S-544 : Still Just a Bill

The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act (S. 544) proposes amendments to existing hardrock mining laws, primarily concerning mill sites and the funding of abandoned mine land reclamation.

Key provisions of this bill include:

• Multiple Mill Sites: Amends Section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 42) to allow proprietors of lode or placer claims to locate multiple mill sites as reasonably necessary for their operations under an approved plan of operations.
  • A "mill site" is defined as public land reasonably necessary for waste rock or tailings disposal, or other operations incident to mineral development.
  • Each single mill site location shall not exceed 5 acres.
  • These new mill sites do not convey mineral rights and are not eligible for patenting.
  • The bill includes savings provisions to ensure it does not diminish existing claimant rights, create new rights on land not open to mining, modify land withdrawal actions, or limit the Federal Government's regulatory authority over mining activities.
• Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund: Establishes a new "Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund" in the Treasury of the United States.
  • This Fund will be financed by claim maintenance fees collected on the newly authorized mill sites.
  • Amounts from the Fund are to be used, without further appropriations, exclusively for carrying out abandoned mine land reclamation activities as specified under Section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (30 U.S.C. 1245).
• Clerical Amendments: Updates references in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (30 U.S.C. 28f) to align with current statutory citations and improve clarity in the structure of claim maintenance and location fee provisions.