I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7458 
To codify notice requirements for mineral exploration activities on certain 
public lands, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 10, 2026 
Ms. HAGEMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agri-
culture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To codify notice requirements for mineral exploration 
activities on certain public lands, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Domestic Opportuni-
ties for Resource Exploration Act’’ or the ‘‘Domestic ORE 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. NOTICE FOR MINERAL EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES 
WITH LIMITED SURFACE DISTURBANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days before 
commencing an exploration activity with a surface disturb-
ance of not more than 25 acres of public lands, the oper-
ator of such exploration activity shall submit to the Sec-
retary concerned a notice of such exploration activity. 
(b) INCLUSIONS.—A notice submitted under sub-
section (a) shall include such information the Secretary 
concerned may require, which may include information de-
scribed in section 3809.301 of title 43, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
(c) REVIEW.—Not later than 15 days after the Sec-
retary concerned receives a notice of an exploration activ-
ity submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary con-
cerned shall— 
(1) allow the exploration activity to proceed if— 
(A) the surface disturbance of such explo-
ration activity will not be more than 25 acres 
of public lands; 
(B) the Secretary concerned determines 
that the notice includes the information re-
quired under subsection (b); and 
(C) the operator provides financial assur-
ance that the Secretary concerned determines is 
adequate; or 
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(2) notify the operator that information is miss-
ing from the notice and specify any information that 
is required to be included in the notice under sub-
section (b). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CASUAL USE.—The term ‘‘casual use’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 3809.5 of 
title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on 
the date of enactment of this Act). 
(2) EXPLORATION ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘explo-
ration activity’’— 
(A) means creating a surface disturbance 
greater than casual use that includes sampling, 
drilling, or developing surface or underground 
workings to evaluate the type, extent, quantity, 
or quality of minerals present; 
(B) includes constructing drill roads and 
drill pads, drilling, trenching, excavating test 
pits, and conducting geotechnical tests and geo-
physical surveys; and 
(C) does not include an activity in which 
material is extracted for commercial use or sale. 
(3) MINERAL.—The term ‘‘mineral’’ means any 
mineral of a kind that is locatable under the Act of 
May 10, 1872 (Chapter 152; 17 Stat. 91). 
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