continues to be 

24 valid under this Act.’’. 
122

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (b) MINERAL MATERIALS DISPOSAL CLARIFICA2 TION.—Section 4 of the Act of July 23, 1955 (30 U.S.C. 

3 612), is amended as follows: 

4 (1) In subsection (b) by inserting ‘‘and mineral 

5 material’’ after ‘‘vegetative’’. 

6 (2) In subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘and mineral 

7 material’’ after ‘‘vegetative’’. 

8 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1 of the 

9 Act of July 31, 1947, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for the 

10 disposal of materials on the public lands of the United 

11 States’’ (30 U.S.C. 601 and following) is amended by 

12 striking ‘‘common varieties of’’ in the first sentence. 

13 (d) SHORT TITLES.—

14 (1) SURFACE RESOURCES.—The Act of July 

15 23, 1955, is amended by inserting after section 7 

16 the following new section:

17 ‘‘SEC. 8. This Act may be cited as the ‘Surface Re18 sources Act of 1955.’’. 

19 (2) MINERAL MATERIALS.—The Act of July 31, 

20 1947, entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for the disposal of 

21 materials on the public lands of the United States’’ 

22 (30 U.S.C. 601 and following) is amended by insert23 ing after section 4 the following new section: 

24 ‘‘SEC. 5. This Act may be cited as the ‘Materials Act 

25 of 1947’.’’. 
123

•HR 2141 IH 

1 (e) REPEALS.—(1) Subject to valid existing rights, 

2 the Act of August 4, 1892 (27 Stat. 348, 30 U.S.C. 161), 

3 commonly known as the Building Stone Act, is hereby re4 pealed. 

5 (2) Subject to valid existing rights, the Act of Janu6 ary 31, 1901 (30 U.S.C. 162), commonly known as the 

7 Saline Placer Act, is hereby repealed. 

8 SEC. 419. APPLICATION OF ACT TO BENEFICIATION AND 

9 PROCESSING OF NONFEDERAL MINERALS ON 

10 FEDERAL LANDS. 

11 The provisions of this Act (including the surface 

12 management requirements of title II) shall apply in the 

13 same manner and to the same extent to Federal lands 

14 used for beneficiation or processing activities for any min15 eral without regard to whether or not the legal and bene16 ficial title to the mineral is held by the United States. This 

17 section applies only to minerals that are locatable minerals 

18 or minerals that would be locatable minerals if the legal 

19 and beneficial title to such minerals were held by the 

20 United States.

Æ