Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2579
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-3]
Introduced: 2019-05-08 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Federal-Indian relations
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Indian lands and resources rights
Intellectual property
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Lease and rental services
Licensing and registrations
Mining
Monuments and memorials
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pollution liability
State and local finance
State and local government operations
User charges and fees
Water quality
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: 

Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses mineral leasing, exploration, and development on federal land.
 
Among other things, the bill 
 
 
prohibits the issuance of a patent for certain mining or millsite claims;
 
establishes a permitting and leasing system for hardrock mining;
 
establishes a 12.5% royalty on new mining operations and an 8% royalty on existing operations, with an exemption for small miners;
 
protects special places, such as wilderness study areas, roadless areas, and wild and scenic rivers, from hardrock mining activity;
 
requires consultation prior to undertaking any mineral activities that may have a substantial direct impact on the lands or interests of Indian tribes;
 
establishes an environmental standard for mining activities to ensure that mining activities prevent undue degradation of public lands and resources;
 
prescribes requirements for the exploration permit process and for operations permits, including financial assurances; and
 
authorizes the use of amounts in the Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund for the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past hardrock mineral activities and related activities.
 

action_date: 2020-08-04
text: 

Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses mineral leasing, exploration, and development on federal land.
 
Among other things, the bill 
 
 
prohibits the issuance of a patent for certain mining or millsite claims;
 
establishes a permitting and leasing system for hardrock mining;
 
establishes a 12.5% royalty on new mining operations and an 8% royalty on existing operations, with an exemption for small miners;
 
protects special places, such as wilderness study areas, roadless areas, and wild and scenic rivers, from hardrock mining activity;
 
requires consultation prior to undertaking any mineral activities that may have a substantial direct impact on the lands or interests of Indian tribes;
 
establishes an environmental standard for mining activities to ensure that mining activities prevent undue degradation of public lands and resources;
 
prescribes requirements for the exploration permit process and for operations permits, including financial assurances; and
 
authorizes the use of amounts in the Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund for the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past hardrock mineral activities and related activities.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-04
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 374.
action_date: 2020-08-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-467.
action_date: 2020-08-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-467.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 13.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2019-05-09
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Introduced in House