(i) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘person’’ includes any officer, agent, or employee of 
a person. 
SEC. 547. REGULATIONS. 
The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
issue such regulations as are necessary to implement this 
title. The regulations implementing subtitle B, subtitle C, 
subtitle D, and subtitle E that affect the Forest Service 
shall be joint regulations issued by both Secretaries, and 
shall be issued no later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 548. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This title shall take effect on the date of enactment 
of this Act, except as otherwise provided in this title. 
SEC. 549. OIL SHALE CLAIMS. 
Section 2511(f) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
(Public Law 102–486) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘as prescribed by the Sec-
retary’’; and 
(2) by inserting before the period the following: 
‘‘in the same manner as required by subtitle B and 
subtitle C of the Hardrock Mining Reform and Def-
icit Reduction Act of 2011’’. 
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SEC. 550. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 
(a) SPECIAL APPLICATION OF MINING LAWS.—Noth-
ing in this title shall be construed as repealing or modi-
fying 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 for protection of natural and 
cultural resources and the environment greater than re-
quired under this title, and any such prior law shall re-
main in force and effect with respect to claims located (or 
proposed to be located) or converted under this title. Noth-
ing in this title shall be construed as applying to or lim-
iting mineral investigations, studies, or other mineral ac-
tivities conducted by any Federal or State agency acting 
in its governmental capacity pursuant to other authority. 
Nothing in this title shall affect or limit any assessment, 
investigation, evaluation, or listing pursuant to the Com-
prehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), or the 
Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 3251 et seq.). 
(b) EFFECT ON OTHER FEDERAL LAWS.—The provi-
sions of this title shall supersede the general mining laws, 
except for those parts of the general mining laws respect-
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ing location of mining claims that are not expressly modi-
fied by this title. Except for the general mining laws, noth-
ing in this title shall be construed as superseding, modi-
fying, amending, or repealing any provision of Federal law 
not expressly superseded, modified, amended, or repealed 
by this title. Nothing in this title shall be construed as 
altering, affecting, amending, modifying, or changing, di-
rectly or indirectly, any law which refers to and provides 
authorities or responsibilities for, or is administered by, 
the Environmental Protection Agency or the Adminis-
trator of the Environmental Protection Agency, including 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, title XIV of the 
Public Health Service Act (the Safe Drinking Water Act), 
the Clean Air Act, the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, 
the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Federal Food, Drug, 
and Cosmetic Act, the Motor Vehicle Information and 
Cost Savings Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Atomic Energy 
Act, the Noise Control Act of 1972, the Solid Waste Dis-
posal Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund 
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Ocean 
Dumping Act, the Environmental Research, Development, 
and Demonstration Authorization Act, the Pollution Pros-
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ecution Act of 1990, and the Federal Facilities Compli-
ance Act of 1992, or any statute containing an amend-
ment to any of such Acts. Nothing in this title shall be 
construed as modifying or affecting any provision of the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act 
(Public Law 101–601) or any provision of the American 
Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996), the Na-
tional Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), 
and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42 
U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.). 
(c) PROTECTION
OF CONSERVATION AREAS.—In 
order to protect the resources and values of National Con-
servation System units, the Secretary, as appropriate, 
shall utilize authority under this title and other applicable 
law to the fullest extent necessary to prevent mineral ac-
tivities that could have an adverse impact on the resources 
or values for which such units were established. 
(d) SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY
OF INDIAN TRIBES.— 
Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to waive 
the sovereign immunity of any Indian tribe. 
SEC. 551. AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC RECORDS. 
Copies of records, reports, inspection materials, or in-
formation obtained by the Secretary or the Secretary of 
Agriculture under this title shall be made available to the 
public, consistent with section 552 of title 5, United States 
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Code, in central and sufficient locations in the county, 
multicounty, and State area of mineral activity or rec-
lamation so that such items are conveniently available to 
residents in the area proposed or approved for mineral ac-
tivities and on the Internet. 
SEC. 552. MISCELLANEOUS POWERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out his or her duties 
under this title, the Secretary, or for National Forest Sys-
tem lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may conduct any 
investigation, inspection, or other inquiry necessary and 
appropriate and may conduct, after notice, any hearing 
or audit, necessary and appropriate to carrying out his 
or her duties. 
(b) ANCILLARY POWERS.—In connection with any 
hearing, inquiry, investigation, or audit under this title, 
the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the 
Secretary of Agriculture, is authorized to take any of the 
following actions: 
(1) Require, by special or general order, any 
person to submit in writing such affidavits and an-
swers to questions as the Secretary concerned may 
reasonably prescribe, which submission shall be 
made within such reasonable period and under oath 
or otherwise, as may be necessary. 
(2) Administer oaths. 
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