I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 253
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
JANUARY 7, 1997
Mr. RAHALL (for himself and Mr. MILLER of California) 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 pur-
poses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Mineral Exploration and Development Act of 1997’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions and references.
TITLE I—MINERAL EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
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Sec. 101. Lands open to location.
Sec. 102. Rights under this act.
Sec. 103. Location of mining claims.
Sec. 104. Conversion of existing claims.
Sec. 105. Claim maintenance requirements.
Sec. 106. Failure to comply.
Sec. 107. Basis for contest.
TITLE II—ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS OF MINERAL EX-
PLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 201. Surface management standard.
Sec. 202. Permits.
Sec. 203. Exploration permits.
Sec. 204. Operations permit.
Sec. 205. Persons ineligible for permits.
Sec. 206. Financial assurance.
Sec. 207. Reclamation.
Sec. 208. State law and regulation.
Sec. 209. Unsuitability review.
Sec. 210. 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.
Sec. 306. Royalty.
TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SUBTITLE A—ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Sec. 401. Policy functions.
Sec. 402. User fees.
Sec. 403. Public participation requirements.
Sec. 404. Inspection and monitoring.
Sec. 405. Citizens suits.
Sec. 406. Administrative and judicial review.
Sec. 407. Enforcement.
Sec. 408. Regulations; effective dates.
SUBTITLE B—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 411. Transitional rules; surface management requirements.
Sec. 412. Claims subject to special rules.
Sec. 413. Purchasing power adjustment.
Sec. 414. Savings clause.
Sec. 415. Availability of public records.
Sec. 416. Miscellaneous powers.
Sec. 417. Limitation on patent issuance.
Sec. 418. Multiple mineral development and surface resources.
Sec. 419. Mineral materials.
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Sec. 420. Application of Act to beneficiation and processing of nonFederal min-
erals on Federal lands.
Sec. 421. Compliance with Buy American Act.
Sec. 422. Severability.
Sec. 423. Award of Compensation for takings from Fund.
Sec. 424. Report to Congress on mining claims in the United States held by
foreign firms.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds and declares the fol-
lowing:
(1) The general mining laws, commonly re-
ferred to as the Mining Law of 1872, at one time
promoted the development of the West and provided
a framework for the exploitation of Federal mineral
resources.
(2) Congress recognized that the public interest
was no longer being advanced under the Mining Law
of 1872 when, in 1920, it removed energy minerals
and minerals chiefly valuable for agricultural use,
and in 1955, removed common varieties of mineral
materials, from the scope of the general mining laws
and made such minerals available under regimes
which provide for a financial return to the public for
the disposition of such minerals and which better
safeguard the environment.
(3) The Mining Law of 1872 no longer fosters
the efficient and diligent development of those min-
eral resources still under its scope, giving rise to
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speculation and nonmining uses of lands chiefly val-
uable for minerals.
(4) The Mining Law of 1872 does not provide
for a financial return to the American people for use
by claim holders of public domain lands or for the
disposition of valuable mineral resources from such
lands.
(5) The Mining Law of 1872 continues to
transfer lands valuable for mineral resources from
the public domain to private ownership for less than
the fair market value of such lands and mineral re-
sources.
(6) There are a substantial number of acres of
land throughout the Nation disturbed by mining ac-
tivities conducted under the Mining Law of 1872 on
which little or no reclamation was conducted, and
the impacts from these unreclaimed lands pose a
threat to the public health, safety, and general wel-
fare and to environmental quality.
(7) Activities under the Mining Law of 1872
continue to result in disturbances of surface areas
and water resources which burden and adversely af-
fect the public welfare by destroying or diminishing
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the utility of public domain lands for other appro-
priate uses and by creating hazards dangerous to
the public health and safety and to the environment.
(8) Existing Federal law and regulations, as
well as applicable State laws, have proven to be in-
adequate to ensure that active mining operations
under the Mining Law of 1872 will not leave to fu-
ture generations a new legacy of hazards associated
with unreclaimed mined lands.
(9) The public interest is no longer being served
by archaic features of the Mining Law of 1872 that
thwart the efficient exploration and development of
those minerals which remain under its scope and
which conflict with modern public land use manage-
ment philosophies.
(10) The public is justified in expecting the dili-
gent development of its mineral resources, a finan-
cial return for the use of public domain lands for
mineral activities as well as for the disposition of
valuable mineral resources from such lands.
(11) It is not in the public interest for public
domain lands to be sold far below fair market value
nor does this aspect of the Mining Law of 1872
comport with modern Federal land policy which is
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grounded on the retention of public domain lands
under the principles of multiple use.
(12) Mining and reclamation technology is now
developed so that effective and reasonable regulation
of operations by the Federal Government in accord-
ance with this Act is an appropriate and necessary
means to minimize so far as practicable the adverse
social, economic and environmental effects of such
mining operations.
(13) Mining activities on public domain lands
affect interstate commerce, contribute to the eco-
nomic well-being, security and general welfare of the
Nation and should be conducted in an environ-
mentally sound manner.
(14) It is necessary that any revision of the
general mining laws insure that a domestic supply of
hardrock minerals be made available to the domestic
economy of the United States.
(15) America’s economy still depends heavily on
hardrock minerals and a strong environmentally
sound mining industry is critical to the domestic
minerals supply.
(16) Many of the deposits of hardrock minerals
remain to be discovered on the Federal public do-
main.
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(17) Private enterprise must be given adequate
incentive to engage in a capital-intensive industry
such as hardrock mining.
(18) The United States, as owner of the public
domain, has a dual interest in insuring a fair return
for mining on the public domain and insuring that
any royalty and fees charged do not discourage es-
sential mining activity on the public domain.
(19) The domestic mining industry provides
thousands of jobs directly and indirectly to the do-
mestic economy and those jobs must be preserved
and encouraged by a sound Federal policy regarding
mining on Federal lands.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act—
(1) to devise a more socially, fiscally and envi-
ronmentally responsible regime to govern the use of
public domain lands for the exploration and develop-
ment of those minerals not subject to mineral leas-
ing acts or mineral materials statutes;
(2) to provide for a fair return to the public for
the use of public domain lands for mineral activities
and for the disposition of minerals from such lands;
(3) to foster the diligent development of mineral
resources on public domain lands in a manner that
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is compatible with other resource values and envi-
ronmental quality;
(4) to promote the restoration of mined areas
left without adequate reclamation prior to the enact-
ment of this Act and which continue, in their
unreclaimed condition, to substantially degrade the
quality of the environment, prevent the beneficial
use of land or water resources, and endanger the
health and safety of the public;
(5) to assure that appropriate procedures are
provided for public participation in the development,
revision and enforcement of regulations, standards
and programs established under this Act; and
(6) to, whenever necessary, exercise the full
reach of Federal constitutional powers to ensure the
protection of the public interest through the effective
control of mineral exploration and development ac-
tivities.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS AND REFERENCES.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘affiliate’’ means with respect to
any person, any of the following:
(A) Any person who controls, is controlled
by, or is under common control with such per-
son.
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(B) Any partner of such person.
(C) Any person owning at least 10 percent
of the voting shares of such person.
(2) The term ‘‘applicant’’ means any person ap-
plying for a permit under this Act or a modification
to or a renewal of a permit under this Act.
(3) The term ‘‘beneficiation’’ means the crush-
ing and grinding of locatable mineral ore and such
processes as are employed to free the mineral from
other constituents, including but not necessarily lim-
ited to, physical and chemical separation techniques.
(4) The term ‘‘claim holder’’ means a person
holding a mining claim located or converted under
this Act. Such term may include an agent of a claim
holder.
(5) The term ‘‘control’’ means having the abil-
ity, directly or indirectly, to determine (without re-
gard to whether exercised through one or more cor-
porate structures) the manner in which an entity
conducts mineral activities, through any means, in-
cluding without limitation, ownership interest, au-
thority to commit the entity’s real or financial as-
sets, position as a director, officer, or partner of the
entity, or contractual arrangement. The Secretary
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and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly pro-
mulgate such rules as may be necessary under this
paragraph.
(6) The term ‘‘exploration’’ means those tech-
niques employed to locate the presence of a locatable
mineral deposit and to establish its nature, position,
size, shape, grade and value not associated with min-
ing, beneficiation, processing or marketing of min-
erals.
(7) The term ‘‘Indian lands’’ means lands held
in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe or individ-
ual or held by an Indian tribe or individual subject
to a restriction by the United States against alien-
ation.
(8) The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ means any Indian
tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group
or community, including any Alaska Native village
or regional corporation as defined in or established
pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), which is recognized as
eligible for the special programs and services pro-
vided by the United States to Indians because of
their status as Indians.
(9) The term ‘‘land use plans’’ means those
plans required under section 202 of the Federal
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Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1712) or the land management plans for Na-
tional Forest System units required under section 6
of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604), whichever
is applicable.
(10) The term ‘‘legal subdivisions’’ means an
aliquot quarter quarter section of land as established
by the official records of the public land survey sys-
tem, or a single lot as established by the official
records of the public land survey system if the perti-
nent section is irregular and contains fractional lots,
as the case may be.
(11)(A) The term ‘‘locatable mineral’’ means
any mineral, the legal and beneficial title to which
remains in the United States and which is not sub-
ject to disposition under any of the following:
(i) The Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C.
181 and following).
(ii) The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970
(30 U.S.C. 1001 and following).
(iii) The Act of July 31, 1947, commonly
known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C.
601 and following).
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(iv) The Mineral Leasing for Acquired
Lands Act (30 U.S.C. 351 and following).
(B) The term ‘‘locatable mineral’’ does not in-
clude any mineral held in trust by the United States
for any Indian or Indian tribe, as defined in section
2 of the Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982
(25 U.S.C. 2101), or any mineral owned by any In-
dian or Indian tribe, as defined in that section, that
is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed
by the United States.
(12) The term ‘‘mineral activities’’ means any
activity on Federal lands for, related to, or inciden-
tal to, mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation,
processing, or reclamation activities for any locatable
mineral.
(13) The term ‘‘mining’’ means the processes
employed for the extraction of a locatable mineral
from the earth.
(14) The term ‘‘mining claim’’ means a claim
for the purposes of mineral activities.
(15) The term ‘‘National Conservation System
unit’’ means any unit of the National Park System,
National Wildlife Refuge System, National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System, National Trails System, or a
National Conservation Area, National Recreation
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(b) REFERENCES.—(1) Any reference in this Act to
the term ‘‘general mining laws’’ is a reference to those
Acts which generally comprise chapters 2, 12A, and 16,
and sections 161 and 162 of title 30 of the United States
Code.
(2) Any reference in this Act to the ‘‘Act of July 23,
1955’’, is a reference to the Act of July 23, 1955, entitled
‘‘An Act to amend the Act of July 31, 1947 (61 Stat.
681) and the mining laws to provide for multiple use of
the surface of the same tracts of the public lands, and
for other purposes’’ (30 U.S.C. 601 and following).
TITLE 
I—MINERAL 
EXPLO-
RATION AND DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 101. LANDS OPEN TO LOCATION.
(a) LANDS OPEN TO LOCATION.—Except as provided
in subsection (b), mining claims may be located under this
Act on lands and interests in lands owned by the United
States if—
(1) such lands and interests were open to the
location of mining claims under the general mining
laws on the date of enactment of this Act; or
(2) such lands and interests are opened to the
location of mining claims after the date of enact-
ment of this Act by reason of any administrative ac-
tion or statute.
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(b) LANDS NOT OPEN TO LOCATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other
provision of law and subject to valid existing rights,
each of the following shall not be open to the loca-
tion of mining claims under this Act on or after the
date of enactment of this Act:
(A) Lands recommended for wilderness
designation by the agency managing the sur-
face, pending a final determination by the Con-
gress of the status of such recommended lands.
(B) Lands being managed by the Sec-
retary, acting through Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, as wilderness study areas on the date of
enactment of this Act except where the location
of mining claims is specifically allowed to con-
tinue by the statute designating the study area,
pending a final determination by the Congress
of the status of such lands.
(C)(i) Lands under study for inclusion in
the National Wild and Scenic River System
pursuant to section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)), pending a final
determination by the Congress of the status of
such lands, and (ii) lands determined by a Fed-
eral agency under section 5(d) of such Act to
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be eligible for inclusion in such system, pending
a final determination by the Congress of the
status of such lands.
(D) Lands withdrawn from mineral activi-
ties under authority of other law.
(2) DEFINITION.—(A) As used in this sub-
section, the term ‘‘valid existing rights’’ refers to a
mining claim located on lands described in para-
graph (1) of subsection (a) that—
(i) was properly located and maintained
under this Act prior to and on the applicable
date, or
(ii) was properly located and maintained
under the general mining laws prior to the ap-
plicable date, and
(I) was supported by a discovery of a
valuable mineral deposit within the mean-
ing of the general mining laws on the ap-
plicable date, and
(II) continues to be valid under this
Act.
(B) As used in this paragraph, the term ‘‘appli-
cable date’’ means one of the following:
(i) In the case of lands described in para-
graph (1)(A), such term means the date of the
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recommendation referred to in paragraph
(1)(A) if such recommendation is made on or
after the enactment of this Act.
(ii) In the case of lands described in para-
graph (1)(A), if the recommendation referred to
in paragraph (1)(A) was made before the enact-
ment of this Act, such term means the earlier
of (I) the date of enactment of this Act or (II)
the date of any withdrawal of such lands from
mineral activities.
(iii) For lands described in paragraph
(1)(B), such term means the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
(iv) For lands referred to in paragraph
(1)(C)(i), such term means the date of the en-
actment of the amendment to the Wild and Sce-
nic Rivers Act listing the river segment for
study and for lands referred to in paragraph
(1)(C)(ii), such term means the date of the eli-
gibility determination.
(v) For lands referred to in paragraph
(1)(D), such term means the date of the with-
drawal.
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SEC. 102. RIGHTS UNDER THIS ACT.
The holder of a mining claim located or converted
under this Act and maintained in compliance with this Act
shall have the exclusive right of possession and use of the
claimed land for mineral activities, including the right of
ingress and egress to such claimed lands for such activi-
ties, subject to the rights of the United States under this
Act and other applicable Federal law. Such rights of the
claim holder shall terminate upon completion of mineral
activities of lands to the satisfaction of the Secretary. In
cases where an area is determined unsuitable under sec-
tion 209, holders of claims converted or located under this
Act shall be entitled to receive a refund of claim mainte-
nance fees.
SEC. 103. LOCATION OF MINING CLAIMS.
(a) GENERAL RULE.—A person may locate a mining
claim covering lands open to the location of mining claims
by posting a notice of location, containing the person’s
name and address, the time of location (which shall be
the date and hour of location and posting), and a legal
description of the claim. The notice of location shall be
posted on a suitable, durable monument erected as near
as practicable to the northeast corner of the mining claim.
No person who is not a citizen of the United States, or
a corporation organized under the laws of the United
States or of any State or the District of Columbia may
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locate or hold a claim under this Act. On or after the en-
actment of this Act, a mining claim for a locatable mineral
on lands open to location—
(1) may be located only in accordance with this
Act,
(2) may be maintained only as provided in this
Act, and
(3) shall be subject to the requirements of this
Act.
(b) USE OF PUBLIC LAND SURVEY.—Except as pro-
vided in subsection (c), each mining claim located under
this Act shall (1) be located in accordance with the public
land survey system, and (2) conform to the legal subdivi-
sions thereof. Except as provided in subsection (c)(1), the
legal description of the mining claim shall be based on the
public land survey system and its legal subdivisions.
(c) EXCEPTIONS.—(1) If only a protracted survey ex-
ists for the public lands concerned, each of the following
shall apply in lieu of subsection (b):
(A) The legal description of the mining claim
shall be based on the protracted survey and the min-
ing claim shall be located as near as practicable in
conformance with a protracted legal subdivision.
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(B) The mining claim shall be monumented on
the ground by the erection of a suitable, durable
monument at each corner of the claim.
(C) The legal description of the mining claim
shall include a reference to any existing survey
monument, or where no such monument can be
found within a reasonable distance, to a permanent
and conspicuous natural object.
(2) If no survey exists for the public lands concerned,
each of the following shall apply in lieu of subsection (b):
(A) The mining claim shall be a regular square,
with each side laid out in cardinal directions, 40
acres in size.
(B) The claim shall be monumented on the
ground by the erection of a suitable durable monu-
ment at each corner of the claim.
(C) The legal description of the mining claim
shall be expressed in metes and bounds and shall be
defined by and referenced to the closest existing sur-
vey monument, or where no such monument can be
found within a reasonable distance, to a permanent
and conspicuous natural object. Such description
shall be of sufficient accuracy and completeness to
permit recording of the claim upon the public land
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records and to permit the claim to be readily found
upon the ground.
(3) In the case of a conflict between the boundaries
of a mining claim as monumented on the ground and the
description of such claim in the notice of location referred
to in subsection (a), the notice of location shall be deter-
minative, except where determined otherwise by the Sec-
retary.
(d) FILING WITH SECRETARY.—(1) Within 30 days
after the location of a mining claim pursuant to this sec-
tion, a copy of the notice of location referred to in sub-
section (a) shall be filed with the Secretary in an office
designated by the Secretary.
(2)(A) Whenever the Secretary receives a copy of a
notice of location of a mining claim under this Act, the
Secretary shall assign a serial number to the mining claim,
and immediately return a copy of the notice of location
to the locator of the claim, together with a certificate set-
ting forth the serial number, a description of the claim,
and the claim maintenance requirements of section 105.
The Secretary shall enter the claim on the public land
records.
(B) Return of the copy of the notice of location and
provision of the certificate under subparagraph (A) shall
not constitute a determination by the Secretary that a
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claim is valid. Failure by the Secretary to provide such
copy and certificate shall not constitute a defense against
cancellation of a claim for failure to follow applicable re-
quirements of this Act.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for
every unpatented mining claim located after the date of
enactment of this Act, the locator shall, at the time the
location notice is recorded with the Bureau of Land Man-
agement, pay a location fee of $25.00 per claim. The loca-
tion fee shall be in addition to the claim maintenance fee
payable under section 105.
(4) Subsections (b) and (c) of section 314 of the Fed-
eral Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1744(b)) are repealed.
(e) CONVERTED CLAIMS.—For mining claims and
mill sites deemed converted under this Act, for the pur-
poses of complying with the requirements of subsection
(d), upon receipt of the initial claim maintenance fee re-
quired under section 105, the Secretary shall issue a cer-
tificate referenced in subsection (d)(2) to the holder of the
mining claim or mill site.
(f) DATE OF LOCATION.—A mining claim located
under this Act shall be effective based upon the time of
location.
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(g) LANDS COVERED BY CLAIM.—A mining claim lo-
cated or converted under this Act shall include all lands
and interests in lands open to location within the bound-
aries of the claim, subject to any prior mining claim lo-
cated or converted under this Act.
(h) CONFLICTING LOCATIONS.—Any conflicts be-
tween the holders of mining claims located or converted
under this Act relating to relative superiority under the
provisions of this Act may be resolved in adjudication pro-
ceedings in a court with proper jurisdiction, including, as
appropriate, State courts. It shall be incumbent upon the
holder of a mining claim asserting superior rights in such
proceedings to demonstrate that such person was the sen-
ior locator, or if such person is the junior locator, that
prior to the location of the claim by such locator—
(1) the senior locator failed to file a copy of the
notice of location within the time provided under
subsection (d); or
(2) the amount of claim maintenance fee paid
by the senior locator at the time of filing the loca-
tion notice referred to in subsection (d) was less
than the amount required to be paid by such locator.
(i) EXTENT OF MINERAL DEPOSIT.—The boundaries
of a mining claim located under this Act shall extend verti-
cally downward.
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SEC. 104. CONVERSION OF EXISTING CLAIMS.
(a) EXISTING CLAIMS.—Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, on the effective date of this Act any
unpatented mining claim for a locatable mineral located
under the general mining laws prior to the date of enact-
ment of this Act shall become subject to this Act’s provi-
sions and shall be deemed a converted mining claim under
this Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect
extralateral rights in any valid lode mining claim existing
on the date of enactment of this Act. After the effective
date of this Act, there shall be no distinction made as to
whether such claim was originally located as a lode or
placer claim.
(b) MILL AND TUNNEL SITES.—On the effective date
of this Act, any unpatented mill or tunnel site located
under the general mining laws before the date of enact-
ment of this Act shall become subject to this Act’s provi-
sions and shall be deemed a converted mining claim under
this Act.
(c) POSTCONVERSION.—Any unpatented mining
claim or mill site located under the general mining laws
shall be deemed to be a prior claim for the purposes of
section 103(g) when converted pursuant to subsection (a)
or (b).
(d) DISPOSITION OF LAND.—In the event a mining
claim is located under this Act for lands encumbered by
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a prior mining claim or mill site located under the general
mining laws, such lands shall become part of the claim
located under this Act if the claim or mill site located
under the general mining laws is declared null and void
under this section or is otherwise declared null and void
thereafter.
(e) CONFLICTS.—(1) Any conflicts in existence before
the effective date of this Act between holders of mining
claims, mill sites and tunnel sites located under the gen-
eral mining laws shall be subject to, and shall be resolved
in accordance with, applicable laws governing such con-
flicts in effect before the effective date of enactment of
this Act in a court of proper jurisdiction.
(2) Any conflicts not relating to matters provided for
under section 103(h) between the holders of a mining
claim located under this Act and a mining claim, mill, or
tunnel site located under the general mining laws arising
either before or after the conversion of any such claim or
site under this section shall be resolved in a court with
proper jurisdiction.
SEC. 105. CLAIM MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The holder of each mining
claim converted pursuant to this Act shall pay to the Sec-
retary an annual claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim.
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(2) The holder of each mining claim located pursuant
to this Act shall pay to the Secretary an annual claim
maintenance fee of $200 per claim.
(b) TIME OF PAYMENT.—The claim maintenance fee
payable pursuant to subsection (a) for any year shall be
paid on or before August 31 of each year, except that in
the case of claims referred to in subsection (a)(2), for the
initial calendar year in which the location is made, the
locator shall pay the initial claim maintenance fee at the
time the location notice is recorded with the Bureau of
Land Management.
(c) OIL SHALE CLAIMS SUBJECT TO CLAIM MAINTE-
NANCE FEES UNDER ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 1992.—
This section shall not apply to any oil shale claims for
which a fee is required to be paid under section 2511(e)(2)
of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–486;
106 Stat. 3111; 30 U.S.C. 242).
(d) CLAIM MAINTENANCE FEES PAYABLE UNDER
1993 ACT.—The claim maintenance fees payable under
this section for any period with respect to any claim shall
be reduced by the amount of the claim maintenance fees
paid under section 10101 of the Omnibus Budget Rec-
onciliation Act of 1993 with respect to that claim and with
respect to the same period.
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(e) WAIVER.—(1) The claim maintenance fee re-
quired under this section may be waived for a claim holder
who certifies in writing to the Secretary that on the date
the payment was due, the claim holder and all related par-
ties held not more than 10 mining claims on lands open
to location. Such certification shall be made on or before
the date on which payment is due.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), with respect to
any claim holder, the term ‘‘related party’’ means each
of the following:
(A) The spouse and dependent children (as de-
fined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986), of the claim holder.
(B) Any affiliate of the claim holder.
(f) CO-OWNERSHIP.—Upon the failure of any one or
more of several co-owners to contribute such co-owner or
owners’ portion of the fee under this section, any co-owner
who has paid such fee may, after the payment due date,
give the delinquent co-owner or owners notice of such fail-
ure in writing (or by publication in the newspaper nearest
the claim for at least once a week for at least 90 days).
If at the expiration of 90 days after such notice in writing
or by publication, any delinquent co-owner fails or refuses
to contribute his portion, his interest in the claim shall
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become the property of the co-owners who have paid the
required fee.
(g) FUND.—All monies received under this section
shall be deposited in the Abandoned Locatable Minerals
Mine Reclamation Fund established under title III of this
Act.
(h) CREDIT AGAINST ROYALTY.—The amount of the
annual claim maintenance fee required to be paid under
this section for any claim for any period shall be credited
against the amount of royalty required to be paid under
section 306 for the same period with respect to that claim.
SEC. 106. FAILURE TO COMPLY.
(a) FORFEITURE.—The failure of the claim holder to
file the notice of location, to pay the location fee, or to
pay the claim maintenance fee for a mining claim as re-
quired by this title shall be deemed conclusively to con-
stitute forfeiture of the mining claim by operation of law.
Forfeiture shall not relieve any person of any obligation
created under this Act, including reclamation.
(b) PROHIBITION.—No claim holder may locate a new
claim on the lands such claim holder included in a for-
feited claim for 1 year from the date such claim is deemed
forfeited.
(c) RELINQUISHMENT.—A claim holder deciding not
to pursue mineral activities on a claim may relinquish such
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claim by notifying the Secretary. A claim holder relin-
quishing a claim is responsible for reclamation as required
by section 207 of this Act and all other applicable require-
ments. A claim holder who relinquishes a claim shall not
be subject to the prohibition of subsection (b) of this sec-
tion unless the Secretary determines that the claim is
being relinquished and relocated for the purpose of avoid-
ing compliance with any provision of this Act, including
payment of the claim maintenance fee.
SEC. 107. BASIS FOR CONTEST.
(a) DISCOVERY.—(1) After the effective date of this
Act, a mining claim may not be contested or challenged
on the basis of discovery under the general mining laws,
except as follows:
(A) Any claim located before the effective date
of this Act may be contested by the United States
on the basis of discovery under the general mining
laws as in effect prior to the effective date of this
Act if such claim is located within any National
Conservation System unit, or within any area re-
ferred to in section 101(b).
(B) Any mining claim located before the effec-
tive date of this Act may be contested by the United
States on the basis of discovery under the general
mining laws as in effect prior to the effective date
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of this Act if such claim was located for a mineral
material that purportedly has a property giving it
distinct and special value within the meaning of sec-
tion 3(a) of the Act of July 23, 1955 (as in effect
prior to the date of enactment of this Act), or if
such claim was located for a mineral that was not
locatable under the general mining laws before the
effective date of this Act.
(2) The Secretary may initiate contest proceedings
against those mining claims referred to in paragraph (1)
at any time, except that nothing in this subsection may
be construed as requiring the Secretary to inquire into,
or contest, the validity of a mining claim for the purpose
of the conversion referred to in section 104, except as pro-
vided in section 412.
(3) Nothing in this subsection may be construed as
limiting any contest proceedings initiated by the United
States on issues other than discovery, or any contest pro-
ceedings filed before the effective date of this Act.
(4) Any contest proceeding initiated pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall determine whether the mining claim
or claims subject to such proceeding supported a discovery
of a valuable mineral deposit within the meaning of the
general mining laws on the effective date of this Act.
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(b) CONTINUED SUFFICIENCY OF MINING CLAIM.—
(1) At any time, upon request of the Secretary, the claim
holder shall demonstrate that the continued retention of
a mining claim located or converted under this Act is ex-
clusively related to mineral activities at the site.
(2) Where the Secretary requests demonstration of
the continuing sufficiency of any mining claim under this
section, the claim holder shall have the burden of showing
each of the following:
(A) The lands or interests in lands included in
the mining claim are not used predominantly for rec-
reational, residential or other purposes rather than
for mineral activities and are being held in good
faith for the ultimate exploration for, development
of, or production of locatable minerals, as dem-
onstrated by the claimholder or his or her assigns
through showings satisfactory to the Secretary.
(B) The claim holder or operator does not re-
strict access to the lands or interests in lands in-
cluded in the mining claim in a manner that is not
required for mineral activities.
(C) The mineral being or to be mined on the
mining claim is a locatable mineral (unless such
lands are used for beneficiation or processing).
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(D) The claim holder or operator has not con-
structed, improved, maintained or used a structure
located on a mining claim in a manner not specifi-
cally authorized by the Secretary in accordance with
this Act.
(3) Any mining claim for which the claim holder fails
to demonstrate continued sufficiency, in the determination
of the Secretary, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section,
shall thereupon be deemed forfeited and be declared null
and void.
(c) REMEDIES.—(1) The Secretary may assess a civil
penalty of not more than $5,000 per claim against the
claimholder upon declaring a mining claim null and void
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Upon declaring a mining claim null and void pur-
suant to subsection (b), the Secretary shall provide a rea-
sonable opportunity for the mining claim holder or opera-
tor to remove any real or personal property which such
person had previously placed upon the claim. If the prop-
erty is not removed within the time provided, the Sec-
retary may retain the property or provide for its disposi-
tion or destruction.
(d) OTHER LAW.—The Secretary shall take such ac-
tions as may be necessary to ensure the compliance by
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claim holders with section 4 of the Act of July 23, 1955
(30 U.S.C. 612), consistent with this section.
TITLE II—ENVIRONMENTAL CON-
SIDERATIONS 
OF 
MINERAL
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOP-
MENT
SEC. 201. SURFACE MANAGEMENT STANDARD.
Notwithstanding the last sentence of section 302(b)
of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976,
and in accordance with this title and other applicable law,
the Secretary, and for National Forest System lands the
Secretary of Agriculture, shall require that mineral activi-
ties on Federal lands conducted by any person minimize
adverse impacts to the environment.
SEC. 202. PERMITS.
(a) PERMITS REQUIRED.—No person may engage in
mineral activities on Federal lands that may cause a dis-
turbance of surface resources, including but not limited
to, land, air, ground water and surface water, fish, wild-
life, and biota unless—
(1) the claim was properly located or converted
under this Act and properly maintained; and
(2) a permit was issued to such person under
this title authorizing such activities.
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(b) NEGLIGIBLE DISTURBANCE.—Notwithstanding
subsection (a)(2), a permit under this title shall not be
required for mineral activities related to exploration, or
gathering of data, required to comply with section 203 or
204 that cause a negligible disturbance of surface re-
sources and do not involve any of the following:
(1) The use of mechanized earth moving equip-
ment, suction dredging, explosives.
(2) The use of motor vehicles in areas closed to
off-road vehicles.
(3) The construction of roads, drill pads, or the
use of toxic or hazardous materials.
Persons engaging in such activities shall provide prior
written notice. The Secretary and the Secretary of Agri-
culture may provide, by joint regulations the manner in
which such notice shall be provided.
(c) WAIVER OF THE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY OF IN-
DIAN TRIBES.—The Secretary is authorized to require In-
dian tribes to waive sovereign immunity as a condition of
obtaining a permit under this Act.
SEC. 203. EXPLORATION PERMITS.
(a) AUTHORIZED
EXPLORATION
ACTIVITY.—Any
claim holder may apply for an exploration permit for any
mining claim authorizing the claim holder to remove a rea-
sonable amount of the locatable minerals from the claim
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for analysis, study and testing. Such permit shall not au-
thorize the claim holder to remove any mineral for sale
nor to conduct any activities other than those required for
exploration for locatable minerals and reclamation.
(b) PERMIT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—An ap-
plication for an exploration permit under this section shall
be submitted in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary
or, for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture, and shall contain an exploration plan, a reclama-
tion plan for the proposed exploration, such documenta-
tion as necessary to ensure compliance with applicable
Federal and State environmental laws and regulations,
and each of the following:
(1) The name, mailing address, and social secu-
rity number or tax identification number, as applica-
ble, of each of the following:
(A) The applicant for the permit and any
agent of the applicant.
(B) The operator (if different than the ap-
plicant) of the claim concerned.
(C) Each claim holder (if different than
the applicant) of the claim concerned.
(2) A statement of whether any person referred
to in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph
(1) is currently in violation of, or was, during the 3-
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year period preceding the date of the application,
found to be in violation of, any of the following and,
if so, a brief explanation of the facts involved, in-
cluding identification of the site and nature of the
violation:
(A) Any provision of this Act or any regu-
lation under this Act.
(B) Any applicable toxic substance, solid
waste, air, water quality, or fish and wildlife
conservation law or regulation at any site where
mining, beneficiation, or processing activities
are occurring or have occurred.
(C) The Surface Mining Control and Rec-
lamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 and fol-
lowing) or any regulation under that Act at any
site where surface coal mining operations have
occurred or are occurring.
(3) A description of the type and method of ex-
ploration activities proposed, the engineering tech-
niques proposed to be used and the equipment pro-
posed to be used.
(4) The anticipated starting and termination
dates of each phase of the exploration activities pro-
posed, including any planned temporary cessation of
exploration.
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(5) A map, to an appropriate scale, clearly
showing the land to be affected by the proposed ex-
ploration.
(6) Information determined necessary by the
Secretary concerned to assess the cumulative im-
pacts, as required to comply with the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act.
(7) Evidence of appropriate financial assurance
as specified in section 206.
(c) RECLAMATION PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—The rec-
lamation plan required to be included in a permit applica-
tion under subsection (b) shall include such provisions as
may be jointly prescribed by the Secretary and the Sec-
retary of Agriculture and each of the following:
(1) A description of the condition of the land,
including the fish and wildlife resources and habitat
contained thereon, subject to the permit prior to the
commencement of any exploration activities.
(2) A description of reclamation measures pro-
posed pursuant to the requirements of section 207.
(3) The engineering techniques to be used in
reclamation and the equipment proposed to be used.
(4) The anticipated starting and termination
dates of each phase of the reclamation proposed.
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(5) A description of the proposed condition of
the land, including the fish and wildlife resources
and habitat contained thereon, following the comple-
tion of reclamation.
(d) PERMIT ISSUANCE OR DENIAL.—The Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture, shall issue an exploration permit pursuant to an
application under this section if such Secretary makes
each of the following determinations, and such Secretary
shall deny a permit which he or she finds does not fully
meet the requirements of this subsection:
(1) The permit application, the exploration plan
and reclamation plan are complete and accurate.
(2) The applicant has demonstrated that pro-
posed reclamation can be accomplished.
(3) The proposed exploration activities and con-
dition of the land after the completion of exploration
activities and final reclamation would conform with
the land use plan applicable to the area subject to
mineral activities.
(4) The area subject to the proposed permit is
not included within an area designated unsuitable
under section 209 or not open to location under sec-
tion 101(b) for the types of exploration activities
proposed.
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(5) The applicant has demonstrated that the
exploration plan and reclamation plan will be in
compliance with the requirements of this Act and all
other applicable Federal requirements, and any
State requirements agreed to by the Secretary of the
Interior (or Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate)
pursuant to a cooperative agreement under section
208.
(6) The applicant has fully complied with the
requirements of section 206 (relating to financial as-
surance).
(e) TERM OF PERMIT.—An exploration permit shall
be for a stated term. The term shall be no greater than
that necessary to accomplish the proposed exploration,
and in no case for more than 5 years.
(f) PERMIT MODIFICATION.—During the term of an
exploration permit the permit holder may submit an appli-
cation to modify the permit. To approve a proposed modi-
fication to the permit, the Secretary concerned shall make
the same determinations as are required in the case of
an original permit, except that the Secretary and the Sec-
retary of Agriculture may specify by joint rule the extent
to which requirements for initial exploration permits under
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this section shall apply to applications to modify an explo-
ration permit based on whether such modifications are
deemed significant or minor.
(g) FEES.—Each application for a permit pursuant
to this section shall be accompanied by a fee payable to
the Secretary of the Interior in such amount as may be
established by the Secretary of the Interior. Such amount
shall be equal to the actual or anticipated cost to the Sec-
retary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as the case may
be, of reviewing, administering, and enforcing such permit,
as determined by such Secretary. All moneys received
under this subsection shall be deposited in the Abandoned
Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund established
under title III of this Act.
(h) 
TRANSFER, 
ASSIGNMENT, 
OR
SALE
OF
RIGHTS.—(1) No transfer, assignment, or sale of rights
granted by a permit issued under this section shall be
made without the prior written approval of the Secretary
or for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture.
(2) Such Secretary may allow a person holding a per-
mit to transfer, assign, or sell rights under the permit to
a successor, if the Secretary finds, in writing, that the suc-
cessor—
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(A) is eligible to receive a permit in accordance
with section 205;
(B) has submitted evidence of financial assur-
ance satisfactory under section 206; and
(C) meets any other requirements specified by
the Secretary.
(3) The successor in interest shall assume the liability
and reclamation responsibilities established by the existing
permit and shall conduct the mineral activities in full com-
pliance with this Act, and the terms and conditions of the
permit as in effect at the time of transfer, assignment,
or sale.
(4) Each application for approval of a permit trans-
fer, assignment, or sale pursuant to this subsection shall
be accompanied by a fee payable to the Secretary of the
Interior in such amount as may be established by such
Secretary. Such amount shall be equal to the actual or
anticipated cost to the Secretary or the Secretary of Agri-
culture, as appropriate, of reviewing and approving or dis-
approving such transfer, assignment, or sale, as deter-
mined by the Secretary of the Interior. All moneys re-
ceived under this subsection shall be deposited in the
Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund
established under title III of this Act.
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SEC. 204. OPERATIONS PERMIT.
(a) OPERATIONS PERMIT.—Any claim holder may
apply to the Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, for an operations per-
mit authorizing the claim holder to carry out mineral ac-
tivities on Federal lands. The permit shall include such
terms and conditions as prescribed by such Secretary to
carry out this title.
(b) PERMIT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—An ap-
plication for an operations permit under this section shall
be submitted in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary
concerned and shall contain an operations plan, a reclama-
tion plan, such documentation as necessary to ensure com-
pliance with applicable Federal and State environmental
laws and regulations, and each of the following:
(1) The name, mailing address, and social secu-
rity number or tax identification number, as applica-
ble, of each of the following:
(A) The applicant for the permit and any
agent of the applicant.
(B) The operator (if different than the ap-
plicant) at the claim concerned.
(C) Each claim holder (if different than
the applicant) of the claim concerned.
(D) Each affiliate and each officer or di-
rector of the applicant.
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(2) A statement of whether a person referred to
in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1)
is currently in violation of, or was, during the 3-year
period preceding the date of application, found to be
in violation of, any of the following and if so, a brief
explanation of the facts involved, including identi-
fication of the site and the nature of the violation:
(A) Any provision of this Act or any regu-
lation under this Act.
(B) Any applicable toxic substance, solid
waste, air, water quality, or fish and wildlife
conservation law or regulation at any site where
mining, beneficiation, or processing activities
are occurring or have occurred.
(C) The Surface Mining Control and Rec-
lamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 and fol-
lowing) or any regulation under that Act at any
site where surface coal mining operations have
occurred or are occurring.
(3) A statement of any current or previous per-
mits or plans of operations issued under the Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act or the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act.
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(4) A description of the type and method of
mineral activities proposed, the engineering tech-
niques proposed to be used and the equipment pro-
posed to be used.
(5) The anticipated starting and termination
dates of each phase of the mineral activities pro-
posed, including any planned temporary cessation of
operations.
(6) Maps, to an appropriate scale, clearly show-
ing the lands, watersheds, and surface waters, to be
affected by the proposed mineral activities; surface
and mineral ownership; facilities, including roads
and other man-made structures; proposed disturb-
ances; soils and vegetation; topography; and water
supply intakes and surface water bodies.
(7) A description of the biological resources in
or associated with the area subject to mineral activi-
ties, including vegetation, fish and wildlife, riparian
and wetland habitats.
(8) A description of measures planned to ex-
clude fish and wildlife resources from the area sub-
ject to mineral activities by covering, containment,
or fencing of open waters, beneficiation, and process-
ing materials; or maintenance of all facilities in a
condition that is not harmful to fish and wildlife.
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(9) A description of the quantity and quality of
surface and ground water resources in or associated
with the area subject to mineral activities, based on
pre-disturbance monitoring sufficient to establish
seasonal variations.
(10) An analysis of the probable hydrologic con-
sequences of the mineral activities, both on and off
the area subject to mineral activities, with respect to
the hydrologic regime, quantity and quality of water
in surface and ground water systems including the
dissolved and suspended solids under seasonal flow
conditions and the collection of sufficient data for
the mine site and surrounding areas so that an as-
sessment can be made by the Secretary concerned of
the probable cumulative impacts of the anticipated
mineral activities in the area upon the hydrology of
the area and particularly upon water availability.
(11) A description of the monitoring systems to
be used to detect and determine whether compliance
has and is occurring consistent with the surface
management requirements and to monitor the ef-
fects of mineral activities on the site and surround-
ing environment, including but not limited to,
ground water, surface water, air, soils, and fish and
wildlife resources.
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(12) Accident contingency plans that include,
but are not limited to, immediate response strategies
and corrective measures to mitigate environmental
impacts and appropriate insurance to cover accident
contingencies.
(13) Any measures to comply with any condi-
tions on minerals activities that may be required in
the applicable land use plan or any condition stipu-
lated pursuant to section 209.
(14) Information determined necessary by the
Secretary concerned to assess the cumulative im-
pacts of mineral activities, as required to comply
with the National Environmental Policy Act.
(15) Such other environmental baseline data as
the Secretaries, by joint regulation, shall require suf-
ficient to validate the determinations required for is-
suance of a permit under this Act.
(16) Evidence of appropriate financial assur-
ance as specified in section 206.
(17) A description of the site security provisions
designed to protect from theft the locatable min-
erals, concentrates or products derived therefrom
which will be produced or stored on a mining claim.
(18) A full characterization of soils and geology
in the area to be affected by mineral activities.
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(19) A copy of the applicant’s advertisement to
be published as required by section 403 (relating to
public participation).
(c) RECLAMATION PLAN APPLICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The reclamation plan referred to in subsection
(b) shall include such reclamation measures as prescribed
by the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the
Secretary of Agriculture, and each of the following:
(1) A description of the condition of the land,
including the fish and wildlife resources and habitat
contained thereon, subject to the permit prior to the
commencement of any mineral activities.
(2) A description of reclamation measures pro-
posed pursuant to the requirements of section 207.
(3) The engineering techniques to be used in
reclamation and the equipment proposed to be used.
(4) The anticipated starting and termination
dates of each phase of the reclamation proposed.
(5) A description of the proposed condition of
the land, including the fish and wildlife resources
and habitat contained thereon, following the comple-
tion of reclamation.
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(6) A description of the maintenance measures
that will be necessary to meet the surface manage-
ment requirements of this Act, such as, but not lim-
ited to, drainage water treatment facilities, or liner
maintenance and control.
(7) The consideration which has been given to
making the condition of the land after the comple-
tion of mineral activities and final reclamation con-
sistent with the applicable land use plan.
(d) PERMIT ISSUANCE OR DENIAL.—(1) After pro-
viding notice and opportunity for public comment and
hearing, the Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall issue an oper-
ations permit if such Secretary makes each of the follow-
ing determinations in writing, and such Secretary shall
deny a permit which he or she finds does not fully meet
the requirements of this paragraph:
(A) The permit application, operations plan,
and reclamation plan are complete and accurate.
(B) The applicant has demonstrated that the
proposed reclamation in the reclamation plan can be
accomplished.
(C) The proposed mineral activities and condi-
tion of the land including the fish and wildlife re-
sources and habitat contained thereon, after the
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completion of mineral activities and final reclama-
tion conform to the land use plan applicable to the
area subject to mineral activities.
(D) The area subject to the proposed plan is
not included within an area designated unsuitable or
not open to location for the types of mineral activi-
ties proposed.
(E) The applicant has demonstrated that the
mineral activities will be in compliance with this Act
and all other applicable Federal requirements, and
any State requirements agreed to by the appropriate
Secretary pursuant to cooperative agreements under
section 208.
(F) The assessment of the probable cumulative
impact of all anticipated mining in the area on the
hydrologic balance specified in subsection (b)(10)
has been made and the proposed operation has been
designed to minimize disturbances to the prevailing
hydrologic balance of the permit area.
(G) The applicant has fully complied with the
requirements of section 206 (relating to financial as-
surance).
(2) Issuance of an operations permit under this sec-
tion shall be based on information supplied by the appli-
cant or other interested parties and the applicant shall
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have the burden of establishing that the application com-
plies with paragraph (1).
(3) With respect to any activities specified in the rec-
lamation plan referred to in subsection (b) which con-
stitute a removal or remedial action under section 101 of
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensa-
tion and Liability Act of 1980, the Secretary shall consult
with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency prior to the issuance of an operating permit. To
the extent practicable, the Administrator shall ensure that
the reclamation plan does not require activities which
would increase the costs or likelihood of removal or reme-
dial actions under Comprehensive Environmental Re-
sponse, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 or correc-
tive actions under the Solid Waste Disposal Act.
(e) TERM OF PERMIT; RENEWAL.—(1) An operations
permit shall be for a stated term. The term shall be no
greater than that necessary to accomplish the proposed
mineral activities subject to the permit, and in no case
for more than 10 years, unless the applicant demonstrates
to the satisfaction of the Secretary, or for National Forest
System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, that a specified
longer term is reasonably needed for such mineral activi-
ties.
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(2) Failure by the operator to commence mineral ac-
tivities within one year of the date scheduled in an oper-
ations permit shall require a modification of the permit
unless the Secretary concerned determines that the delay
was beyond the control of the applicant.
(3) An operations permit shall carry with it the right
of successive renewal upon expiration only with respect to
operations on areas within the boundaries of the existing
permit as issued. A renewal of such permit shall not be
issued if such Secretary determines, in writing, any of the
following:
(A) The terms and conditions of the existing
permit are not being met.
(B) The operator has not demonstrated that
the financial assurance would continue to apply in
full force and effect for the renewal term.
(C) Any additional revised or updated informa-
tion required by the Secretary concerned has not
been provided.
(D) The applicant has not demonstrated that
the mineral activities will be in compliance with the
requirements of all other applicable Federal require-
ments, and any State requirements agreed to by the
Secretary concerned pursuant to cooperative agree-
ments under section 208.
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(4) A renewal of an operations permit shall be for
a term of 10 years or for such additional term as the Sec-
retary concerned deems appropriate. Application for re-
newal shall be made at least one year prior to the expira-
tion of the existing permit. Where a renewal application
has been timely submitted and a permit expires prior to
Secretarial action on the renewal application, reclamation
shall and other mineral activities may continue in accord-
ance with the terms of the expired permit until the Sec-
retary concerned makes a decision on the renewal applica-
tion.
(f) PERMIT MODIFICATION.—(1) During the term of
an operations permit the operator may submit an applica-
tion to modify the permit (including the operations plan
or reclamation plan, or both). To approve a proposed
modification, the Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall make the same
determinations as are required in the case of an original
operations permit, except that the Secretaries may estab-
lish joint rules regarding the extent to which requirements
for original permits under this section shall apply to appli-
cations to modify a permit based on whether such modi-
fications are deemed significant or minor. Such rules shall
provide that all requirements applicable to a new permit
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shall apply to any extension of the area covered by the
permit (except for incidental boundary revisions).
(2) The Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may, at any time, re-
quire reasonable modification to any operations plan or
reclamation plan upon a determination that the require-
ments of this Act cannot be met if the plan is followed
as approved. Such determination shall be based on a writ-
ten finding and subject to notice and hearing requirements
established by the Secretary concerned.
(g) TEMPORARY CESSATION OF OPERATIONS.—(1)
No operator conducting mineral activities under an oper-
ations permit in effect under this title may temporarily
cease mineral activities for a period of 180 days or more
under an operations permit unless the Secretary concerned
has approved such temporary cessation or unless the tem-
porary cessation is permitted under the original permit.
Any operator temporarily ceasing mineral activities for a
period of 180 days or more under an existing operations
permit shall submit, before the expiration of such 180-day
period, a complete application for temporary cessation of
operations to the Secretary concerned for approval unless
the temporary cessation is permitted under the original
permit.
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(2) An application for approval of temporary ces-
sation of operations shall include such provisions as pre-
scribed by the Secretary concerned, including but not lim-
ited to the steps that shall be taken during the cessation
of operations period to minimize impacts on the environ-
ment. After receipt of a complete application for tem-
porary cessation of operations such Secretary shall con-
duct an inspection of the area for which temporary ces-
sation of operations has been requested.
(3) To approve an application for temporary ces-
sation of operations, the Secretary concerned shall make
each of the following determinations:
(A) A determination that the methods for se-
curing surface facilities and restricting access to the
permit area, or relevant portions thereof, will effec-
tively ensure against hazards to the health and safe-
ty of the public and fish and wildlife.
(B) A determination that reclamation is in com-
pliance with the approved reclamation plan, except
in those areas specifically designated in the applica-
tion for temporary cessation of operations for which
a delay in meeting such standards is necessary to fa-
cilitate the resumption of operations.
(C) A determination that the amount of finan-
cial assurance filed with the permit application is
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sufficient to assure completion of the reclamation ac-
tivities identified in the approved reclamation plan in
the event of forfeiture.
(D) A determination that any outstanding no-
tices of violation and cessation orders incurred in
connection with the plan for which temporary ces-
sation is being requested are either stayed pursuant
to an administrative or judicial appeal proceeding or
are in the process of being abated to the satisfaction
of the Secretary concerned.
(h) PERMIT REVIEWS.—The Secretary, or for Na-
tional Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture,
shall review each permit issued under this section every
3 years during the term of such permit and, based upon
a written finding, such Secretary may require the operator
to take such actions as the Secretary deems necessary to
assure that mineral activities conform to the permit, in-
cluding adjustment of financial assurance requirements.
(i) FEES.—Each application for a permit pursuant
to this section shall be accompanied by a fee payable to
the Secretary of the Interior in such amount as may be
established by such Secretary. Such amount shall be equal
to the actual or anticipated cost to the Secretary, or for
National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, of reviewing, administering, and enforcing such
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permit, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. All
moneys received under this subsection shall be deposited
in the Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation
Fund established under title III of this Act.
(j) TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT, OR SALE OF RIGHTS.—
(1) No transfer, assignment, or sale of rights granted by
a permit under this section shall be made without the prior
written approval of the Secretary, or for National Forest
System lands the Secretary of Agriculture.
(2) The Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may allow a person
holding a permit to transfer, assign, or sell rights under
the permit to a successor, if such Secretary finds, in writ-
ing, that the successor—
(A) is eligible to receive a permit in accordance
with section 205;
(B) has submitted evidence of financial assur-
ance satisfactory under section 206; and
(C) meets any other requirements specified by
such Secretary.
(3) The successor in interest shall assume the liability
and reclamation responsibilities established by the existing
permit and shall conduct the mineral activities in full com-
pliance with this Act, and the terms and conditions of the
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permit as in effect at the time of transfer, assignment,
or sale.
(4) Each application for approval of a permit trans-
fer, assignment, or sale pursuant to this subsection shall
be accompanied by a fee payable to the Secretary of the
Interior in such amount as may be established by such
Secretary. Such amount shall be equal to the actual or
anticipated cost to the Secretary or the Secretary of Agri-
culture of reviewing and approving or disapproving such
transfer, assignment, or sale, as determined by the Sec-
retary of the Interior. All moneys received under this sub-
section shall be deposited in the Abandoned Locatable
Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund established under title
III of this Act.
SEC. 205. PERSONS INELIGIBLE FOR PERMITS.
(a) CURRENT VIOLATIONS.—Unless corrective action
has been taken in accordance with subsection (c), no per-
mit under this title shall be issued or transferred to an
applicant if the applicant or any agent of the applicant,
the operator (if different than the applicant) of the claim
concerned, any claim holder (if different than the appli-
cant) of the claim concerned, or any affiliate or officer
or director of the applicant is currently in violation of any
of the following:
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(1) A provision of this Act or any regulation
under this Act.
(2) An applicable toxic substance, solid waste,
air, water quality, or fish and wildlife conservation
law or regulation at any site where mining,
beneficiation, or processing activities are occurring
or have occurred.
(3) The Surface Mining Control and Reclama-
tion Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 and following) or
any regulation implementing that Act at any site
where surface coal mining operations have occurred
or are occurring.
(b) SUSPENSION.—The Secretary, or for National
Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall
suspend an exploration permit or an operations permit,
in whole or in part, if such Secretary determines that any
of the entities described in subsection (a) were in violation
of any requirement listed in subsection (a) at the time the
permit was issued.
(c) CORRECTION.—(1) The Secretary, or for National
Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may
issue or reinstate a permit under this title if the applicant
submits proof that the violation referred to in subsection
(a) or (b) has been corrected or is in the process of being
corrected to the satisfaction of such Secretary or if the
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applicant submits proof that the violator has filed and is
presently pursuing, a direct administrative or judicial ap-
peal to contest the existence of the violation. For purposes
of this section, an appeal of any applicant’s relationship
to an affiliate shall not constitute a direct administrative
or judicial appeal to contest the existence of the violation.
(2) Any permit which is issued or reinstated based
upon proof submitted under this subsection shall be condi-
tionally approved or conditionally reinstated, as the case
may be. If the violation is not successfully abated or the
violation is upheld on appeal, the permit shall be sus-
pended or revoked.
(d) PATTERN OF WILLFUL VIOLATIONS.—No permit
under this Act may be issued to any applicant if there
is a demonstrated pattern of willful violations of the sur-
face management requirements of this Act by the appli-
cant, any affiliate of the applicant, or the operator or
claim holder if different than the applicant, and such vio-
lations are of such nature and duration, and with such
resulting irreparable damage to the environment, as to
clearly indicate an intent not to comply with the surface
management requirements.
SEC. 206. FINANCIAL ASSURANCE.
(a) FINANCIAL ASSURANCE REQUIRED.—(1) Before
any permit is issued under this title, the operator shall
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file with the Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands the Secretary of Agriculture, evidence of financial
assurance payable to the United States on a form pre-
scribed and furnished by such Secretary and conditional
upon faithful performance of such permit and all other
requirements of this Act. The financial assurance shall be
provided in the form of a surety bond, trust fund, letters
of credits, government securities, cash or equivalent.
(2) The financial assurance shall cover all lands with-
in the initial permit area and shall be extended to cover
all lands added pursuant to any permit modification made
under section 203(f), section 204(f), or section 204(h).
The financial assurance shall cover all lands to be affected
by mineral activities as described and depicted in the per-
mit application.
(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the financial assur-
ance required under this section shall be sufficient to as-
sure the completion of reclamation satisfying the require-
ments of this Act if the work were to be performed by
the Secretary concerned in the event of forfeiture. The cal-
culation of such amount shall take into account the maxi-
mum level of financial exposure which shall arise during
the mineral activity.
(c) DURATION.—The financial assurance required
under this section shall be held for the duration of the
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mineral activities and for an additional period to cover the
operator’s responsibility for revegetation as specified
under subsection 207(b)(6)(B), and effluent treatment as
specified in subsection (g).
(d) ADJUSTMENTS.—The amount of the financial as-
surance and the terms of the acceptance of the assurance
may be adjusted by the Secretary concerned from time to
time as the area requiring coverage is increased or de-
creased, or where the costs of reclamation or treatment
change, or pursuant to section 204(h), but the financial
assurance must otherwise be in compliance with this sec-
tion. The Secretary concerned shall specify periodic times,
or set a schedule, for reevaluating or adjusting the amount
of financial assurance.
(e) RELEASE.—Upon request, and after notice and
opportunity for public comment, and after inspection by
the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the
Secretary of Agriculture, such Secretary may, after con-
sultation with the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, release in whole or in part the financial
assurance required under this section if the Secretary
makes both of the following determinations:
(1) A determination that reclamation covered
by the financial assurance has been accomplished as
required by this Act.
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(2) A determination that the operator has de-
clared that the terms and conditions of any other
applicable Federal requirements, and State require-
ments applicable pursuant to cooperative agreements
under section 208, have been fulfilled.
(f) RELEASE SCHEDULE.—The release referred to in
subsection (e) shall be according to the following schedule:
(1) After the operator has completed any re-
quired backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of
an area subject to mineral activities and covered by
the financial assurance, and has commenced revege-
tation on the regraded areas subject to mineral ac-
tivities in accordance with the approved plan, that
portion of the total financial assurance secured for
the area subject to mineral activities attributable to
the completed activities may be released.
(2) After the operator has completed success-
fully all remaining mineral activities and reclamation
activities and all requirements of the operations plan
and the reclamation plan (including the provisions of
section 207(b)(6)(B) relating to revegetation and ef-
fluent treatment required by subsection (g)), and all
other requirements of this Act have in fact been
fully met, the remaining portion of the financial as-
surance may be released.
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During the period following release of the financial assur-
ance as specified in paragraph (1), until the remaining
portion of the financial assurance is released as provided
in paragraph (2), the operator shall be required to comply
with the permit issued under this title.
(g) EFFLUENT.—Where any discharge resulting from
the mineral activities requires treatment in order to meet
the applicable effluent limitations, the financial assurance
shall include the estimated cost of maintaining such treat-
ment for the projected period that will be needed after
the cessation of mineral activities. The portion of the fi-
nancial assurance attributable to such estimated cost of
treatment shall not be released until the discharge has
ceased, or, if the discharge continues, until the operator
has met all applicable effluent limitations and water qual-
ity standards for 5 full years without treatment.
(h) ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.—If the Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, determines, after final release of financial assur-
ance, that an environmental hazard resulting from the
mineral activities exists, or the terms and conditions of
the operations permit of this Act were not fulfilled in fact
at the time of release, such Secretary shall issue an order
under section 407 requiring the claimholder or operator
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(or any person who controls the claimholder or operator)
to correct the condition.
SEC. 207. RECLAMATION.
(a) GENERAL RULE.—(1) Except as provided under
paragraphs (5) and (7) of subsection (b), the operator
shall restore lands subject to mineral activities carried out
under a permit issued under this title to a condition capa-
ble of supporting—
(A) the uses, including fish and wildlife habitat
uses, which such lands were capable of supporting
prior to surface disturbance by the operator, or
(B) other beneficial uses which conform to ap-
plicable land use plans as determined by the Sec-
retary or for National Forest System lands, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture.
(2) Reclamation shall proceed as contemporaneously
as practicable with the conduct of mineral activities and
shall use, with respect to this subsection and subsection
(b), the best technology currently available. To the extent
practicable, reclamation shall be conducted in a manner
that does not increase the costs or likelihood of a removal
or remedial action under section 101 of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
of 1980 or a corrective action under the Solid Waste Dis-
posal Act.
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(b) RECLAMATION STANDARDS.—Mineral activities
shall be conducted in accordance with the following stand-
ards; as well as any additional standards the Secretaries
may jointly promulgate under section 201 and subsection
(a) of this section to address specific environmental im-
pacts of selected methods of mining:
(1) SOILS.—(A) Soils, including top soils and
subsoils removed from lands subject to mineral ac-
tivities shall be segregated from waste material and
protected for later use in reclamation. If such soil is
not replaced on a backfill area within a time-frame
short enough to avoid deterioration of the topsoil,
vegetative cover or other means shall be used so that
the soil is preserved from wind and water erosion,
remains free of contamination by acid or other toxic
material, and is in a usable condition for sustaining
vegetation when restored during reclamation.
(B) In the event the topsoil from lands subject
to mineral activities is of insufficient quantity or of
inferior quality for sustaining vegetation, and other
suitable growth media removed from the lands sub-
ject to the mineral activities are available that shall
support vegetation, the best available growth me-
dium shall be removed, segregated and preserved in
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a like manner as under subparagraph (A) for sus-
taining vegetation when restored during reclamation.
(C) In the event the soil (other than topsoil)
from lands subject to mineral activities is of insuffi-
cient quantity or of inferior quality for sustaining
vegetation, and other suitable growth media removed
from the lands subject to the mineral activities are
available that support revegetation, these substitute
materials shall be removed, segregated or preserved
in a like manner as under subparagraph (A) for
later use in reclamation.
(D) Mineral activities shall be conducted to pre-
vent contamination of soils to the extent possible
using the best technology currently available. If con-
tamination occurs, the operator shall decontaminate
or dispose of any contaminated soils which have re-
sulted from the mineral activities.
(2) STABILIZATION.—All surface areas subject
to mineral activities, including segregated soils or
other growth medium, waste material piles, ore piles,
subgrade ore piles, and open or partially backfilled
mine pits which meet the requirements of paragraph
(5) shall be stabilized and protected during mineral
activities so as to effectively control fugitive dust
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and erosion and otherwise comply with toxic sub-
stance, solid waste, air and water pollution control
laws and other environmental laws.
(3) SEDIMENTS, EROSION, AND
DRAINAGE.—
Facilities such as but not limited to basins, ditches,
stream bank stabilization, diversions or other meas-
ures, shall be designed, constructed and maintained
where necessary to control sediments, erosion, and
drainage of the area subject to mineral activities.
(4) HYDROLOGIC
BALANCE.—(A) Mineral ac-
tivities shall be conducted to minimize disturbances
to the prevailing hydrologic balance of the permit
area and surrounding watershed existing prior to the
mineral activities in the permit area and in the sur-
rounding watershed, as established by the baseline
information 
provided 
pursuant 
to 
section
204(b)(10). Hydrologic balance includes the quality
and quantity of ground water and surface water and
their interrelationships, including recharge and dis-
charge rates. In all cases, the operator shall comply
with Federal and State laws related to the quality
and quantity of such waters.
(B) Mineral activities shall be conducted using
the technology standard referred to in subsection
(a)(2) to prevent where possible the formation of
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acidic, toxic or other contaminated water. Where the
formation of acidic, toxic or other contaminated
water occurs despite the use of such technology
standard, mineral activities shall be conducted using
such technology so as to minimize the formation of
acidic, toxic or other contaminated water.
(C) Mineral activities shall prevent any con-
tamination of surface and ground water with acid or
other toxic mine pollutants and shall prevent or re-
move water from contact with acid or toxic produc-
ing deposits.
(D) Reclamation shall restore approximate hy-
drologic balance existing prior to the mineral activi-
ties.
(E) Where the quality of surface water or
ground water used for domestic, municipal, agricul-
tural, or industrial purposes is adversely impacted
by mineral activities, such water shall be treated, or
replaced with the same quantity and approximate
quality of water, comparable to premining conditions
as established in paragraph (10) of section 204(b).
(5) SURFACE RESTORATION.—(A) The surface
area disturbed by mineral activities shall be shaped,
graded, and contoured to its natural topography.
Backfilling of an open pit mine shall be required
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only if the Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands the Secretary of Agriculture, finds that such
open pit or partially backfilled, graded, or contoured
pit would pose a significant threat to the public
health safety or have a significant adverse effect on
the environment in terms of surface water or
groundwater pollution.
(B) In instances where complete backfilling of
an open pit is not required, the pit shall be graded
to blend with the surrounding topography as much
as practicable and revegetated in accordance with
paragraph (6).
(6) VEGETATION.—(A) The area subject to
mineral activities shall be vegetated in order to es-
tablish a diverse, effective and permanent vegetative
cover of the same seasonal variety native to the area
subject to mineral activities, capable of self-regen-
eration and plant succession and at least equal in
extent of cover to the natural revegetation of the
surrounding area, except that introduced species
may be used at the discretion of the Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands the Secretary of
Agriculture, in consultation with the Director, Fish
and Wildlife Service, if such introduction of such
species is necessary as an interim step in, and is
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part of a program to restore a native plant commu-
nity. In such instances where the complete backfill
of an open mine pit is not required under paragraph
(5), such Secretary shall prescribe such vegetation
requirements as conform to the applicable land use
plan.
(B) In order to insure compliance with subpara-
graph (A), the period for determining successful re-
vegetation shall be for a period of 5 full years after
the last year of augmented seeding, fertilizing, irri-
gation or other work, except that such period shall
be 10 full years where the annual average precipita-
tion is 26 inches or less. The period may be for a
longer time at the discretion of the Secretary con-
cerned where the average precipitation is 26 inches
or less.
(7) EXCESS WASTE.—(A) Waste material in ex-
cess of that required to comply with paragraph (5)
shall be transported and placed in approved areas,
in a controlled manner in such a way so as to assure
long-term mass stability, to prevent mass movement
and to facilitate reclamation. In addition to the
measures described under paragraph (3), internal
drainage systems shall be employed, as may be re-
quired, to control erosion and drainage. The design
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of such excess waste material piles shall be certified
by a qualified professional engineer.
(B) Excess waste material piles shall be graded
and contoured to blend with the surrounding topog-
raphy as much as practicable and revegetated in ac-
cordance with paragraph (6).
(8) SEALING.—All drill holes, and openings on
the surface associated with underground mineral ac-
tivities, shall be backfilled, sealed or otherwise con-
trolled when no longer needed for the conduct of
mineral activities to ensure protection of the public
and the environment, and management of fish and
wildlife and livestock.
(9) STRUCTURES.—All buildings, structures or
equipment constructed, used or improved during
mineral activities shall be removed, unless the Sec-
retary concerned in consultation with the affected
land managing agency, determines that use of the
buildings, structures or equipment would be consist-
ent with subsection (a) or for environmental mon-
itoring and the Secretary concerned takes ownership
of such structures.
(10) FISH AND WILDLIFE.—Fish and wildlife
habitat in areas subject to mineral activities shall be
restored in a manner commensurate with or superior
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to habitat conditions which existed prior to the min-
eral activities, including such conditions as may be
prescribed by the Director, Fish and Wildlife
Service.
(c) APPLICATION OF RECLAMATION STANDARDS TO
EXPLORATION.—The provisions of this section shall apply
to mineral exploration pursuant to a permit under this
Act, except that paragraphs (5) and (6) of subsection (b)
shall not apply during any interim periods between com-
pletion of the approved exploration and the commence-
ment of further mineral activities, not to exceed 2 years,
if the operator maintains a sufficient financial assurance
to reclaim the disturbed surface should further mineral ac-
tivities not be authorized. The Secretary concerned shall
prescribe standards for interim stabilization and revegeta-
tion.
(d) SPECIAL RULE.—A modified reclamation plan
shall not be required for mineral activities related to rec-
lamation where a mining claim is forfeited, relinquished
or lapsed, or a plan is revoked or suspended or has expired
in any such case. Reclamation activities shall continue
only as approved by the Secretary, or for National Forest
System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to the
previously approved reclamation plan.
(e) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
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(1) The term ‘‘best technology currently avail-
able’’ means equipment, devices, systems, methods,
or techniques which have demonstrated engineering
and economic feasibility, success and practicality.
Within the constraints of the surface management
requirements of this Act, the Secretary, or for Na-
tional Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, shall have the discretion to determine the
best technology currently available on a case-by-case
basis.
(2) The term ‘‘waste material’’ means the mate-
rial resulting from mineral activities involving ex-
traction, beneficiation and processing, including but
not limited to tailings, and such material resulting
from mineral activities involving processing, to the
extent such material is not subject to subtitle C of
the Solid Waste Disposal Act or the Uranium Mill
Tailings Radiation Control Act.
(3) The term ‘‘ore piles’’ means ore stockpiled
for beneficiation prior to the completion of mineral
activities.
(4) The term ‘‘subgrade ore’’ means ore that is
too low in grade to be processed at the time of ex-
traction but which could reasonably be processed in
the foreseeable future.
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(5) The term ‘‘soil’’ means the earthy or sandy
layer, ranging in thickness from a few inches to sev-
eral feet, composed of finely divided rock debris, of
whatever origin, mixed with decomposing vegetal and
animal matter, which forms the surface of the
ground and in which plants grow or may grow.
SEC. 208. STATE LAW AND REGULATION.
(a) STATE LAW.—(1) Any reclamation standard or
requirement in State law or regulation that meets or ex-
ceeds the requirements of section 207 shall not be con-
strued to be inconsistent with any such standard.
(2) Any bonding standard or requirement in State
law or regulation that meets or exceeds the requirements
of section 206 shall not be construed to be inconsistent
with such requirements.
(3) Any inspection standard or requirement in State
law or regulation that meets or exceeds the requirements
of section 404 shall not be construed to be inconsistent
with such requirements.
(b) APPLICABILITY
OF OTHER STATE REQUIRE-
MENTS.—(1) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as af-
fecting any toxic substance, solid waste, or air or water
quality, standard or requirement of any State law or regu-
lation, or of tribal law or regulation, which may be applica-
ble to mineral activities on lands subject to this Act.
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(2) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting
in any way the right of any person to enforce or protect,
under applicable law, such person’s interest in water re-
sources affected by mineral activities on lands subject to
this Act.
(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—(1) Any State
may enter into a cooperative agreement with the Sec-
retary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary
of Agriculture, for the purposes of such Secretary applying
such standards and requirements referred to in subsection
(a) and subsection (b) to mineral activities or reclamation
on lands subject to this Act.
(2) In such instances where the proposed mineral ac-
tivities would affect lands not subject to this Act in addi-
tion to lands subject to this Act, in order to approve a
plan of operations the Secretary concerned shall enter into
a cooperative agreement with the State that sets forth a
common regulatory framework consistent with the surface
management requirements of this Act for the purposes of
such plan of operations.
(3) The Secretary concerned shall not enter into a
cooperative agreement with any State under this section
until after notice in the Federal Register and opportunity
for public comment.
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(d) PRIOR AGREEMENTS.—Any cooperative agree-
ment or such other understanding between the Secretary
concerned and any State, or political subdivision thereof,
relating to the surface management of mineral activities
on lands subject to this Act that was in existence on the
date of enactment of this Act may only continue in force
until the effective date of this Act, after which time the
terms and conditions of any such agreement or under-
standing shall only be applicable to plans of operations
approved by the Secretary concerned prior to the effective
date of this Act.
(e) DELEGATION.—The Secretary, or for National
Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall
not delegate to any State, or political subdivision thereof,
the Secretary’s authorities, duties and obligations under
this Act, including with respect to any cooperative agree-
ments entered into under this section.
(f) PREEMPTION.—Subject to section 414(b), the re-
quirements of this Act shall preempt any conflicting re-
quirements of any State, or political subdivision thereof
relating to mineral activities for locatable minerals.
SEC. 209. UNSUITABILITY REVIEW.
(a) AUTHORITY.—(1) As provided for in this section,
the Secretary of the Interior, in carrying out the Sec-
retary’s responsibilities under the Federal Land Policy
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and Management Act of 1976, and the Secretary of Agri-
culture, in carrying out the Secretary’s responsibilities
under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974, as amended by the National Forest
Management Act of 1976, shall each review lands that are
subject to this Act in order to determine, in accordance
with the provisions of subsection (b), whether there are
any areas on such lands which are either unsuitable for
all types of mineral activities or conditionally suitable for
certain types of mineral activities.
(2) Any determination made in accordance with sub-
section (b) shall be immediately effective. Such determina-
tion shall be incorporated into the applicable land use plan
when such plan is adopted, revised, or significantly amend-
ed pursuant to provisions of law other than this Act.
(3) In any instance where a determination is made
in accordance with subsection (b) that an area is condi-
tionally suitable for all or certain mineral activities, the
Secretary concerned shall take appropriate steps to notify
the public that any operations permit application relevant
to that area shall be conditioned accordingly.
(b) SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS.—(1) The Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, shall determine that an area open to location is
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unsuitable for all or certain mineral activities if such Sec-
retary finds that such activities would result in significant,
permanent and irreparable damage to special characteris-
tics as described in paragraph (3) which cannot be pre-
vented by the imposition of conditions in the operations
permit required under section 204 (b).
(2) The Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, may determine, after
notice and opportunity for public comment, that an area
is conditionally suitable for all or certain types of mineral
activities, if the Secretary concerned determines that any
of the special characteristics of such area, as listed in
paragraph (3), require protection from the effects of min-
eral activities.
(3) Any of the following shall be considered special
characteristics of an area which contains lands or interests
in lands open to location under this Act:
(A) The existence of significant water quality or
supplies in or associated with such area, such as
aquifers and aquifer recharge areas.
(B) The presence in such area of publicly
owned places which are listed on or are determined
eligible for listing on the National Register of His-
toric Places.
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(C) The designation of all or any portion of
such area or any adjacent area as a National Con-
servation System unit.
(D) The designation of all or any portion of
such area or any adjacent area as critical habitat for
threatened or endangered species under the Endan-
gered Species Act.
(E) The designation of all or any portion of
such area as Class I under section 162 of the Clean
Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401).
(F) The presence of such other resource values
as the Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, may, by joint
rule, specify based upon field testing that verifies
such criteria.
(c) PERMIT APPLICATION PRIOR TO REVIEW.—(1) If
an area covered by an application for a permit required
under section 204, has not been reviewed pursuant to sub-
section (a) prior to submission of the application, the Sec-
retary, or for National Forest System lands, the Secretary
of Agriculture, shall review the area that would be affected
by the proposed mineral activities to determine, according
to the provisions of subsection (b), whether the area is
unsuitable for all types of mineral activities or condi-
tionally suitable for certain types of mineral activities.
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Such review and determination shall precede the final de-
cision on the permit application.
(2) The Secretary concerned shall use such review in
the next revision or significant amendment to the applica-
ble land use plan to the extent necessary to reflect the
unsuitability or conditional suitability of such lands.
(d) EFFECT OF DETERMINATION.—(1) In any in-
stance in which a determination of unsuitability is made
for any area in accordance with subsection (b)(1), all min-
eral activities shall be prohibited in such area, and the
Secretary shall (with the consent of the Secretary of Agri-
culture for National Forest System lands) withdraw such
area pursuant to section 204 of the Federal Land Policy
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1714). The Sec-
retary’s determination under this section shall constitute
the documentation required to be provided under section
204(c)(12) of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1714).
(2) In any instance where the Secretary, or for Na-
tional Forest System lands, the Secretary of Agriculture,
determines in accordance with subsection (b)(2) that, by
reason of any of the special characteristics listed in sub-
section (b)(3), an area is conditionally suitable for all or
certain mineral activities, the Secretary concerned shall in-
clude such additional conditions in each permit for mineral
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activities in such area as necessary to limit or control min-
eral activities to the extent necessary to protect the special
characteristics concerned.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as af-
fecting lands where mineral activities were being con-
ducted on the date of enactment of this Act under ap-
proved plans of operations or under notice (as provided
for in the regulations of the Secretary of the Interior in
effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act relating
to operations that cause a cumulative disturbance of 5
acres or less).
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as pro-
hibiting mineral activities at a specific site, where substan-
tial legal and financial commitments in such mineral ac-
tivities were in existence on the date of enactment of this
Act, but nothing in this section shall be construed as pro-
hibiting either Secretary from regulating such activities in
accordance with other authority of law. As used in this
paragraph, the term ‘‘substantial legal and financial com-
mitments’’ means, with respect to a specific site, signifi-
cant investments, expenditures, or undertakings that have
been made to explore or develop any mining claim or and
millsite located at such site under the general mining laws
or converted under this Act, such as but not limited to:
contracts for minerals produced; construction; contracts
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for the construction; or commitment to raise capital for
the construction of processing, beneficiation, extraction, or
refining facilities, or transportation or utility infrastruc-
ture; exploration activities conducted to delineate proven
or probable ore reserves; acquisition of mining claims (but
only if such acquisition is part of other significant invest-
ments specified in this paragraph); and such other costs
or expenditures related to mineral activities at such site
as are similar to the foregoing itemized costs or expendi-
tures and as may be specified by the Secretaries by joint
rule.
(e) WITHDRAWAL REVIEW.—(1) In carrying out the
responsibilities referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary
or, for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture, shall review all administrative withdrawals of
land under such Secretary’s jurisdiction (other than wil-
derness study areas) to determine whether the revocation
or modification of such withdrawal for the purpose of al-
lowing such lands to be opened to the location of mining
claims under this Act is appropriate as a result of either
of the following:
(A) The imposition of any conditions imposed
as part of the land use planning process or the im-
position of any conditions as a result to the review
process under subsection (a).
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(B) The limitation of section 417 (relating to
limitation on patent issuance).
(2) The Secretary concerned shall publish the review
referred to in paragraph (1) in the Federal Register no
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
After providing notice and opportunity for comment, the
Secretary may issue a revocation or modification of such
administrative withdrawals as he deems appropriate by
reason of the criteria listed in subparagraph (A) or (B)
of paragraph (1).
(f) EXPLORATION REVIEWS.—In conjunction with re-
view of a permit application submitted pursuant to section
203, and upon request of the applicant, the Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, shall review the area proposed to be affected by
mineral activities to determine whether the area would be
unsuitable or conditionally suitable for all or certain min-
eral activities.
SEC. 210. CERTAIN MINERAL ACTIVITIES COVERED BY
OTHER LAW.
This title shall not apply to any mineral activities
which are subject to the Stock Raising Homestead Act.
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TITLE III—ABANDONED LOCAT-
ABLE MINERALS MINE REC-
LAMATION FUND
SEC. 301. ABANDONED LOCATABLE MINERALS MINE REC-
LAMATION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) There is established on
the books of the Treasury of the United States a trust
fund to be known as the Abandoned Locatable Minerals
Mine Reclamation Fund (hereinafter in this title referred
to as the ‘‘Fund’’). The Fund shall be administered by
the Secretary acting through the Director of the Office
of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
(2) The Secretary shall notify the Secretary of the
Treasury as to what portion of the Fund is not, in the
Secretary’s judgment, required to meet current withdraw-
als. The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such por-
tion of the Fund in public debt securities with maturities
suitable for the needs of such Fund and bearing interest
at rates determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, tak-
ing into consideration current market yields on outstand-
ing marketplace obligations of the United States of com-
parable maturities. The income on such investments shall
be credited to, and form a part of, the Fund.
(b) AMOUNTS.—The following amounts shall be cred-
ited to the Fund:
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(1) All moneys received from the collection of
claim maintenance fees under section 105.
(2) All moneys collected pursuant to section
106 (relating to failure to comply), section 407 (re-
lating to enforcement) and section 405 (relating to
citizens suits).
(3) All permit fees and transfer fees received
under sections 203 and 204.
(4) All donations by persons, corporations, as-
sociations, and foundations for the purposes of this
title.
(5) All amounts referred to in section 306 (re-
lating to royalties and penalties for underreporting).
(6) All other receipts from fees, royalties, pen-
alties and other sources collected under this Act.
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—(1) In calculating the
amount to be deposited in the Fund during any fiscal year
under subsection (b), the enacted appropriation of the De-
partment of the Interior during the preceding year attrib-
utable to administering this Act shall be deducted from
the total of the amounts listed in subsection (b) prior to
the transfer of such amounts to the Fund.
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(2) The amount deducted under paragraph (1) of this
section shall be available to the Secretary, subject to ap-
propriation, for payment of the costs of administering this
Act.
SEC. 302. USE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FUND.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized, sub-
ject to appropriations, to use moneys in the Fund for the
reclamation and restoration of land and water resources
adversely affected by past mineral activities on lands the
legal and beneficial title to which resides in the United
States, land within the exterior boundary of any national
forest system unit, or other lands described in subsection
(d) or section 303, including any of the following:
(1) Prevention, abatement, treatment and con-
trol of water pollution created by abandoned mine
drainage.
(2) Reclamation and restoration of abandoned
surface and underground mined areas.
(3) Reclamation and restoration of abandoned
milling and processing areas.
(4) Backfilling, sealing, or otherwise control-
ling, abandoned underground mine entries.
(5) Revegetation of land adversely affected by
past mineral activities to prevent erosion and sedi-
mentation and to enhance wildlife habitat.
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(6) Control of surface subsidence due to aban-
doned underground mines.
Moneys in the Fund shall also be available for purposes
of compensation (and other payments) under section 422.
(b) PRIORITIES.—To the extent that moneys in the
fund are in excess of the amount of compensation (and
other payments) paid under section 422, expenditures of
moneys from the Fund shall reflect the following priorities
in the order stated:
(1) The protection of public health, safety, gen-
eral welfare and property from extreme danger from
the adverse effects of past mineral activities, espe-
cially as relates to surface water and groundwater
contaminates.
(2) The protection of public health, safety, and
general welfare from the adverse effects of past min-
eral activities.
(3) The restoration of land, water and fish and
wildlife resources previously degraded by the adverse
effects of past mineral activities.
(c) HABITAT.—Reclamation and restoration activities
under this title, particularly those identified under sub-
section (a)(4), shall include appropriate mitigation meas-
ures to provide for the continuation of any established
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habitat for wildlife in existence prior to the commencement
of such activities.
(d) OTHER AFFECTED LANDS.—Where mineral ex-
ploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, or reclamation
activities has been carried out with respect to any mineral
which would be a locatable mineral if the legal and bene-
ficial title to the mineral were in the United States, if such
activities directly affect lands managed by the Bureau of
Land Management as well as other lands and if the legal
and beneficial title to more than 50 percent of the affected
lands resides in the United States, the Secretary is author-
ized, subject to appropriations, to use moneys in the fund
for reclamation and restoration under subsection (a) for
all directly affected lands.
(e) RESPONSE OR REMOVAL ACTIONS.—Reclamation
and restoration activities under this title which constitute
a removal or remedial action under section 101 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and Liability Act of 1980, shall be conducted with the con-
currence of the Administrator of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency. The Secretary and the Administrator shall
enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to establish
procedures for consultation, concurrence, training, ex-
change of technical expertise and joint activities under the
appropriate circumstances, which provide assurances that
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reclamation or restoration activities under this title, to the
extent practicable, shall not be conducted in a manner that
increases the costs or likelihood of removal or remedial
actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Re-
sponse, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, and
which avoid oversight by multiple agencies to the maxi-
mum extent practicable.
SEC. 303. ELIGIBLE LANDS AND WATERS.
(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Reclamation expenditures under
this title may only be made with respect to Federal lands
or Indian lands or water resources that traverse or are
contiguous to Federal lands or Indian lands where such
lands or waters resources have been affected by past min-
eral activities, including any of the following:
(1) Lands and water resources which were used
for, or affected by, mineral activities and abandoned
or left in an inadequate reclamation status before
the effective date of this Act.
(2) Lands for which the Secretary makes a de-
termination that there is no continuing reclamation
responsibility of a claim holder, operator, or other
person who abandoned the site prior to completion
of required reclamation under State or other Federal
laws.
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(3) Lands for which it can be established that
such lands do not contain locatable minerals which
could economically be extracted through the reproc-
essing or remining of such lands, unless such consid-
erations are in conflict with the priorities set forth
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 302(b).
(b) SPECIFIC SITES AND AREAS NOT ELIGIBLE.—
The provisions of section 411(d) of the Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 shall apply to ex-
penditures made from the Fund established under this
title.
(c) INVENTORY.—The Secretary shall prepare and
maintain an inventory of abandoned locatable minerals
mines on Federal lands and any abandoned mine on In-
dian lands which may be eligible for expenditures under
this title.
SEC. 304. FUND EXPENDITURES.
Moneys available from the Fund may be expended for
the purposes specified in section 302 directly by the Direc-
tor of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and En-
forcement. The Director may also make such money avail-
able for such purposes to the Director of the Bureau of
Land Management, the Chief of the United States Forest
Service, the Director of the National Park Service, Direc-
tor of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to any
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other agency of the United States, to an Indian tribe, or
to any public entity that volunteers to develop and imple-
ment, and that has the ability to carry out, all or a signifi-
cant portion of a reclamation program under this title.
SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Amounts credited to the Fund are authorized to be
appropriated for the purpose of this title without fiscal
year limitation.
SEC. 306. ROYALTY.
(a) RESERVATION OF ROYALTY.—Production of all
locatable minerals from any mining claim located or con-
verted under this Act, or mineral concentrates or products
derived from locatable minerals from any mining claim lo-
cated or converted under this Act, as the case may be,
shall be subject to a royalty of 8 percent of the net smelter
return from such production. The claimholder and any op-
erator to whom the claimholder has assigned the obliga-
tion to make royalty payments under the claim and any
person who controls such claimholder or operator shall be
jointly and severally liable for payment of such royalties.
(b) DUTIES OF CLAIM HOLDERS, OPERATORS, AND
TRANSPORTERS.—(1) A person—
(A) who is required to make any royalty pay-
ment under this section shall make such payments
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to the United States at such times and in such man-
ner as the Secretary may by rule prescribe; and
(B) shall notify the Secretary, in the time and
manner as may be specified by the Secretary, of any
assignment that such person may have made of the
obligation to make any royalty or other payment
under a mining claim.
(2) Any person paying royalties under this section
shall file a written instrument, together with the first roy-
alty payment, affirming that such person is liable to the
Secretary for making proper payments for all amounts due
for all time periods for which such person has a payment
responsibility. Such liability for the period referred to in
the preceding sentence shall include any and all additional
amounts billed by the Secretary and determined to be due
by final agency or judicial action. Any person liable for
royalty payments under this section who assigns any pay-
ment obligation shall remain jointly and severally liable
for all royalty payments due for the claim for the period.
(3) A person conducting mineral activities shall—
(A) develop and comply with the site security
provisions in operations permit designed to protect
from theft the locatable minerals, concentrates or
products derived therefrom which are produced or
stored on a mining claim, and such provisions shall
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conform with such minimum standards as the Sec-
retary may prescribe by rule, taking into account the
variety of circumstances on mining claims; and
(B) not later than the 5th business day after
production begins anywhere on a mining claim, or
production resumes after more than 90 days after
production was suspended, notify the Secretary, in
the manner prescribed by the Secretary, of the date
on which such production has begun or resumed.
(4) The Secretary may by rule require any person en-
gaged in transporting a locatable mineral, concentrate, or
product derived therefrom to carry on his or her person,
in his or her vehicle, or in his or her immediate control,
documentation showing, at a minimum, the amount, ori-
gin, and intended destination of the locatable mineral, con-
centrate, or product derived therefrom in such cir-
cumstances as the Secretary determines is appropriate.
(c) RECORDKEEPING
AND REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS.—(1) A claim holder, operator, or other person di-
rectly involved in developing, producing, processing, trans-
porting, purchasing, or selling locatable minerals, con-
centrates, or products derived therefrom, subject to this
Act, through the point of royalty computation shall estab-
lish and maintain any records, make any reports, and pro-
vide any information that the Secretary may reasonably
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require for the purposes of implementing this section or
determining compliance with rules or orders under this
section. Such records shall include, but not be limited to,
periodic reports, records, documents, and other data. Such
reports may also include, but not be limited to, pertinent
technical and financial data relating to the quantity, qual-
ity, composition volume, weight, and assay of all minerals
extracted from the mining claim. Upon the request of any
officer or employee duly designated by the Secretary or
any State conducting an audit or investigation pursuant
to this section, the appropriate records, reports, or infor-
mation which may be required by this section shall be
made available for inspection and duplication by such offi-
cer or employee or State.
(2) Records required by the Secretary under this sec-
tion shall be maintained for 6 years after release of finan-
cial assurance under section 206 unless the Secretary noti-
fies the operator that he or she has initiated an audit or
investigation involving such records and that such records
must be maintained for a longer period. In any case when
an audit or investigation is underway, records shall be
maintained until the Secretary releases the operator of the
obligation to maintain such records.
(d) AUDITS.—The Secretary is authorized to conduct
such audits of all claim holders, operators, transporters,
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purchasers, processors, or other persons directly or indi-
rectly involved in the production or sales of minerals cov-
ered by this Act, as the Secretary deems necessary for the
purposes of ensuring compliance with the requirements of
this section. For purposes of performing such audits, the
Secretary shall, at reasonable times and upon request,
have access to, and may copy, all books, papers and other
documents that relate to compliance with any provision
of this section by any person.
(e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—(1) The Secretary
is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the
Secretary of Agriculture to share information concerning
the royalty management of locatable minerals, con-
centrates, or products derived therefrom, to carry out in-
spection, auditing, investigation, or enforcement (not in-
cluding the collection of royalties, civil or criminal pen-
alties, or other payments) activities under this section in
cooperation with the Secretary, and to carry out any other
activity described in this section.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (4)(A) of this
subsection (relating to trade secrets), and pursuant to a
cooperative agreement, the Secretary of Agriculture shall,
upon request, have access to all royalty accounting infor-
mation in the possession of the Secretary respecting the
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production, removal, or sale of locatable minerals, con-
centrates, or products derived therefrom from claims on
lands open to location under this Act.
(3) Trade secrets, proprietary, and other confidential
information shall be made available by the Secretary pur-
suant to a cooperative agreement under this subsection to
the Secretary of Agriculture upon request only if—
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture consents in
writing to restrict the dissemination of the informa-
tion to those who are directly involved in an audit
or investigation under this section and who have a
need to know;
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture accepts liabil-
ity for wrongful disclosure; and
(C) the Secretary of Agriculture demonstrates
that such information is essential to the conduct of
an audit or investigation under this subsection.
(f) INTEREST AND SUBSTANTIAL UNDERREPORTING
ASSESSMENTS.—(1) In the case of mining claims where
royalty payments are not received by the Secretary on the
date that such payments are due, the Secretary shall
charge interest on such underpayments at the same inter-
est rate as is applicable under section 6621(a)(2) of the
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Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In the case of an under-
payment, interest shall be computed and charged only on
the amount of the deficiency and not on the total amount.
(2) If there is any underreporting of royalty owed on
production from a claim for any production month by any
person liable for royalty payments under this section, the
Secretary may assess a penalty of 10 percent of the
amount of that underreporting.
(3) If there is a substantial underreporting of royalty
owed on production from a claim for any production
month by any person responsible for paying the royalty,
the Secretary may assess a penalty of 10 percent of the
amount of that underreporting.
(4) For the purposes of this subsection, the term
‘‘substantial underreporting’’ means the difference be-
tween the royalty on the value of the production which
should have been reported and the royalty on the value
of the production which was reported, if the value which
should have been reported is greater than the value which
was reported. An underreporting constitutes a ‘‘substan-
tial underreporting’’ if such difference exceeds 10 percent
of the royalty on the value of production which should
have been reported.
(5) The Secretary shall not impose the assessment
provided in paragraphs (2) or (3) of this subsection if the
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person liable for royalty payments under this section cor-
rects the underreporting before the date such person re-
ceives notice from the Secretary that an underreporting
may have occurred, or before 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this section, whichever is later.
(6) The Secretary shall waive any portion of an as-
sessment under paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection
attributable to that portion of the underreporting for
which the person responsible for paying the royalty dem-
onstrates that—
(A) such person had written authorization from
the Secretary to report royalty on the value of the
production on basis on which it was reported, or
(B) such person had substantial authority for
reporting royalty on the value of the production on
the basis on which it was reported, or
(C) such person previously had notified the Sec-
retary, in such manner as the Secretary may by rule
prescribe, of relevant reasons or facts affecting the
royalty treatment of specific production which led to
the underreporting, or
(D) such person meets any other exception
which the Secretary may, by rule, establish.
(7) All penalties collected under this subsection shall
be deposited in the Fund.
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(g) DELEGATION.—For the purposes of this section,
the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior
acting through the Director of the Minerals Management
Service.
(h) EXPANDED ROYALTY OBLIGATIONS.—Each per-
son liable for royalty payments under this section shall
be jointly and severally liable for royalty on all locatable
minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom lost
or wasted from a mining claim located or converted under
this section when such loss or waste is due to negligence
on the part of any person or due to the failure to comply
with any rule, regulation, or order issued under this sec-
tion.
(i) EXCEPTION.—No royalty shall be payable under
subsection (a) with respect to minerals processed at a fa-
cility by the same person or entity which extracted the
minerals if an urban development action grant has been
made under section 119 of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1974 with respect to any portion of
such facility.
(j) DEFINITION.—For the proposes of this section,
for any locatable mineral, the term ‘‘net smelter return’’
shall have the same meaning as the term defined in section
613(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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(k) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The royalty under this sec-
tion shall take effect with respect to the production of
locatable minerals after the enactment of this Act, but any
royalty payments attributable to production during the
first 12 calendar months after the enactment of this Act
shall be payable at the expiration of such 12-month period.
TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATIVE AND
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Subtitle A—Administrative
Provisions
SEC. 401. POLICY FUNCTIONS.
(a) MINERALS POLICY.—Section 2 of the Mining and
Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 21a) is amended
by adding at the end thereof the following: ‘‘It shall also
be the responsibility of the Secretary of Agriculture to
carry out the policy provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2)
of this section.’’.
(b) MINERAL DATA.—Section 5(e)(3) of the National
Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development
Act of 1980 (30 U.S.C. 1604) is amended by inserting
before the period the following: ‘‘, except that for National
Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture shall
promptly initiate actions to improve the availability and
analysis of mineral data in Federal land use decisionmak-
ing’’.
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SEC. 402. USER FEES.
The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture are
each authorized to establish and collect from persons sub-
ject to the requirements of this Act such user fees as may
be necessary to reimburse the United States for the ex-
penses incurred in administering such requirements. Fees
may be assessed and collected under this section only in
such manner as may reasonably be expected to result in
an aggregate amount of the fees collected during any fiscal
year which does not exceed the aggregate amount of ad-
ministrative expenses referred to in this section.
SEC. 403. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS.
(a) OPERATIONS PERMIT.—(1) Concurrent with sub-
mittal of an application for an operations permit under
section 204 or a renewal or significant modification there-
of, the applicant shall publish a notice in a newspaper of
local circulation at least once a week for 4 consecutive
weeks. The notice shall include: the name of the applicant,
the location of the proposed mineral activities, the type
and expected duration of the proposed mineral activities,
the proposed use of the land after the completion of min-
eral activities and a location where such plans are publicly
available. The applicant shall also notify in writing other
Federal, State and local government agencies and Indian
tribes that regulate mineral activities or land planning de-
cisions in the area subject to mineral activities or that
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manage lands adjacent to the area subject to mineral ac-
tivities. The applicant shall provide proof of such notifica-
tion to the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands
the Secretary of Agriculture.
(2) The applicant for an operations permit shall make
copies of the complete permit application available for
public review at the office of the responsible Federal sur-
face management agency located nearest to the location
of the proposed mineral activities, and at such other public
locations deemed appropriate by the State or local govern-
ment for the county in which the proposed mineral activi-
ties will occur prior to final decision by the Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture. Any person, and the authorized representative of
a Federal, State or local governmental agency or Indian
tribe, shall have the right to file written comments relating
to the approval or disapproval of the permit application
until 30 days after the last day of newspaper publication.
The Secretary concerned shall promptly make such com-
ments available to the applicant.
(3) Any person may file written comments during the
comment period specified in paragraph (2) and any person
who is, or may be, adversely affected by the proposed min-
eral activities may request a nonadjudicatory public hear-
ing to be held in the county in which the mineral activities
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are proposed. The Secretary concerned shall consider all
written comments filed during such period. If a hearing
is requested by any person who is, or may be, adversely
affected by the proposed mineral activities, the Secretary
concerned shall consider such request and may conduct
such hearing. When a hearing is to be held, notice of such
hearing shall be published in a newspaper of local circula-
tion at least once a week for 2 weeks prior to the hearing
date.
SEC. 404. INSPECTION AND MONITORING.
(a) INSPECTIONS.—(1) The Secretary, or for Na-
tional Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture,
shall make inspections of mineral activities so as to ensure
compliance with the surface management requirements of
title II.
(2) The Secretary concerned shall establish a fre-
quency of inspections for mineral activities conducted
under a permit issued under title II, but in no event shall
such inspection frequency be less than one complete in-
spection per calendar quarter or, two per calendar quarter
in the case of a permit for which the Secretary concerned
approves an application under section 204(g) (relating to
temporary cessation of operations). After revegetation has
been established in accordance with a reclamation plan,
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such Secretary shall conduct annually 2 complete inspec-
tions. Such Secretary shall have the discretion to modify
the inspection frequency for mineral activities that are
conducted on a seasonal basis. Inspections shall continue
under this subsection until final release of financial assur-
ance.
(3)(A) Any person who has reason to believe he or
she is or may be adversely affected by mineral activities
due to any violation of the surface management require-
ments may request an inspection. The Secretary, or for
National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, shall determine within 10 working days of receipt
of the request whether the request states a reason to be-
lieve that a violation exists. If the person alleges and pro-
vides reason to believe that an imminent threat to the en-
vironment or danger to the health or safety of the public
exists, the 10-day period shall be waived and the inspec-
tion shall be conducted immediately. When an inspection
is conducted under this paragraph, the Secretary con-
cerned shall notify the person requesting the inspection,
and such person shall be allowed to accompany the Sec-
retary concerned or the Secretary’s authorized representa-
tive during the inspection. The Secretary shall not incur
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any liability for allowing such person to accompany an au-
thorized representative. The identity of the person supply-
ing information to the Secretary relating to a possible vio-
lation or imminent danger or harm shall remain confiden-
tial with the Secretary if so requested by that person, un-
less that person elects to accompany an authorized rep-
resentative on the inspection.
(B) The Secretaries shall, by joint rule, establish pro-
cedures for the review of (i) any decision by an authorized
representative not to inspect or (ii) any refusal by such
representative to ensure that remedial actions are taken
with respect to any alleged violation. The Secretary con-
cerned shall furnish such persons requesting the review
a written statement of the reasons for the Secretary’s final
disposition of the case.
(b) MONITORING.—(1) The Secretary, or for Na-
tional Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture,
shall require all operators to develop and maintain a mon-
itoring and evaluation system which shall identify compli-
ance with all surface management requirements.
(2) Monitoring shall be conducted as close as tech-
nically feasible to the mineral activity involved, and in all
cases such monitoring shall be conducted within the per-
mit area.
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(3) The point of compliance referred to in paragraph
(1) shall be as close to the mineral activity involved as
is technically feasible, but in any event shall be located
to comply with applicable State and Federal standards.
In no event shall the point of compliance be outside the
permit area.
(4) The Secretary concerned may require additional
monitoring be conducted as necessary to assure compli-
ance with the reclamation and other environmental stand-
ards of this Act.
(5) The operator shall file reports with the Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, on a frequency determined by the Secretary con-
cerned, on the results of the monitoring and evaluation
process, except that if the monitoring and evaluation show
a violation of the surface management requirements, it
shall be reported immediately to the Secretary concerned.
Information received pursuant to this subsection from any
natural person shall not be used against any such natural
person in any criminal case, except a prosecution for per-
jury or for giving a false statement. The Secretary shall
evaluate the reports submitted pursuant to this para-
graph, and based on those reports and any necessary in-
spection shall take enforcement action pursuant to this
section.
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(6) The Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall determine what
information must be reported by the operator pursuant
to paragraph (5). A failure to report as required by the
Secretary concerned shall constitute a violation of this Act
and subject the operator to enforcement action pursuant
to section 407.
SEC. 405. CITIZENS SUITS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection
(b), any person having an interest which is or may be ad-
versely affected may commence a civil action on his or her
own behalf to compel compliance—
(1) against any person (including the Secretary
or the Secretary of Agriculture) alleged to have vio-
lated (if there is evidence the alleged violation has
been repeated), or to be in violation of, any of the
provisions of title II or section 404 of this Act or
any regulation promulgated pursuant to title II or
section 404 of this Act or any term or condition of
any permit issued under title II of this Act; or
(2) against the Secretary or the Secretary of
Agriculture where there is alleged a failure of such
Secretary to perform any act or duty under title II
or section 404 of this Act, or to promulgate any reg-
ulation under title II or section 404 of this Act,
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which is not within the discretion of the Secretary
concerned.
The United States district courts shall have jurisdiction
over actions brought under this section, without regard to
the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties,
including actions brought to apply any civil penalty under
this Act. The district courts of the United States shall
have jurisdiction to compel agency action unreasonably de-
layed, except that an action to compel agency action
reviewable under section 406 may only be filed in a United
States District Court within the circuit in which such ac-
tion would be reviewable under section 406.
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—(1) No action may be commenced
under subsection (a) prior to 60 days after the plaintiff
has given notice in writing of such alleged violation to the
Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, except that any such action may be
brought immediately after such notification if the violation
complained of constitutes an imminent threat to the envi-
ronment or to the health or safety of the public.
(2) No action may be brought against any person
other than the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture
under subsection (a)(1) if such Secretary has commenced
and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action in
a court of the United States to require compliance.
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(3) No action may be commenced under paragraph
(2) of subsection (a) against either Secretary to review any
rule promulgated by, or to any permit issued or denied
by such Secretary if such rule or permit issuance or denial
is judicially reviewable under section 406 or under any
other provision of law at any time after such promulga-
tion, issuance, or denial is final.
(c) VENUE.—Venue of all actions brought under this
section shall be determined in accordance with title 28
U.S.C. 1391.
(d) INTERVENTION; NOTICE.—(1) In any action
under this section, the Secretary, or for National Forest
System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may intervene
as a matter of right at any time. A judgment in an action
under this section to which the United States is not a
party shall not have any binding effect upon the United
States.
(2) Whenever an action is brought under this section
the plaintiff shall serve a copy of the complaint on the
Attorney General of the United States and on the Sec-
retary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary
of Agriculture. No consent judgment shall be entered in
an action brought under this section in which the United
States is not a party prior to 45 days following the date
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on which a copy of the proposed consent judgment is sub-
mitted to the Attorney General and the Secretary, or for
National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture. During such 45-day period the Attorney General
or such Secretary may submit comments on the proposed
consent judgment to the court and parties or may inter-
vene as a matter of right.
(e) COSTS.—The court, in issuing any final order in
any action brought pursuant to this section may award
costs of litigation (including attorney and expert witness
fees) to any prevailing party whenever the court deter-
mines such award is appropriate. The court may, if a tem-
porary restraining order or preliminary injunction is
sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security
in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(f) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall
restrict any right which any person (or class of persons)
may have under chapter 7 of title 5 of the United States
Code, under section 406 of this Act or under any other
statute or common law to bring an action to seek any relief
against the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture or
against any other person, including any action for any vio-
lation of this Act or of any regulation or permit issued
under this Act or for any failure to act as required by
law. Nothing in this section shall affect the jurisdiction
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of any court under any provision of title 28 of the United
States Code, including any action for any violation of this
Act or of any regulation or permit issued under this Act
or for any failure to act as required by law. Nothing in
this Act shall be construed to be a waiver of the sovereign
immunity of an Indian tribe except as provided for in sec-
tion 202(c).
SEC. 406. ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REVIEW.
(a) REVIEW BY SECRETARY.—(1)(A) Any person is-
sued a notice of violation or cessation order under section
407, or any person having an interest which is or may
be adversely affected by such notice or order, may apply
to the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the
Secretary of Agriculture, for review of the notice or order
within 30 days of receipt thereof, or as the case may be,
within 30 days of such notice or order being modified, va-
cated or terminated.
(B) Any person who is subject to a penalty assessed
under section 106, section 107(c), or section 407 may
apply to the Secretary concerned for review of the assess-
ment within 30 days of notification of such penalty.
(C) Any person having an interest which is or may
be adversely affected by a decision made by the Secretary
or the Secretary of Agriculture under section 203, 204,
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205, 206, 209, or 404(a)(3) may apply to such Secretary
for review of the decision within 30 days after it is made.
(2) The Secretary concerned shall provide an oppor-
tunity for a public hearing at the request of any party
to the proceeding as specified in paragraph (1). The filing
of an application for review under this subsection shall not
operate as a stay of any order or notice issued under sec-
tion 407.
(3) For any review proceeding under this subsection,
the Secretary concerned shall make findings of fact and
shall issue a written decision incorporating therein an
order vacating, affirming, modifying or terminating the
notice, order or decision, or with respect to an assessment,
the amount of penalty that is warranted. Where the appli-
cation for review concerns a cessation order issued under
section 407, the Secretary concerned shall issue the writ-
ten decision within 30 days of the receipt of the applica-
tion for review or within 30 days after the conclusion of
any hearing referred to in paragraph (2), whichever is
later, unless temporary relief has been granted by the Sec-
retary concerned under paragraph (4).
(4) Pending completion of any review proceedings
under this subsection, the applicant may file with the Sec-
retary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary
of Agriculture, a written request that the Secretary grant
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temporary relief from any order issued under section 407
together with a detailed statement giving reasons for such
relief. The Secretary concerned shall expeditiously issue
an order or decision granting or denying such relief. The
Secretary concerned may grant such relief under such con-
ditions as he may prescribe only if such relief shall not
adversely affect the health or safety of the public or cause
significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air or
water resources.
(5) The availability of review under this subsection
shall not be construed to limit the operation of rights
under section 405.
(b) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—(1) Any final action by the
Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture in promulgat-
ing regulations to implement this Act, or any other final
actions constituting rulemaking to implement this Act,
shall be subject to judicial review only in the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Any action
subject to judicial review under this subsection shall be
affirmed unless the court concludes that such action is ar-
bitrary, capricious, or otherwise inconsistent with law. A
petition for review of any action subject to judicial review
under this subsection shall be filed within 60 days from
the date of such action, or after such date if the petition
is based solely on grounds arising after the sixtieth day.
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Any such petition may be made by any person who com-
mented or otherwise participated in the rulemaking or any
person who may be adversely affected by the action of the
Secretaries.
(2) Final agency action under this Act, including
such final action on those matters described under sub-
section (a), shall be subject to judicial review in accord-
ance with paragraph (4) and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391
of the United States Code on or before 60 days from the
date of such final action. Any action subject to judicial
review under this subsection shall be affirmed unless the
court concludes that such action is arbitrary, capricious,
or otherwise inconsistent with law.
(3) The availability of judicial review established in
this subsection shall not be construed to limit the oper-
ations of rights under section 405 (relating to citizens
suits).
(4) The court shall hear any petition or complaint
filed under this subsection solely on the record made be-
fore the Secretary or Secretaries concerned. The court
may affirm or vacate any order or decision or may remand
the proceedings to the Secretary or Secretaries for such
further action as it may direct.
(5) The commencement of a proceeding under this
section shall not, unless specifically ordered by the court,
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operate as a stay of the action, order or decision of the
Secretary or Secretaries concerned.
(c) COSTS.—Whenever a proceeding occurs under
subsection (a) or (b), at the request of any person, a sum
equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses
(including attorney fees) as determined by the Secretary
or Secretaries concerned or the court to have been reason-
ably incurred by such person for or in connection with par-
ticipation in such proceedings, including any judicial re-
view of the proceeding, may be assessed against either
party as the court, in the case of judicial review, or the
Secretary or Secretaries concerned in the case of adminis-
trative proceedings, deems proper if it is determined that
such party prevailed in whole or in part, achieving some
success on the merits, and that such party made a sub-
stantial contribution to a full and fair determination of
the issues.
SEC. 407. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) ORDERS.—(1) If the Secretary, or for National
Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, or an
authorized representative of such Secretary, determines
that any person is in violation of any surface management
or monitoring requirement, such Secretary or authorized
representative shall issue to such person a notice of viola-
tion describing the violation and the corrective measures
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to be taken. The Secretary concerned, or the authorized
representative of such Secretary, shall provide such person
with a period of time not to exceed 30 days to abate the
violation. Such period of time may be extended by the Sec-
retary concerned upon a showing of good cause by such
person. If, upon the expiration of time provided for such
abatement, the Secretary concerned, or the authorized
representative of such Secretary, finds that the violation
has not been abated he shall immediately order a cessation
of all mineral activities or the portion thereof relevant to
the violation.
(2) If the Secretary concerned, or the authorized rep-
resentative of the Secretary concerned, determines that
any condition or practice exists, or that any person is in
violation of any surface management or monitoring re-
quirement, and such condition, practice or violation is
causing, or can reasonably be expected to cause—
(A) an imminent danger to the health or safety
of the public; or
(B) significant, imminent environmental harm
to land, air, water, fish or wildlife resources;
such Secretary or authorized representative shall imme-
diately order a cessation of mineral activities or the por-
tion thereof relevant to the condition, practice or violation.
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(3)(A) A cessation order pursuant to paragraphs (1)
or (2) shall remain in effect until such Secretary, or au-
thorized representative, determines that the condition,
practice or violation has been abated, or until modified,
vacated or terminated by the Secretary or authorized rep-
resentative. In any such order, the Secretary or authorized
representative shall determine the steps necessary to abate
the violation in the most expeditious manner possible and
shall include the necessary measures in the order. The
Secretary concerned shall require appropriate financial as-
surances to ensure that the abatement obligations are met.
(B) Any notice or order issued pursuant to para-
graphs (1) or (2) may be modified, vacated or terminated
by the Secretary concerned or an authorized representa-
tive of such Secretary. Any person to whom any such no-
tice or order is issued shall be entitled to a hearing on
the record.
(4) If, after 30 days of the date of the order referred
to in paragraph (3)(A) the required abatement has not
occurred the Secretary concerned shall take such alter-
native enforcement action against the claimholder or oper-
ator (or any person who controls the claimholder or opera-
tor) as will most likely bring about abatement in the most
expeditious manner possible. Such alternative enforcement
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action may include, but is not necessarily limited to, seek-
ing appropriate injunctive relief to bring about abatement.
Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, from taking alternative enforcement action prior
to the expiration of 30 days.
(5) If a claimholder or operator (or any person who
controls the claimholder or operator) fails to abate a viola-
tion or defaults on the terms of the permit, the Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, shall forfeit the financial assurance for the plan
as necessary to ensure abatement and reclamation under
this Act. The Secretary concerned may prescribe condi-
tions under which a surety may perform reclamation in
accordance with the approved plan in lieu of forfeiture.
(6) The Secretary, or for National Forest System
lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall not cause forfeit-
ure of the financial assurance while administrative or judi-
cial review is pending.
(7) In the event of forfeiture, the claim holder, opera-
tor, or any affiliate thereof, as appropriate as determined
by the Secretary by rule, shall be jointly and severally lia-
ble for any remaining reclamation obligations under this
Act.
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(b) COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary, or for National
Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may re-
quest the Attorney General to institute a civil action for
relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction or
restraining order, or any other appropriate enforcement
order, including the imposition of civil penalties, in the dis-
trict court of the United States for the district in which
the mineral activities are located whenever a person—
(1) violates, fails or refuses to comply with any
order issued by the Secretary concerned under sub-
section (a); or
(2) interferes with, hinders or delays the Sec-
retary concerned in carrying out an inspection under
section 404.
Such court shall have jurisdiction to provide such relief
as may be appropriate. Any relief granted by the court
to enforce an order under paragraph (1) shall continue
in effect until the completion or final termination of all
proceedings for review of such order unless the district
court granting such relief sets it aside.
(c) DELEGATION.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary may utilize personnel of the Of-
fice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to
ensure compliance with the requirements of this Act.
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(d) PENALTIES.—(1) Any person who fails to comply
with any surface management requirement shall be liable
for a penalty of not more than $25,000 per violation. Each
day of violation may be deemed a separate violation for
purposes of penalty assessments.
(2) A person who fails to correct a violation for which
a cessation order has been issued under subsection (a)
within the period permitted for its correction shall be as-
sessed a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 per violation
for each day during which such failure continues, but in
no event shall such assessment exceed a 30-day period.
(3) Whenever a corporation is in violation of a surface
management requirement or fails or refuses to comply
with an order issued under subsection (a), any director,
officer or agent of such corporation who knowingly author-
ized, ordered, or carried out such violation, failure or re-
fusal shall be subject to the same penalties as may be im-
posed upon the person referred to in paragraph (1).
(e) SUSPENSIONS OR REVOCATIONS.—The Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agri-
culture, may suspend or revoke a permit issued under title
II, in whole or in part, if the operator or person conduct-
ing mineral activities—
(1) knowingly made or knowingly makes any
false, inaccurate, or misleading material statement
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in any mining claim, notice of location, application,
record, report, plan, or other document filed or re-
quired to be maintained under this Act;
(2) fails to abate a violation covered by a ces-
sation order issued under subsection (a);
(3) fails to comply with an order of the Sec-
retary concerned;
(4) refuses to permit an audit pursuant to this
Act;
(5) fails to maintain an adequate financial as-
surance under section 206;
(6) fails to pay claim maintenance fees or other
moneys due and owing under this Act; or
(7) with regard to plans conditionally approved
under section 205(c)(2), fails to abate a violation to
the satisfaction of the Secretary concerned, or if the
validity of the violation is upheld on the appeal
which formed the basis for the conditional approval.
(f) FALSE STATEMENTS; TAMPERING.—Any person
who knowingly—
(1) makes any false material statement, rep-
resentation, or certification in, or omits or conceals
material information from, or unlawfully alters, any
mining claim, notice of location, application, record,
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report, plan, or other documents filed or required to
be maintained under this Act; or
(2) falsifies, tampers with, renders inaccurate,
or fails to install any monitoring device or method
be required to be maintained under this Act,
shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more
than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 2
years, or by both. If a conviction of a person is for a viola-
tion committed after a first conviction of such person
under this paragraph, punishment shall be by a fine of
not more than $20,000 per day of violation, or by impris-
onment of not more than 4 years, or both. Each day of
continuing violation may be deemed a separate violation
for purposes of penalty assessments.
(g) KNOWING VIOLATIONS.—Any person who know-
ingly—
(1) engages in mineral activities without a per-
mit required under title II, or
(2) violates any other surface management re-
quirement of this Act or any provision of a permit
issued under this Act (including any exploration or
operations plan on which such permit is based), or
condition or limitation thereof,
shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less
than $5,000 nor more than $50,000 per day of violation,
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or by imprisonment for not more than 3 years, or both.
If a conviction of a person is for a violation committed
after the first conviction of such person under this para-
graph, punishment shall be a fine of not less than $10,000
per day of violation, or by imprisonment of not more than
6 years, or both.
(h) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ROYALTY REQUIRE-
MENTS.—(1) Any person who fails to comply with the re-
quirements of section 306 or any regulation or order is-
sued to implement section 306 shall be liable for a civil
penalty under section 109 of the Federal Oil and Gas Roy-
alty Management Act (30 U.S.C. 1719) to the same extent
as if the claim located or converted under this Act were
a lease under that Act.
(2) Any person who knowingly and willfully commits
an act for which a civil penalty is provided in paragraph
(1) shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not
more than $50,000, or by imprisonment for not more than
2 years, or both.
(i) DEFINITION. For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘person’’ includes a person as defined in section 3(a)
and any officer, agent, or employee of any such person.
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SEC. 408. REGULATIONS; EFFECTIVE DATES.
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The provisions of this Act
shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, ex-
cept as otherwise provided in this Act.
(b) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary and the Secretary
of Agriculture may issue such regulations as may be nec-
essary under this Act. The regulations implementing title
II and the provisions of title IV which affect United States
Forest Service shall be joint regulations issued by both
Secretaries.
(c) NOTICE.—Within 180 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall give notice to hold-
ers of mining claims and mill sites maintained under the
general mining laws as to the requirements of sections
104, 105, and 106.
Subtitle B—Miscellaneous
Provisions
SEC. 411. TRANSITIONAL RULES; SURFACE MANAGEMENT
REQUIREMENTS.
(a) NEW CLAIMS.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, any mining claim for a locatable mineral on
lands subject to this Act located after the date of enact-
ment of this Act shall be subject to the requirements of
title II.
(b) PREEXISTING CLAIMS.—(1) Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, any unpatented mining claim or
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mill site located under the general mining laws before the
date of enactment of this Act for which a plan of operation
has not been approved or a notice filed prior to the date
of enactment shall upon the effective date of this Act, be
subject to the requirements of title II, except as provided
in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2)(A) If a plan of operations had been approved for
mineral activities on any claim or site referred to in para-
graph (1) prior to the date of enactment this Act, for a
period of 5 years after the effective date of this Act min-
eral activities at such claim or site shall be subject to such
plan of operations (or a modification or amendment there-
to prepared in accordance with the provisions of law appli-
cable prior to the enactment of this Act). During such 5-
year period, modifications of, or amendments to, any such
plan may be made in accordance with the provisions of
law applicable prior to the enactment of this Act if such
modifications or amendments are deemed minor by the
Secretary concerned. After such 5-year period the require-
ments of title II shall apply, subject to the limitations of
section 209. In order to meet the requirements of title II,
the person conducting mineral activities under such plan
of operations (or modified or amended plan) shall apply
for a modification under section 203(f) and 204(f) no later
than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act. For
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purposes of this paragraph, any modification or amend-
ment which extends the area covered by the plan (except
for incidental boundary revisions) or which significantly
increases the risk of adverse effects on the environment
shall not be subject to this paragraph and shall be subject
to other provisions of this Act.
(B) During the 5-year period referred to in subpara-
graph (A) the provisions of section 404 (relating to inspec-
tion and monitoring) and section 407 (relating to enforce-
ment) shall apply on the basis of the surface management
requirements applicable to such plans of operations prior
to the effective date of this Act.
(C) Where an application for modification or amend-
ment of a plan of operations referred to in subparagraph
(A) has been timely submitted and an approved plan ex-
pires prior to Secretarial action on the application, mineral
activities and reclamation may continue in accordance
with the terms of the expired plan until the Secretary
makes an administrative decision on the application.
(3)(A) If a substantially complete application for ap-
proval of a plan of operations or for a modification of,
or amendment to, a plan of operations had been submitted
by January 5, 1995 and either a scoping document or an
Environmental Assessment prepared for purposes of com-
pliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
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1969 had been published with respect to such plan, modi-
fication, or amendment before the date of the enactment
of this Act but the submitted plan of operations or modi-
fication or amendment had not been approved for mineral
activities on any claim or site referred to in paragraph
(1) prior to such date of enactment, for a period of 5 years
after the effective date of this Act mineral activities at
such claim or site shall be subject to the provisions of law
applicable prior to the enactment of this Act. During such
5-year period, subsequent modifications of, or amend-
ments to, any such plan may be made in accordance with
the provisions of law applicable prior to the enactment of
this Act if such subsequent modifications or amendments
are deemed minor by the Secretary concerned. After such
5-year period, the requirements of title II shall apply, sub-
ject to the limitations of section 209. For purposes of this
paragraph, any subsequent modification or amendment
which extends the area covered by the plan (except for
incidental boundary revisions) or which significantly in-
creases the risk of adverse effects on the environment shall
not be subject to this paragraph and shall be subject to
other provisions of this Act.
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(B) In order to meet the requirements of title II, the
person conducting mineral activities under a plan of oper-
ations (or modified or amended plan referred to in sub-
paragraph (A)) shall apply for a modification under sec-
tion 203(f) and 204(f) no later than 3 years after the date
of enactment of this Act. During such 5-year period the
provisions of section 404 (relating to inspection and mon-
itoring) and section 407 (relating to enforcement) shall
apply on the basis of the surface management require-
ments applicable to such plans of operations prior to the
effective date of this Act.
(C) Where an application for modification or amend-
ment of a plan of operations referred to in subparagraph
(A) has been timely submitted and an approved plan ex-
pires prior to Secretarial action on the application, mineral
activities and reclamation may continue in accordance
with the terms of the expired plan until the Secretary
makes an administrative decision on the application.
(4) If a notice or notice of intent had been filed with
the authorized officer in the applicable office of the Bu-
reau of Land Management or the United States Forest
Service (as provided for in the regulations of the Secretary
of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, respec-
tively, in effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act)
prior to the date of enactment this Act, mineral activities
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may continue under such notice or notice of intent for a
period of 2 years after the effective date of this Act, after
which time the requirements of title II shall apply, subject
to the limitations of section 209(d)(2). In order to meet
the requirements of title II, the person conducting mineral
activities under such notice or notice of intent must apply
for a permit under section 203 or 204 no later than 18
months after the effective date of this Act, unless such
mineral activities are conducted pursuant to section
202(b). During such 2-year period the provisions of sec-
tion 404 (relating to inspection and monitoring) and 407
(relating to enforcement) shall apply on the basis of the
surface management requirements applicable to such no-
tices prior to the effective date of this Act.
SEC. 412. CLAIMS SUBJECT TO SPECIAL RULES.
(a) CERTAIN CLAIMS NOT CONVERTED.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, except as provided
under subsection (c), an unpatented mining claim referred
to in section 37 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C.
193) shall not be converted under section 104 of this Act
until the Secretary determines that the claim was valid
on the date of enactment of the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920 and has been maintained in compliance with the gen-
eral mining laws.
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(b) CONTEST PROCEEDINGS.—As soon as practicable
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
initiate contest proceedings challenging the validity of all
unpatented claims referred to in subsection (a), including
those claims for which a patent application has not been
filed. If a claim is determined to be invalid, the Secretary
shall promptly declare the claim to be null and void. If,
as a result of such proceeding, a claim is determined valid,
the claim shall be converted and thereby become subject
to this Act’s provisions on the date of the completion of
the contest proceeding.
(c) OIL SHALE CLAIMS.—(1) The provisions of sec-
tion 411 shall apply to oil shale claims referred to in sec-
tion 2511(e)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public
Law 102–486)
(2) Section 2511(f) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992
(Public Law 102–486) is amended as follows:
(A) Strike ‘‘as prescribed by the Secretary’’.
(B) Insert the following before the period: ‘‘in
the same manner as if such claims were subject to
title II of the Mineral Exploration and Development
Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 413. PURCHASING POWER ADJUSTMENT.
The Secretary shall adjust all location fees, claim
maintenance rates, penalty amounts, and other dollar
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amounts established in this Act for changes in the pur-
chasing power of the dollar every 10 years following the
date of enactment of this Act, employing the Consumer
Price Index for all-urban consumers published by the De-
partment of Labor as the basis for adjustment, and round-
ing according to the adjustment process of conditions of
the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of
1990 (104 Stat. 890).
SEC. 414. SAVINGS CLAUSE.
(a) SPECIAL APPLICATION OF MINING LAWS.—Noth-
ing in this Act shall be construed as repealing or modify-
ing any Federal law, regulation, order or land use plan,
in effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act that
prohibits or restricts the application of the general mining
laws, including laws that provide for special management
criteria for operations under the general mining laws as
in effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act, to
the extent such laws provide environmental protection
greater than required under this Act, and any such prior
law shall remain in force and effect with respect to claims
located (or proposed to be located) or converted under this
Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as applying
to or limiting mineral investigations, studies, or other min-
eral activities conducted by any Federal or State agency
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29 and 30) for vein or lode claims and sections
2329, 2330, 2331, and 2333 of the Revised Statutes
(30 U.S.C. 35, 36, and 37) for placer claims were
fully complied with by that date.
If the Secretary makes the determinations referred to in
paragraphs (1) and (2) for any mining claim, the holder
of the claim shall be entitled to the issuance of a patent
in the same manner and degree to which such claim holder
would have been entitled to prior to the enactment of this
Act, unless and until such determinations are withdrawn
or invalidated by the Secretary or by a court of the United
States.
(b) MILL SITES.—After January 7, 1997, no patent
shall be issued by the United States for any mill site claim
located under the general mining laws unless the Secretary
determines that for the mill site concerned—
(1) a patent application for such land was filed
with the Secretary on or before January 7, 1997;
and
(2) all requirements applicable to such patent
application were fully complied with by that date.
If the Secretary makes the determinations referred to in
paragraphs (1) and (2) for any mill site claim, the holder
of the claim shall be entitled to the issuance of a patent
in the same manner and degree to which such claim holder