113 HR 2467 IH: Abandoned Mine Lands Cleanup and Taxpayer Fairness Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-06-20
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Abandoned Mine Lands Cleanup
and Taxpayer Fairness Act
.
(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Hardrock Mining Reform
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Definitions and references.
Sec. 103. Application rules.
Subtitle A—Mineral Exploration and Development
Sec. 111. Royalty.
Sec. 112. Hardrock mining claim maintenance fee.
Sec. 113. Effect of payments for use and occupancy of
claims.
Sec. 114. Limitation on patents.
Subtitle B—Protection of Special Places
Sec. 121. Lands open to location.
Sec. 122. Withdrawal petitions by States, political
subdivisions, and Indian tribes.
Subtitle C—Environmental Considerations of Mineral Exploration
and Development
Sec. 131. General standard for hardrock mining on Federal
land.
Sec. 132. Permits.
Sec. 133. Exploration permit.
Sec. 134. Operations permit.
Sec. 135. Persons ineligible for permits.
Sec. 136. Financial assurance.
Sec. 137. Operation and reclamation.
Sec. 138. State law and regulation.
Sec. 139. Limitation on the issuance of permits.
Subtitle D—Administrative and Miscellaneous
Provisions
Sec. 141. Policy functions.
Sec. 142. User fees.
Sec. 143. Inspection and monitoring.
Sec. 144. Citizens suits.
Sec. 145. Administrative and judicial review.
Sec. 146. Enforcement.
Sec. 147. Regulations.
Sec. 148. Effective date.
Sec. 149. Savings clause.
Sec. 150. Availability of public records.
Sec. 151. Miscellaneous powers.
Sec. 152. Multiple mineral development and surface
resources.
Sec. 153. Mineral materials.
Title II—Abandoned Mine Reclamation
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Definitions and references.
Subtitle A—Hardrock Mining Reclamation
Sec. 211. Displaced material reclamation fee.
Sec. 212. Fees adjustments.
Subtitle B—Abandoned Mine Cleanup Fund
Sec. 221. Establishment of fund.
Sec. 222. Use and objectives of the fund.
Sec. 223. Eligible lands and waters.
Subtitle C—Administrative Provisions
Sec. 231. Effective date.
Sec. 232. Fees adjustments.
Sec. 233. Inspection and monitoring.
Sec. 234. Regulations.
Sec. 235. Availability of public records.
<enum>I</enum><header>Hardrock Mining
Reform</header>
<section id="H949AC505B04545BFB47E3BCC9083A029" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short
title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited
as the <quote><short-title>Mining Reform and Deficit
Reduction Act of 2013</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H08C8782A917D4C6C9099D68D448A52B7"><enum>102.</enum><header>Definitions and
references</header>
<subsection id="H1AB8410433304109A2CAB62889E87939"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>As used in this title:</text>
<paragraph id="H1E6ECF07D72246FBB4D57524A15DBD47"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The term
<term>affiliate</term> means with respect to any person, any of the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HC5DE01CB369A4E9E8690D2AF7321A87E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Any person who
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such person.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB77DE9CC848F4D9FA3F52FB67FAD19C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Any partner of
such person.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H75CDD3A7A403422487E466D76EEE09DF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Any person owning
at least 10 percent of the voting shares of such person.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC6A99BCEDFC94AE2B743BA3C65A91CF2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The term
<term>applicant</term> means any person applying for a permit under this title
or a modification to or a renewal of a permit under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8107FE8A5DF1438D8FAF6898C589E492"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term
<term>beneficiation</term> means the crushing and grinding of locatable mineral
ore and such processes as are employed to free the mineral from other
constituents, including but not necessarily limited to, physical and chemical
separation techniques.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H671A1C136C2D4E5C88BDE032BFE17597"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The term
<term>casual use</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB4634329BD744E1EA1BDC3999F35BE68"><enum>(A)</enum><text>subject to
subparagraphs (B) and (C), means mineral activities that do not ordinarily
result in any disturbance of public lands and resources;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0E886E9063D943FCA51BAA4C2B1D474F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes
collection of geochemical, rock, soil, or mineral specimens using handtools,
hand panning, or nonmotorized sluicing; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H76C4324F769F4C649A24F23266A98AB5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>does not
include—</text>
<clause id="HD450FC7AE7764083BE74799D8F68606E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
use of mechanized earth-moving equipment, suction dredging, or
explosives;</text>
</clause><clause id="H8FC9530765524942B3649E637414E039"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
use of motor vehicles in areas closed to off-road vehicles;</text>
</clause><clause id="HB12C9F79EFEA485F87D3F0CF32483924"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the construction
of roads or drill pads; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HDA9A783C18674CD9A0317EA4341A596A"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the
use of toxic or hazardous materials.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0F42321B2F614910859F5E185056D025"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The term
<term>claim holder</term> means a person holding a mining claim, millsite
claim, or tunnel site claim located under the general mining laws and
maintained in compliance with such laws and this title. Such term may include
an agent of a claim holder.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCADE86DCCC8748DC84E165D16A7B663A"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The term
<term>control</term> means having the ability, directly or indirectly, to
determine (without regard to whether exercised through one or more corporate
structures) the manner in which an entity conducts mineral activities, through
any means, including without limitation, ownership interest, authority to
commit the entity’s real or financial assets, position as a director, officer,
or partner of the entity, or contractual arrangement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7296FF92B87744538770D4F77E26C524"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The term
<term>exploration</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="H835602DE0AAF4E588E8808216932A9BF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>subject to
subparagraphs (B) and (C), means creating surface disturbance other than casual
use, to evaluate the type, extent, quantity, or quality of minerals
present;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H80600CDEEA704EEB8BAF9CE6309A4EC2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes mineral
activities associated with sampling, drilling, and analyzing locatable mineral
values; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7597AD6777694144827436CDAF468BDC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>does not include
extraction of mineral material for commercial use or sale.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9B36359174C145B2ABB3932E508AE86D"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The term
<term>Federal land</term> means any land, and any interest in land, that is
owned by the United States and open to location of mining claims under the
general mining laws and subtitle B of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H914A5A95769F4C748BDB879572A17C61"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The term
<term>Indian lands</term> means lands held in trust for the benefit of an
Indian tribe or individual or held by an Indian tribe or individual subject to
a restriction by the United States against alienation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1347E7EC54DF453BB3A451D4DEB7FF61"><enum>(10)</enum><text>The term
<term>Indian tribe</term> 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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1601">43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.</external-xref>), that is
recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the
United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H10BA0C3A64FD4A7BAADB5493C9E5BE60"><enum>(11)</enum><text>The term
<term>locatable mineral</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBD607FFF3E6E420AAE938C829AFD1EDA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>subject to
subparagraph (B), means any mineral, the legal and beneficial title to which
remains in the United States and that is not subject to disposition under any
of—</text>
<clause id="HA4959F30400742E3AE69A2BDCE94F56D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/181">30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.</external-xref>);</text>
</clause><clause id="HE42B65F506684190807FB31B8D1E5EEE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1001">30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.</external-xref>);</text>
</clause><clause id="H6FEE4388AB354CAE9EEA01362F7DDAD7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Act of July
31, 1947, commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/601">30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text>
</clause><clause id="H44F20B3B3A12441E8164C70D724435C4"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the
Mineral Leasing for Acquired Lands Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/351">30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1BE7CA3203B34932AD8007EF268319A3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include
any mineral that is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the
United States and is—</text>
<clause id="H7781422429F24B38A4A9BFD3683CEC7C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/2101">25 U.S.C. 2101</external-xref>);
or</text>
</clause><clause id="HA5F3B0261F924515A304E651A4C54013"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>owned by any
Indian or Indian tribe, as defined in that section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H395619E75C0F4E0C859789983FD06586"><enum>(12)</enum><text>The term
<term>mineral activities</term> means any activity on a mining claim, millsite
claim, or tunnel site claim for, related to, or incidental to, mineral
exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, or reclamation activities for
any locatable mineral.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H94330EE29E144947A532D25B7052D338"><enum>(13)</enum><text>The term
<term>mining claim</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA63F3ED6A5C147ADB6E9C36718D7D379"><enum>(A)</enum><text>subject to
subparagraph (B), means a claim located under the Mining Law of 1872 within the
boundaries of which exist locatable minerals the claimant intends to
extract;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9172E71AEA0F4313B21CA58541D786BF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include a
claim located for the purpose of securing Federal lands for a waste rock dump,
tailings pile, or other purposes incident to processing locatable minerals
extracted elsewhere.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF136F417C2034D0C89FDF200A2843EB4"><enum>(14)</enum><text>The term
<term>National Conservation System unit</term> means any unit of the National
Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System, or National Trails System, or a National Conservation Area, a National
Recreation Area, a National Monument, or any unit of the National Wilderness
Preservation System.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H81D05795BFD54662B5174BAE4DD1CA01"><enum>(15)</enum><text>The term
<term>operator</term> means any person proposing or authorized by a permit
issued under this title to conduct mineral activities and any agent of such
person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H296DB9EF2A7243B582E4662D90EFEDB2"><enum>(16)</enum><text>The term
<term>person</term> means an individual, Indian tribe, partnership,
association, society, joint venture, joint stock company, firm, company,
corporation, cooperative, or other organization and any instrumentality of
State or local government including any publicly owned utility or publicly
owned corporation of State or local government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9B049F763CB045748B4F8C1979B3FCD4"><enum>(17)</enum><text>The term
<term>processing</term> means processes downstream of beneficiation employed to
prepare locatable mineral ore into the final marketable product, including
smelting and electrolytic refining.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H14472D7379354ABD806ECC2D916762B1"><enum>(18)</enum><text>The term
<term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior, unless otherwise
specified.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1B9166897EE54179ACF1D64EC9EC8BAB"><enum>(19)</enum><text>The term
<term>temporary cessation</term> means a halt in mine-related production
activities for a continuous period of no longer than 5 years.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H108E228DBC044836954C15071312210E"><enum>(20)</enum><text>The term
<term>undue degradation</term> means, based on consideration of other resource
values that may be affected, the operation or proposed operation fails to
comply with the performance standards in this title or can reasonably be
expected to cause significant environmental harm to wildlife; land, air, or
water resources; or scientific or cultural resources.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H534E7CAE5FC140CC97DE934501B2F936"><enum>(21)</enum><text>The term
<term>valid existing rights</term> means a mining claim or millsite claim
located on lands described in section 121(b), that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H29B4F6A195934A47B456F7BFA4741823"><enum>(A)</enum><text>was properly
located and maintained under the general mining laws prior to the date of
enactment of this Act;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H51C0890013F140B7835305121402C505"><enum>(B)</enum><text>was supported by a
discovery of a valuable mineral deposit within the meaning of the general
mining laws on the date of enactment of this Act, and, for millsite claims,
does not involve more than one mill site for every mining claim located for
that operation; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H05F5DD17F5424886B815D365F434ADDF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>continues to be
valid under this title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H88C86BD347E1482890D303F21EBF626B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>References to
other laws</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF6EB6DF7ACCE44649E42D40FE983063A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any reference in
this title to the term general mining laws is a reference to those Acts that
generally comprise chapters 2, 12A, and 16, and sections 161 and 162, of title
30, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3BC583DE525C400989B5E9F2D59258F8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any reference in
this title to the Act of July 23, 1955, is a reference to the Act entitled
<quote>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</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/601">30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HAD050FC679384575854FB3A5ACB94D8A"><enum>103.</enum><header>Application
rules</header>
<subsection id="H93D04A45E1824DEAACAB0E2ED32EE348"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>This title applies to any mining claim, millsite claim,
or tunnel site claim located under the general mining laws, before, on, or
after the date of enactment of this Act, except as provided in subsection
(b).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7832447F24F84C5CB714EE4A2ACAC694"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Preexisting
claims</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7216F3C1BB5B4AF3B949CB65F1A8851B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any unpatented
mining claim or millsite claim 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 title, be subject to the requirements of this title,
except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE256C5E8866C43E3BA13188E07DD667C"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HA10C91EBB145434F90B752D87E869272"><enum>(A)</enum><text>If a plan of operations
is approved for mineral activities on any claim or site referred to in
paragraph (1) prior to the date of enactment of this Act but such operations
have not commenced prior to the date of enactment of this Act—</text>
<clause id="HCC8B84F467354966AE1612E63ED102AF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>during the 5-year
period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, mineral activities at
such claim or site shall be subject to such plan of operations;</text>
</clause><clause id="H77111C29724E4D559BE21905BB970F89"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>during such
5-year period, modifications of any such plan may be made in accordance with
the provisions of law applicable prior to the enactment of this Act if such
modifications are deemed minor by the Secretary concerned; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H3FEE45FE92D446CB8FD0226641667ED7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the operator
shall bring such mineral activities into compliance with this title by the end
of such 5-year period.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H52361E3BFF0C47C9B0FC1DE90C969AA0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Where an
application for modification of a plan of operations referred to in
subparagraph (A)(ii) has been timely submitted and an approved plan expires
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.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD7E61BC8A3AF4A10B9D66D29055B739B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Federal lands
subject to existing permit</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H68A00C4BFA944334B81C05C3536C7F6A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any Federal land
shall be subject to the requirements of section 112(a)(2) if the land
is—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7379AC05DA5E4224BFF35D095C194103"><enum>(A)</enum><text>subject to an
operations permit; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H73CE240AE1A74FEFA56D03A7919BDAD1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>producing valuable
locatable minerals in commercial quantities prior to the date of enactment of
this Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4E8FC87F8CDC4F2884C36A206E5265E1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any Federal land
added through a plan modification to an operations permit on Federal land that
is submitted after the date of enactment of this Act shall be subject to the
terms of section 112(a)(3).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4946C6CD51D043F495629BC7D51EB7F8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application of
title to beneficiation and processing of non-Federal minerals on Federal
lands</header><text>The provisions of this title (including the environmental
protection requirements of subtitle C) shall apply in the same manner and to
the same extent to mining claims, millsite claims, and tunnel site claims used
for beneficiation or processing activities or activities related to, or
incidental to, such mineral activities for any mineral without regard to
whether or not the legal and beneficial title to the mineral is held by the
United States. This subsection applies only to minerals that are locatable
minerals or minerals that would be locatable minerals if the legal and
beneficial title to such minerals were held by the United States.</text>
</subsection></section><subtitle id="H55BFFE6B520C4C08A494C2FF4CCB11DE"><enum>A</enum><header>Mineral
Exploration and Development</header>
<section id="H8EF3D4810EA14E72902374D9B71B87FB"><enum>111.</enum><header>Royalty</header>
<subsection id="H38CEF6D496094ED3AEE310EC4B8C7FE1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reservation of
royalty</header>
<paragraph id="H508F309FAE09416C83A32D54AC7CB91C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to paragraph
(2), production of all locatable minerals from any mining claim located under
the general mining laws and maintained in compliance with this title, or
mineral concentrates or products derived from locatable minerals from any such
mining claim, as the case may be, shall be subject to a royalty of 12.5 percent
of the gross income from mining. The claim holder or any operator to whom the
claim holder has assigned the obligation to make royalty payments under the
claim and any person who controls such claim holder or operator shall be liable
for payment of such royalties.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDDC2352CBD7449A1A127AF335FE80AAE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal land
added to existing operations permit</header><text>Any Federal land added
through a plan modification to an operations permit that is submitted after the
date of enactment of this Act shall be subject to the royalty that applies to
Federal land under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5B83D38C184247E3B6B204AEAB7BB900"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Deposit</header><text>Amounts
received by the United States as royalties under this subsection shall be
deposited into the Treasury.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H508B8CD4D4104412A5B1341D196DE9C6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties of claim
holders, operators, and transporters</header>
<paragraph id="H84C268BE3278430D8A83FB24BB96EA27"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A
person—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFF25D085AE92419E8F0F4AE393A04083"><enum>(A)</enum><text>who is required to
make any royalty payment under this section shall make such payments to the
United States at such times and in such manner as the Secretary may by rule
prescribe; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF3FEA9B52BBD483586471AC8C86C96C8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1DC5CE77AC8C4019AB02AB0484D8ACDB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any person paying
royalties under this section shall file a written instrument, together with the
first royalty payment, affirming that such person is responsible for making
proper payments for all amounts due for all time periods for which such person
has a payment responsibility. Such responsibility for the periods 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
payment obligation shall remain jointly and severally liable for all royalty
payments due for the claim for the period.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA506348D32B64189B54FA0522900D162"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A
person conducting mineral activities shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCBACF90FA17840219206602C39B0B2B2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop and comply
with the site security provisions in the 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
conform with such minimum standards as the Secretary may prescribe by rule,
taking into account the variety of circumstances on mining claims; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6CF59F7EA2354832AF7EA48334A0A179"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC26E57DC29FD410AAEB218A6476B8AA1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Secretary may
by rule require any person engaged in transporting a locatable mineral,
concentrate, or product derived there from 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, origin, and intended destination of the locatable
mineral, concentrate, or product derived there from in such circumstances as
the Secretary determines is appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0CA093C6FC5F40009ED2DD4432E411BC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Recordkeeping
and reporting requirements</header>
<paragraph id="H4707DEC66D92481CAFED7701034891AB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A
claim holder, operator, or other person directly involved in developing,
producing, processing, transporting, purchasing, or selling locatable minerals,
concentrates, or products derived therefrom, subject to this title, through the
point of royalty computation shall establish and maintain any records, make any
reports, and provide any information that the Secretary may reasonably 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, quality, 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 conducting an audit or investigation
pursuant to this section, the appropriate records, reports, or information that
may be required by this section shall be made available for inspection and
duplication by such officer or employee. Failure by a claim holder, operator,
or other person referred to in the first sentence to cooperate with such an
audit, provide data required by the Secretary, or grant access to information
may, at the discretion of the Secretary, result in involuntary forfeiture of
the claim.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8A2E8BAA230042D9B8F55BF06F43CAF1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Records required
by the Secretary under this section shall be maintained for 7 years after
release of financial assurance under section 136 unless the Secretary notifies
the operator that the Secretary 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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H251F2E6BBB0C441CA0B1BB54B81A6736"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Audits</header><text>The
Secretary is authorized to conduct such audits of all claim holders, operators,
transporters, purchasers, processors, or other persons directly or indirectly
involved in the production or sales of minerals covered by this title, 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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6151D1141E3F4ABC9EA8E478BB45C4CA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Cooperative
agreements</header>
<paragraph id="H235DA47B8FD44249AE6EB1F836F0B05C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary is
authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the Secretary of
Agriculture to share information concerning the royalty management of locatable
minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom, to carry out inspection,
auditing, investigation, or enforcement (not including the collection of
royalties, civil or criminal penalties, or other payments) activities under
this section in cooperation with the Secretary, and to carry out any other
activity described in this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5C839CBA3BAC4F04AC0258F944EA3932"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Except as provided
in paragraph (3)(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 information in the possession of
the Secretary respecting the production, removal, or sale of locatable
minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom from claims on lands open
to location under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8366048DB42941E8B8B5ECA6584E3CA4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Trade secrets,
proprietary, and other confidential information protected from disclosure under
section
552 of title 5, United States Code, popularly known as the
Freedom of Information Act, shall be made available by the Secretary to other
Federal agencies as necessary to assure compliance with this title and other
Federal laws. The Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency, and other Federal officials shall ensure
that such information is provided protection in accordance with the
requirements of that section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3168883B885C4C7CA1D4DEAF96ACD451"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Interest and
substantial underreporting assessments</header>
<paragraph id="HBF7DA3AE3B7440EB87EFBFB69FBCDD57"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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 interest rate as the rate applicable under section
6621(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In the case of an
underpayment, interest shall be computed and charged only on the amount of the
deficiency and not on the total amount.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4EB1B031682345799797D3AEFEC1D97A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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 shall assess a penalty of not greater than 25 percent of the amount
of that underreporting.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6D56DEF3D2C2437D9BA5D75959ECDAE2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>For the purposes
of this subsection, the term <term>underreporting</term> means the difference
between the royalty on the value of the production that should have been
reported and the royalty on the value of the production which was reported, if
the value that should have been reported is greater than the value that was
reported.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H398D2D614BEF4B37A857C4146168B8D1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Secretary may
waive or reduce the assessment provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection if
the person liable for royalty payments under this section corrects the
underreporting before the date such person receives 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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H54B1AF4606554B5CB5DB465872F6040D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall waive any portion of an assessment under paragraph (2) of this subsection
attributable to that portion of the underreporting for which the person
responsible for paying the royalty demonstrates that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB082B07D47C64D2590E02412CC3FE984"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such person had
written authorization from the Secretary to report royalty on the value of the
production on basis on which it was reported;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H022D965F0C3F49AAA690655EB4E51EB4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such person had
substantial authority for reporting royalty on the value of the production on
the basis on which it was reported;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H64FF0125665143A6B005AA3DEEBDEB55"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such person
previously had notified the Secretary, 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</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H55A659538D48459C83226911ACF6C1A0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>such person meets
any other exception which the Secretary may, by rule, establish.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA00B72D131054F5DB7E8BC9214318358"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Expanded royalty
obligations</header><text>Each person 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 under the general mining laws and maintained in compliance
with this title 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 section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD08FC6574621440A9DD1DCF4CC00DA7F"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Gross income
from mining defined</header><text>For the purposes of this section, for any
locatable mineral, the term <term>gross income from mining</term> has the same
meaning as the term <term>gross income</term> in section 613(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4FFC019DCC6649959623510913F37223"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The royalty under this section 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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD846F98BC3B7406BB4BD6A235DF7C9BF"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Failure To
comply with royalty requirements</header><text>Any person who fails to comply
with the requirements of this section or any regulation or order issued to
implement this section shall be liable for a civil penalty under section 109 of
the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1719">30 U.S.C. 1719</external-xref>) to the same extent
as if the claim located under the general mining laws and maintained in
compliance with this title were a lease under that Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4566187DCFA24D308BA62398157C4072"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Use of amounts
for deficit reduction</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
any amounts received by the United States as royalties under this section shall
be deposited in the Treasury and used for Federal budget deficit reduction or,
if there is no Federal budget deficit, for reducing the Federal debt in such
manner as the Secretary of the Treasury considers appropriate.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HC4747FFD28804B2BA1EE03A632BE5F05"><enum>112.</enum><header>Hardrock mining
claim maintenance fee</header>
<subsection id="HC8107C425C2E4344A3E1DABF84823CD2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Fee</header>
<paragraph id="H6F33260EF100444794B81D550910E8A9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Except as provided
in section 2511(e)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (relating to oil shale
claims), for each unpatented mining claim, mill or tunnel site on federally
owned lands, whether located before, on, or after enactment of this Act, each
claimant shall pay to the Secretary, on or before August 31 of each year, a
claim maintenance fee of $200 per claim to hold such unpatented mining claim,
mill or tunnel site for the assessment year beginning at noon on the next day,
September 1. Such claim maintenance fee shall be in lieu of the assessment work
requirement contained in the Mining Law of 1872 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28">30 U.S.C. 28 et seq.</external-xref>) and the related
filing requirements contained in section 314(a) and (c) of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1744">43 U.S.C. 1744(a)</external-xref>
and (c)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5352F6F6AD404E22A927BA6CDD16A0A7"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HB49AC560920540209CDC3FC2B2ACD92F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Secretary shall
adjust the fees required by this section to reflect changes in the Consumer
Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of
Labor every 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, or more frequently
if the Secretary determines an adjustment to be reasonable. The Secretary shall
employ the Consumer Price Index for All-Urban Consumers published by the
Department of Labor as the basis for adjustment, and rounding according to the
adjustment process of conditions of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act of 1990 (104 Stat. 890).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD4CB830FB11244F281FA25D0B963E540" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary shall provide claimants
notice of any adjustment made under this paragraph not later than July 1 of any
year in which the adjustment is made.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4BD55F1676CB4449A369ADCA0A670A90" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A fee adjustment under this paragraph
shall begin to apply the calendar year following the calendar year in which it
is made.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7FE17DAF1334442CACF942C178031D4A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Location</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any provision of law, for
every unpatented mining claim, mill or tunnel site 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 Management, pay to the Secretary a location
fee, in addition to the fee required by subsection (a) of $50 per claim.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H632A65A7B16447D6BC835A0C72B7140C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Co-Ownership</header><text>The
co-ownership provisions of the Mining Law of 1872 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28">30 U.S.C. 28 et seq.</external-xref>)
will remain in effect except that the annual claim maintenance fee, where
applicable, shall replace applicable assessment requirements and
expenditures.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H094427EE259A4D9B9E7C21F858C4C8AC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Failure To
pay</header><text>Failure to pay the claim maintenance fee as required by
subsection (a) shall conclusively constitute a forfeiture of the unpatented
mining claim, mill or tunnel site by the claimant and the claim shall be deemed
null and void by operation of law.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H51FC1FF967C148659FC17F68B1A0BB1F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Other
requirements</header>
<paragraph id="HC8AAE54171CB49C5A9E88FF5A6C252E9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Nothing in this
section shall change or modify the requirements of section 314(b) of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1744">43 U.S.C. 1744(b)</external-xref>), or the
requirements of section 314(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (43 U.S.C.
1744(c)) related to filings required by section 314(b), which
remain in effect.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA18B1D88D3924799941F40C48391CD54"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 2324 of
the Revised Statutes of the United States (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28">30 U.S.C. 28</external-xref>) is amended by inserting
<quote>or section 103(a) of the <short-title>Mining Reform
and Deficit Reduction Act of 2013</short-title></quote> after <quote>Act of
1993,</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HD51AA72EB1224AD79337D75DC7F4A0DA"><enum>113.</enum><header>Effect of
payments for use and occupancy of claims</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Timely payment of the claim maintenance fee
required by section 112 of this title or any related law relating to the use of
Federal land, preserves the claimant’s ability to use and occupy the Federal
land concerned for prospecting and exploration, consistent with and subject to
the requirements of this title and other applicable law.</text>
</section><section id="HB45D43A8D2194DF4B086E2BA4EB6699D"><enum>114.</enum><header>Limitation on
patents</header>
<subsection id="H32CCABB12207438595A8EC9A115AB6F8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Mining
claims</header>
<paragraph id="H8CC3A2EF5206480AB7812F90BB8D2E90"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Determinations
required</header><text>After the date of enactment of this Act, no patent shall
be issued by the United States for any mining claim located under the general
mining laws unless the Secretary determines that, for the claim
concerned—</text>
<subparagraph id="H8A3AEAFE057240C1A18F3919AE30746E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a patent
application was filed with the Secretary on or before September 30, 1994;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF5F2E0A999EC4FE0B7E48B5BB86B101F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all requirements
established under sections 2325 and 2326 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 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.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA580027F1E9E482F95096F5D6DC8A995"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Right to
patent</header><text>If the Secretary makes the determinations referred to in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) 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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDB3092322C6F4E63B2AA476A4F377124"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Millsite
claims</header>
<paragraph id="HE989FE4D01254284A59DCDB8D4F5350B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Determinations
required</header><text>After the date of enactment of this Act, no patent shall
be issued by the United States for any millsite claim located under the general
mining laws unless the Secretary determines that for the millsite
concerned—</text>
<subparagraph id="H38F967B694DD49C4B0FF7D3C4FEDDE51"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a patent
application for such land was filed with the Secretary on or before September
30, 1994; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7E34873CA0FB4EEF89C16AB26A9F3A28"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all requirements
applicable to such patent application were fully complied with by that
date.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE5106694C94640D883F9F939B3634509"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Right to
patent</header><text>If the Secretary makes the determinations referred to in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) for any millsite 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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H4FA0879412434D91B7C716D173B2D274"><enum>B</enum><header>Protection of
Special Places</header>
<section id="H6D3633F4026147589158D83125BBD3D3"><enum>121.</enum><header>Lands open to
location</header>
<subsection id="H81B01787176B418D9DAC8F0A2C536284"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Lands open to
location</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (b), mining claims may
be located under the general mining laws only on such lands and interests as
were open to the location of mining claims under the general mining laws
immediately before the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H32D281065D444CCAB71AB059005BDC91"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Lands not open
to location</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law and
subject to valid existing rights, each of the following shall not be open to
the location of mining claims under the general mining laws on or after the
date of enactment of this Act:</text>
<paragraph id="H05AA6397088145F2AC4F7742730930E9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Wilderness study
areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD59EF494A1694F41B30EB51BBF2E28AD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Areas of critical
environmental concern.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC70E22EB477E418CBD587E1BD9419C42"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Areas designated
for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System pursuant to the
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1271">16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.</external-xref>), areas
designated for potential addition to such system pursuant to section 5(a) of
that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1276">16 U.S.C. 1276(a)</external-xref>), and areas determined to be eligible for inclusion
in such system pursuant to section 5(d) of such Act (16 U.S.C.
1276(d)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H938245D9330C4C71AB710D4AC5CD8C0D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Any area
identified in the set of inventoried roadless areas maps contained in the
Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation Final Environmental Impact Statement,
Volume 2, dated November 2000.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H40DB3B1DA01E4E01BA415059988C7F5A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Existing
authority not affected</header><text>Nothing in this title limits the authority
granted the Secretary in section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1714) to withdraw public lands.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H4EE900F9D1F04F739E8CBDCB6E092B06"><enum>122.</enum><header>Withdrawal
petitions by States, political subdivisions, and Indian tribes</header>
<subsection id="H8AFA8988DDED409AA0C45ABA3A4F12D9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to valid existing rights, any State or political
subdivision of a State or an Indian tribe may submit a petition to the
Secretary for the withdrawal of a specific tract of Federal land from the
operation of the general mining laws, in order to protect specific values
identified in the petition that are important to the State or political
subdivision or Indian tribe. Such values may include the value of a watershed
to supply drinking water, wildlife habitat value, cultural or historic
resources, or value for scenic vistas important to the local economy, and other
similar values. In the case of an Indian tribe, the petition may also identify
religious or cultural values that are important to the Indian tribe. The
petition shall contain the information required by section 204 of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1714">43 U.S.C. 1714</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5724DF82CC8D45409F50D3659180C8AE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consideration of
petition</header><text>The Secretary—</text>
<paragraph id="HF408A366F6B3466FBEF3B8A95935CFAC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall solicit
public comment on the petition;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H76B1FE68E905437594EDD3859505EDB9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall make a final
decision on the petition within 180 days after receiving it; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9F7715FAC4B84DA4ACFD2EA378C458B4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>shall grant the
petition subject to valid existing rights, unless the Secretary makes and
publishes in the Federal Register specific findings why a decision to grant the
petition would be against the national interest.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H5120DB026E934E5EBFBCAA0001A183BF"><enum>C</enum><header>Environmental
Considerations of Mineral Exploration and Development</header>
<section id="HAF560AAADEC24ECB83FA9EF2AFFCEBD7"><enum>131.</enum><header>General
standard for hardrock mining on Federal land</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding section 302(b) of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1732">43 U.S.C. 1732(b)</external-xref>), the first
section of the Act of June 4, 1897 (chapter 2; 30 Stat. 36
16 U.S.C.
478), and the National Forest Management Act of 1976
(16 U.S.C. 1600 et
seq.), and in accordance with this subtitle and applicable law,
unless expressly stated otherwise in this title, the Secretary—</text>
<paragraph id="H7F3B981133314D93AE4A5D3BA4AD927B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall ensure that
mineral activities on any Federal land that is subject to a mining claim,
millsite claim, or tunnel site claim is carefully controlled to prevent undue
degradation of public lands and resources; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H52E72225FEED4471B4E30C3AF565FF5B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall not grant
permission to engage in mineral activities if the Secretary, after considering
the evidence, determines that undue degradation would result from such
activities.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HC6C7DD1AD51F49C28682542344C76182"><enum>132.</enum><header>Permits</header>
<subsection id="H9B42BF76C4144516AC82A68658ABAF4F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Permits
required</header><text>No person may engage in mineral activities on Federal
land that may cause a disturbance of surface resources, including land, air,
ground water and surface water, and fish and wildlife, unless—</text>
<paragraph id="HAEAA02E805BE4B2B9D17185480425015"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the claim was
properly located under the general mining laws and maintained in compliance
with such laws and this title; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAEBA13BFC5564FBA963948542D8F8C90"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a
permit was issued to such person under this subtitle authorizing such
activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H51689504E3514DAF830008FBE29BE8E3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Negligible
disturbance</header><text>Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2), a permit under
this subtitle shall not be required for mineral activities that are a casual
use of the Federal land.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA333F8A0CCE247B7B114B4B2CC1695D7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Coordination
with NEPA process</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture
shall conduct the permit processes under this title in coordination with the
timing and other requirements under section 102 of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HD104C4A0C9C0487692E0E6659F8093E1"><enum>133.</enum><header>Exploration
permit</header>
<subsection id="H5BD6641943BE4C6A8E43FB66640BD902"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorized
exploration activity</header><text>Any claim holder may apply for an
exploration permit for any mining claim authorizing the claim holder to remove
a reasonable amount of the locatable minerals from the claim for analysis,
study and testing. Such permit shall not authorize 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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H20AB14A5A5F046518EF16EBB1DDF3D13"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Permit
Application requirements</header><text>An application 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 Agriculture, and shall
contain an exploration plan, a reclamation plan for the proposed exploration,
and such documentation as necessary to ensure compliance with applicable
Federal and State environmental laws and regulations.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEE4AEC3127834410A2B73171C1FE2039"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reclamation plan
requirements</header><text>The reclamation plan required to be included in a
permit application under subsection (b) shall include such provisions as may be
jointly prescribed by the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9275435B9BC84F198988B579701F8602"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Permit issuance
or denial</header><text>The Secretary, or for National Forest System lands, the
Secretary of Agriculture, shall issue an exploration permit pursuant to an
application under this section unless such Secretary makes any of the following
determinations:</text>
<paragraph id="HE4D3CA1426154AF2BB36D0324D4FC746"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The permit
application, the exploration plan and reclamation plan are not complete and
accurate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3A27863374F34F42B2E84B6110E2CE31"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The applicant has
not demonstrated that proposed reclamation can be accomplished.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCAD15990E5F54368A37CE963A6777E7C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The proposed
exploration activities and condition of the land after the completion of
exploration activities and final reclamation would not conform with the land
use plan applicable to the area subject to mineral activities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8E52D901E00C42B886CCF21D0FBD26EA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The area subject
to the proposed permit is included within an area not open to location under
section 121.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H94BA2881FBA24CE1844250E61AD4353F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The applicant has
not demonstrated that the exploration plan and reclamation plan will be in
compliance with the requirements of this title and all other applicable Federal
requirements, and any State requirements agreed to by the Secretary of the
Interior (or Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4FA5815E42D446F180CB2C6A3ED729A8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The applicant has
not demonstrated that the requirements of section 136 (relating to financial
assurance) will be met.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE74DA35D6045431CB61FF5C7525C2643"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The applicant is
ineligible to receive a permit as determined under section 135.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4475013B36664F7C992B37E26BEF8CE6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Term of
permit</header><text>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 10 years.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0DA191F520F64B4D968D29AE8B3FFD12"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Permit
modification</header><text>During the term of an exploration permit, the permit
holder may submit an application to modify the permit. To approve a proposed
modification 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 Secretary of Agriculture may specify by joint rule the
extent to which requirements for initial exploration permits under this section
shall apply to applications to modify an exploration permit based on whether
such modifications are deemed significant or minor.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H18A50A91B6344088A057FCE9F0E68EF6"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Transfer,
assignment, or sale of rights</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBBE90D722BB848B98185C68B172C3025"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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 Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6A7A1683EB154D3C9E1E0DE04DA937A5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Such Secretary
shall allow a person holding a permit to transfer, assign, or sell rights under
the permit to a successor, if the Secretary finds, in writing, that the
successor—</text>
<subparagraph id="H15302EE44CA44946BBBBA98EAA728BD9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is eligible to
receive a permit in accordance with section 134(d);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H35284F0C8CAB4B429CE3E28EAA839DF4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has submitted
evidence of financial assurance satisfactory under section 136; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4542A386D444471F98CC2D7F1C8E2BFA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>meets any other
requirements specified by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7DF11E23AE9F462895B7CB8617BA3094"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The successor in
interest shall assume the liability and reclamation responsibilities
established by the existing permit and shall conduct the mineral activities in
full compliance with this title, and the terms and conditions of the permit as
in effect at the time of transfer, assignment, or sale.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H658633FD8D23425596BA6AE72A2F7D56"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Each application
for approval of a permit transfer, 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 Agriculture, as appropriate, of reviewing and approving or
disapproving such transfer, assignment, or sale, as determined by the Secretary
of the Interior.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H90347CCE4BFC4EEC839EED60B73202D1"><enum>134.</enum><header>Operations
permit</header>
<subsection id="HE9DD96F1769D41DFAAD7DED8A9F5062E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Operations
permit</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF7F69F3B79834BB2959DC3F0DA13847C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any claim holder
that is in compliance with the general mining laws and section 113 of this
title may apply to the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands, the
Secretary of Agriculture, for an operations permit authorizing the claim holder
to carry out mineral activities, other than casual use, on—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6D279D6BBFBB46F7AB85333D7FF7FC4C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any valid mining
claim, valid millsite claim, or valid tunnel site claim; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9413B09307434D58BAFCC8EB5675E6C1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such additional
Federal land as the Secretary may determine is necessary to conduct the
proposed mineral activities, if the operator obtains a right-of-way permit for
use of such additional lands under title V of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1761">43 U.S.C. 1761 et seq.</external-xref>) and agrees
to pay all fees required under that title for the permit under that
title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H14731B1602C04F188900D0ACF601E7DC" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If the Secretary decides to issue
such permit, the permit shall include such terms and conditions as prescribed
by such Secretary to carry out this subtitle.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5A146FB641204123BA054EEBBD9FDA89"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Permit
Application requirements</header><text>An application for an operations permit
under this section shall be submitted in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary
concerned and shall contain site characterization data, an operations plan, a
reclamation plan, monitoring plans, long-term maintenance plans, to the extent
necessary, and such documentation as necessary to ensure compliance with
applicable Federal and State environmental laws and regulations. If the
proposed mineral activities will be carried out in conjunction with mineral
activities on adjacent non-Federal lands, information on the location and
nature of such operations may be required by the Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB05508D96A084186AAAD7F345F1E4AF7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Permit issuance
or denial</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H605E4D1A793B4DE6AA1CCC5CBFE8BC7C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>After providing
for public participation pursuant to subsection (i), the Secretary, or for
National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall issue an
operations permit if such Secretary makes each of the following determinations
in writing, and shall deny a permit if such Secretary finds that the
application and applicant do not fully meet the following requirements:</text>
<subparagraph id="H066F82D15A2C42BAB54B610A183327E9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The permit
application, including the site characterization data, operations plan, and
reclamation plan, are complete and accurate and sufficient for developing a
good understanding of the anticipated impacts of the mineral activities and the
effectiveness of proposed mitigation and control.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6DFE6501F781400496C2029511800F1D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The applicant has
demonstrated that the proposed reclamation in the operation and reclamation
plan can be and is likely to be accomplished by the applicant and will not
cause undue degradation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3ACB0EB0B2C4B248A6AE86A3117CDF1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The condition of
the land, including the fish and wildlife resources and habitat contained
thereon, after the completion of mineral activities and final reclamation, will
conform to the land use plan applicable to the area subject to mineral
activities and are returned to a productive use.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8CEF3AB8766146FDB2C8F62928E320A8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The area subject
to the proposed plan is open to location for the types of mineral activities
proposed.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE94561753BDB41AFAFA4EB46EA59779C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The proposed
operation has been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic
balance.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H575B1FEAF0164D24983CCA15C8B8D94D"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The applicant will
fully comply with the requirements of section 136 (relating to financial
assurance) prior to the initiation of operations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDB1EB7AA805E45CFB66F7BC83F6B6C1D"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Neither the
applicant nor operator, nor any subsidiary, affiliate, or person controlled by
or under common control with the applicant or operator, is ineligible to
receive a permit under section 135.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCBB8062EFEBF4D85BAA585CE2A7ADD58"><enum>(H)</enum><text>The reclamation
plan demonstrates that 10 years following mine closure, no treatment of surface
or ground water will be required to meet water quality standards at the point
of discharge.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA1A1DD68830348CABB702FA49C21A165"><enum>(2)</enum><text>With respect to
any activities specified in the reclamation plan referred to in subsection (b)
that constitutes a removal or remedial action under section 101 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C. 9601 et
seq.), the Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency prior to the issuance of an operations
permit. The Administrator shall ensure that the reclamation plan does not
require activities that would increase the costs or likelihood of removal or
remedial actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/9601">42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.</external-xref>) or
corrective actions under the Solid Waste Disposal Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/6901">42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC160D51CEDDB4B4AB5C3682AD04119A4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Term of permit;
renewal</header>
<paragraph id="HC409E91ED1384BDCBDFA4501C9099550"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An operations
permit—</text>
<subparagraph id="H04EE200D0315450593E0452BA44847AE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be for a
term that is no longer than the shorter of—</text>
<clause id="H7A605CF7E94A40FE966B7AA3083B28B9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
period necessary to accomplish the proposed mineral activities subject to the
permit; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H8C904200FC794408BDCED96D966F83C0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>20
years; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3587B88FA3E4DD29CC39AB6F298881C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be renewed
for an additional 20-year period if the operation is in compliance with the
requirements of this title and other applicable law.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1C5668CF9BDE4175B06B292339E03A61"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Failure by the
operator to commence mineral activities within 2 years of the date scheduled in
an operations permit shall require a modification of the permit if the
Secretary concerned determines that modifications are necessary to comply with
section 121.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7455FA90E5644765B269BECA7410C0DE"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Permit
modification</header>
<paragraph id="H0CB8DF591C804E4EB00A46D5302A5CE9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>During the term of
an operations permit the operator may submit an application to modify the
permit (including the operations plan or reclamation plan, or both).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE91BF57885DB4D6DA425B1CC34DC080C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may, at any
time, require reasonable modification to any operations plan or reclamation
plan upon a determination that the requirements of this title cannot be met if
the plan is followed as approved. Such determination shall be based on a
written finding and subject to public notice and hearing requirements
established by the Secretary concerned.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0EF2A8BE5EBF4541BFD477C25A0D9170"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A
permit modification is required before changes are made to the approved plan of
operations, or if unanticipated events or conditions exist on the mine site,
including in the case of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H8A483194848E4994A636CD84546A1E2F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>development of
acid or toxic drainage;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB44783320CF545739F9E59219064A5B9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>loss of springs or
water supplies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B8A5A34D2D24E5C82BDDCCA5E9291D3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>water quantity,
water quality, or other resulting water impacts that are significantly
different than those predicted in the application;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1D8A894EC67A4E189357B44CC4209058"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the need for
long-term water treatment;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8651E5B9A072478FA833DD3731F58310"><enum>(E)</enum><text>significant
reclamation difficulties or reclamation failure;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB102D5BF0F0A4969B400AF897D1382CF"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the discovery of
significant scientific, cultural, or biological resources that were not
addressed in the original plan; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3036EB0362B049A884206DE593134AAC"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the discovery of
hazards to public safety.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFFF946948C1F4D9A975C83464AAC7C85"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Temporary
cessation of operations</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2ED26C82DBBE4209BCBF8AE95357F09C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An operator
conducting mineral activities under an operations permit in effect under this
subtitle may not temporarily cease mineral activities for a period greater than
180 days unless the Secretary concerned has approved such temporary cessation
or unless the temporary cessation is permitted under the original permit. Any
operator temporarily ceasing mineral activities for a period greater than 90
days under an operations permit issued before the date of the enactment of this
Act shall submit, before the expiration of such 90-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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H115095EAC5D34386B05FEEE4E1594FFC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An application for
approval of temporary cessation of operations shall include such information
required under subsection (b) and any other provisions prescribed by the
Secretary concerned to minimize impacts on the environment. After receipt of a
complete application for temporary cessation of operations such Secretary shall
conduct an inspection of the area for which temporary cessation of operations
has been requested.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H81D2C0A7F93548829BADF051FBAAA623"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To approve an
application for temporary cessation of operations, the Secretary concerned
shall make each of the following determinations:</text>
<subparagraph id="HFF6242EA0CCD443382C247F838EC3DA7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A determination
that the methods for securing surface facilities and restricting access to the
permit area, or relevant portions thereof, will effectively ensure against
hazards to the health and safety of the public and fish and wildlife.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF638846E3B2440CBF7EF86D1D7FD4B1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A determination
that reclamation is in compliance with the approved reclamation plan, except in
those areas specifically designated in the application for temporary cessation
of operations for which a delay in meeting such standards is necessary to
facilitate the resumption of operations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6D62A312FA8B482A9D6834A50AF18C1D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A determination
that the amount of financial assurance filed with the permit application is
sufficient to assure completion of the reclamation activities identified in the
approved reclamation plan in the event of forfeiture.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84AC434846C14A9E831E582298EBDEBC"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A determination
that any outstanding notices of violation and cessation orders incurred in
connection with the plan for which temporary cessation 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.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC09829D6FED84458AA8675F6E6244E31"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Permit
reviews</header><text>The Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the
Secretary of Agriculture, shall review each permit issued under this section
every 10 years during the term of such permit, shall provide public notice of
the permit review, and, based upon a written finding, such Secretary shall
require the operator to take such actions as the Secretary deems necessary to
assure that mineral activities conform to the permit, including adjustment of
financial assurance requirements.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1C4004F15F914A05A86430189E9CCB7C"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Transfer,
assignment, or sale of rights</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC5394550A9574703821DAF288FCBA342"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD35E229F070F4E4C985514E5F904E732"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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 writing, that the successor—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9A4B1E13F7B945B6BF27DFEAD81FC5D3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has submitted
information required and is eligible to receive a permit in accordance with
section 135;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6AE509B5CF2445E99BCA18866F706228"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has submitted
evidence of financial assurance satisfactory under section 136; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA57B79DCB2524A54985FA32A9B127EB2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>meets any other
requirements specified by such Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3D5E408DAD5A44708164D321C020EF27"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The successor in
interest shall assume reclamation and other responsibilities established by the
existing permit and shall conduct the mineral activities in full compliance
with this title, and the terms and conditions of the permit as in effect at the
time of transfer, assignment, or sale.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC48788383569444D955D1AD8454FFB9E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Each application
for approval of a permit transfer, assignment, or sale pursuant to this
subsection shall be accompanied by a fee payable to the Secretary of the
Interior, or for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, in
such amount as may be established by such Secretary, or for National Forest
System lands, by the Secretary of Agriculture. Such amount shall be equal to
the actual or anticipated cost to the Secretary or, for National Forest System
lands, to the Secretary of Agriculture, of reviewing and approving or
disapproving such transfer, assignment, or sale, as determined by such
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9A6CB5E08BFC4267B43CE266C1A64473"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Public
participation</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture shall jointly promulgate regulations to ensure transparency and
public participation in permit decisions required under this title, consistent
with any requirements that apply to such decisions under section 102 of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H92D1C8CE20734FD7B8F335BCB242908D"><enum>135.</enum><header>Persons
ineligible for permits</header>
<subsection id="HAB40966D18634936989711CCA93E5746"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Current
violations</header><text>Unless corrective action has been taken in accordance
with subsection (c), no permit under this subtitle 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 applicant) of the claim concerned, or any
affiliate or officer or director of the applicant is currently in violation of
any of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H436DE4E9D9C240B2A7D4693753BE7B01"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A
provision of this title or any regulation under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H88923F0292C048B0B92DE8D5FD343A0F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An applicable
State or Federal 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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB462042042E8448CB939D1CC2A3E6C89"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1201">30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.</external-xref>) or any
regulation implementing that Act at any site where surface coal mining
operations have occurred or are occurring.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H06E69770FF5F4F95880BFAF49531737F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Suspension</header><text>The
Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture,
shall suspend 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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEE805736BE944A099AE62E80B8A39295"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Correction</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66CF8861BEB641B3A06A278478709903"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, may issue or
reinstate a permit under this subtitle 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 and the
regulatory authority involved or if the applicant submits proof that the
violator has filed and is presently pursuing, a direct administrative or
judicial appeal 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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAD00D4FF36CA458D8ABCAC096E684E08"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any permit which
is issued or reinstated based upon proof submitted under this subsection shall
be conditionally 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 suspended or revoked.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC76B950066F4443CA28C9BDCD1221638"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Pattern of
willful violations</header><text>No permit under this title may be issued to
any applicant if there is a demonstrated pattern of willful violations of the
environmental protection requirements of this title by the applicant, any
affiliate of the applicant, or the operator or claim holder if different than
the applicant.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H50291F62E12E487890EFFF0CD43BA672"><enum>136.</enum><header>Financial
assurance</header>
<subsection id="H9EFD0D47491441ABBCBDAABACBF7010C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Financial
assurance required</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13009C8757EF41B3B3E4A83BA6EB8BD8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Subject to public
notice and comment, and after a permit is issued under this subtitle and before
any exploration or operations begin under the permit, the operator shall file
with the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of
Agriculture, evidence of financial assurance payable to the United States. The
financial assurance shall be provided in the form of a surety bond, a trust
fund, letters of credits, government securities, certificates of deposit, cash,
or an equivalent form approved by such Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3F53E86CD5F143B6B996F312D7AFC013"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The financial
assurance shall cover all lands within the initial permit area and all affected
waters that may require restoration, treatment, or other management as a result
of mineral activities, and shall be extended to cover all lands and waters
added pursuant to any permit modification made under section 133(f) (relating
to exploration permits) or section 134(e) (relating to operations permits), or
affected by mineral activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEB7D1987BD8C43279AE89A6A2202577F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amount</header><text>The
amount of the financial assurance required under this section shall be
sufficient to assure the completion of reclamation and restoration satisfying
the requirements of this title if the work were to be performed by the
Secretary concerned in the event of forfeiture, including the construction and
maintenance costs for any treatment facilities necessary to meet Federal and
State environmental requirements. The calculation of such amount shall take
into account the maximum level of financial exposure which shall arise during
the mineral activity and administrative costs associated with a government
agency reclaiming the site.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBA623354FDF64195979283D9EAFE3606"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>The
financial assurance required under this section shall be held for the duration
of the mineral activities and for an additional period to cover the operator’s
responsibility for reclamation, restoration, and long-term maintenance, and
effluent treatment as specified in subsection (g).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H990712C644344239AD6DEA96B3B2B9C8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Adjustments</header><text>The
amount of the financial assurance 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 decreased, or where the costs of
reclamation or treatment change, or pursuant to section 134(f) (relating to
temporary cessation of operations), but the financial assurance shall otherwise
be in compliance with this section. The Secretary concerned shall review the
financial guarantee every 3 years and as part of the permit application review
under section 134(c).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBDDE7FC342A8412F98F65B470A86AD5A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Release</header><text>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 consultation 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:</text>
<paragraph id="H64DDB2AF5CF04266AC86B17258909F2C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A
determination that reclamation or restoration covered by the financial
assurance has been accomplished as required by this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCFD4DEF972654528818372ED946BE54B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A
determination that the terms and conditions of any other applicable Federal
requirements, and State requirements applicable pursuant to cooperative
agreements under section 138, have been fulfilled.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC8DA8B77085B45BF8346307704BB5D40"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Release
schedule</header><text>The release referred to in subsection (e) shall be
according to the following schedule:</text>
<paragraph id="H6940C73777E74EA4AE0539ED410C6BA7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>After the operator
has completed any required backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of an
area subject to mineral activities and covered by the financial assurance, and
has commenced revegetation on the regraded areas subject to mineral activities
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 except that sufficient assurance must
be retained to address other required reclamation and restoration needs and to
assure the long-term success of the revegetation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAB903A5FB9EC41F6A6EB6E81B2FF8151"><enum>(2)</enum><text>After the operator
has completed successfully all remaining mineral activities and reclamation
activities and all requirements of the operations plan and the reclamation
plan, and all other requirements of this title have been fully met, including
the requirements of subsection (g) of this section, the remaining portion of
the financial assurance may be released.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">During the
period following release of the financial assurance 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 subtitle.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="H48AA28DB50CF4F48836D43ABCBFC6947"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Effluent</header><text>Notwithstanding
section 137(b)(4), where any discharge or other water-related condition
resulting from the mineral activities requires treatment in order to meet the
applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards, the financial
assurance shall include the estimated cost of maintaining such treatment for
the projected period that will be needed after the cessation of mineral
activities. The portion of the financial assurance attributable to such
estimated cost of treatment shall not be released until the discharge has
ceased for a period of 5 years, as determined by ongoing monitoring and
testing, or, if the discharge continues, until the operator has met all
applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards for 5 full years
without treatment.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBC8BDF658D47434D9E27CE915906266E"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Environmental
hazards</header><text>If the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands,
the Secretary of Agriculture, determines, after final release of financial
assurance, that an environmental hazard resulting from the mineral activities
exists, or the terms and conditions of the explorations or operations permit of
this title were not fulfilled in fact at the time of release, such Secretary
shall issue an order under section 146 requiring the claim holder or operator
(or any person who controls the claim holder or operator) to correct the
condition such that applicable laws and regulations and any conditions from the
plan of operations are met.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HBA37B529A0054940AC04290FCF30813F"><enum>137.</enum><header>Operation and
reclamation</header>
<subsection id="H984546213F6D4BD8BD4B9881E0485606"><enum>(a)</enum><header>General
rule</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5B70BD08962E407BB6C7EFDF46C44730"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The operator shall
restore lands subject to mineral activities carried out under a permit issued
under this subtitle to a condition capable of supporting—</text>
<subparagraph id="H165302A9DC424A78AB42B93E93CF68CF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the uses which
such lands were capable of supporting prior to surface disturbance by the
operator, or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5240DFF05F2244058C7E97C5F86EF30A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>other beneficial
uses which conform to applicable land use plans as determined by the Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5A557A78AA7748B9BFE3F99CEB5B5341"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Reclamation shall
proceed as contemporaneously as practicable with the conduct of mineral
activities. In the case of a cessation of mineral activities beyond that
provided for as a temporary cessation under this title, reclamation activities
shall begin immediately.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF8CBAC0C6A424F4FA242C8E70D492EA0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Operation and
reclamation standards</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly promulgate regulations that establish
operation and reclamation standards for mineral activities permitted under this
title. The Secretaries may determine whether outcome-based performance
standards or technology-based design standards are most appropriate. The
regulations shall address the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HE2104486546E47BA89265BDA940768D9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Segregation,
protection, and replacement of topsoil or other suitable growth medium, and the
prevention, where possible, of soil contamination.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H309368FB0DBA4B6BA74BEAD6B9B4A4CD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Maintenance of the
stability of all surface areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6C3B7CAD3BF44977811B5D0AB6B8BBA4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Control of
sediments to prevent erosion and manage drainage.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0E032F25503C4E3DB1277E849C8376C0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Minimization of
the formation and migration of acidic, alkaline, metal-bearing, or other
deleterious leachate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H86AB3791DA5C46658EAE43BC89E385DA"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Reduction of the
visual impact of mineral activities to the surrounding topography, including as
necessary pit backfill.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H60526C0DEA8A4AC38700874609687FC4"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Establishment of a
diverse, effective, and permanent vegetative cover of the same seasonal variety
native to the area affected by mineral activities, and equal in extent of cover
to the natural vegetation of the area.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0B2B466F01304B8480D116C96BDA2B52"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Design and
maintenance of leach operations, impoundments, and excess waste according to
standard engineering standards to achieve and maintain stability and
reclamation of the site.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9285BB699CB8495F9B8E50E52C8E212E"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Removal of
structures and roads and sealing of drill holes.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB001EC2DC0CB4E97B06D664F214D3686"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Restoration of, or
mitigation for, fish and wildlife habitat disturbed by mineral
activities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAF45F0C0D98242ECB40F859D309CFFE9"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Preservation of
cultural, paleontological, and cave resources.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H07457F75EE6F422E8C1775AE79D7FD8E"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Prevention and
suppression of fire in the area of mineral activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H85C2383441A645E9ABBA90596DAEF095"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Surface or
groundwater withdrawals</header><text>The Secretary shall work with State and
local governments with authority over the allocation and use of surface and
groundwater in the area around the mine site as necessary to ensure that any
surface or groundwater withdrawals made as a result of mining activities
approved under this section do not cause undue degradation or results in
material alteration of the hydrologic balance.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HFF106180B36640BCB5E866857A847149"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Special
rule</header><text>Reclamation activities for a mining claim that has been
forfeited, relinquished, or lapsed, or a plan that has expired or been revoked
or suspended, shall continue subject to review and approval by the Secretary,
or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H4DAF98D4A5174EFC9A73FDDEEE24B4DE"><enum>138.</enum><header>State law and
regulation</header>
<subsection id="H11A34DD0882E4FA7BC15B02267DD6BE1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>State
law</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D64EEB7A6D44815AF5F487677F137E1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any reclamation,
land use, environmental, or public health protection standard or requirement in
State, county, local, or tribal law or regulation that meets or exceeds the
requirements of this title shall not be construed to be inconsistent with any
such standard.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8C1C782FA24C4C1D9A51E8B6A0176553"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any bonding
standard or requirement in State, county, local, or tribal law or regulation
that meets or exceeds the requirements of this title shall not be construed to
be inconsistent with such requirements.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAC8BEDD89EB64F2BB4368717898C0CC5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Any inspection
standard or requirement in State, county, local, or tribal law or regulation
that meets or exceeds the requirements of this title shall not be construed to
be inconsistent with such requirements.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H132336312EBC4A8CB184396BC2DEF0C3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability of
other State requirements</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H517C8656713C45F59A144A066F001FAF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Nothing in this
title shall be construed as affecting any toxic substance, solid waste, or air
or water quality, standard or requirement of any State, county, local, or
tribal law or regulation, which may be applicable to mineral activities on
lands subject to this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9CB73BCB04FC4F2D936A4C9584CD8691"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Nothing in this
title 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
resources affected by mineral activities on lands subject to this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H52082FC0ABAD43B2AC3797A6CBEC2453"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative
agreements</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD7F95501E0C34A0FAA31DB8028484613"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any State may
enter into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary, 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
title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB1DE125020354CC092E2819143DC1003"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In such instances
where the proposed mineral activities would affect lands not subject to this
title in addition to lands subject to this title, 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 requirements of this title for the purposes of such plan of operations. Any
such common regulatory framework shall not negate the authority of the Federal
Government to independently inspect mines and operations and bring enforcement
actions for violations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7AD884F34B074C8881ED4958EF6F372D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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 and hearing.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8FF70E68E6E14A2185F9878ADF4B6F8D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Prior
agreements</header><text>Any cooperative agreement or such other understanding
between the Secretary concerned and any State, or political subdivision
thereof, relating to the management of mineral activities on lands subject to
this title that was in existence on the date of enactment of this Act may only
continue in force until 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. During
such 1-year period, the State and the Secretary shall review the terms of the
agreement and make changes that are necessary to be consistent with this
title.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H1FA43657FFEA458D9595E1ABF2BB8EEE"><enum>139.</enum><header>Limitation on
the issuance of permits</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">No
permit shall be issued under this subtitle that authorizes mineral activities
that would impair the land or resources of a National Park or a National
Monument. For purposes of this section, the term <term>impair</term> shall
include any diminution of the affected land including wildlife, scenic assets,
water resources, air quality, and acoustic qualities, or other changes that
would impair a citizen’s experience at the National Park or National
Monument.</text>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="H2006BFE9EDDE42DA8FEC3A42607B654D"><enum>D</enum><header>Administrative and
Miscellaneous Provisions</header>
<section id="H318D4473DD1147468B73C6D517C49DA1"><enum>141.</enum><header>Policy
functions</header>
<subsection id="HA83531D61D0B4090A869FD4AD7239C4F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Minerals
policy</header><text>Section 101 of the Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970
(30 U.S.C.
21a) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HBF50B40246344CEEB7F53BAC21F37BC4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
sentence by inserting before the period at the end the following: <quote>and to
ensure that mineral extraction and processing not cause undue degradation of
the natural and cultural resources of the public lands</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC68ADA805C1642C28A18405277EFCB40"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end thereof the following: <quote>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.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H28C3EE351FE24118870A8CCA1C511AA1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mineral
data</header><text>Section 5(e)(3) of the National Materials and Minerals
Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1604">30 U.S.C. 1604(e)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by
inserting before the period the following: <quote>, 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 public land
use decisionmaking</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H8C4C5D57937941228B8D248130CEB1D1"><enum>142.</enum><header>User
fees</header>
<subsection id="HC08A6D9647294F82AF215B4C4BCFBC79"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture may each
establish and collect from persons subject to the requirements of this title
such user fees as may be necessary to reimburse the United States for expenses
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 administrative expenses referred to in this
section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE7D9A063861A4385A9A207870B3BFEEF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Adjustment</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H977438E05E5A4CFA8293CBE8503A6552"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall adjust the fees required by this section to reflect changes in the
Consumer Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
Department of Labor every 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, or
more frequently if the Secretary determines an adjustment to be
reasonable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4E520290CDEB4635A17C11348B404E8A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall provide claimants notice of any adjustment made under this subsection not
later than July 1 of any year in which the adjustment is made.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H74C12BA69ED84D0DA7F168678DAFD77A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A
fee adjustment under this subsection shall begin to apply the calendar year
following the calendar year in which it is made.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HE3B5713A9C184A1CADEE953C782BB736"><enum>143.</enum><header>Inspection and
monitoring</header>
<subsection id="H054AE491C0BC49C680203162BC22831C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Inspections</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3EDEDE9E73134A50929DC95230BA0D1D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall make
inspections of mineral activities so as to ensure compliance with the
requirements of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFAB7B2487BC448FCAD9CAE64D9EC0F87"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary
concerned shall establish a frequency of inspections for mineral activities
conducted under a permit issued under subtitle C, but in no event shall such
inspection frequency be less than one complete inspection per calendar quarter
or, two per calendar quarter in the case of a permit for which the Secretary
concerned approves an application under section 134(f) (relating to temporary
cessation of operations). After revegetation has been established in accordance
with a reclamation plan, such Secretary shall conduct annually two complete
inspections. 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 assurance.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE06AD64D74134FBEBAF0118BFAA10326"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H6B439514F0034ED48A94D71547D6A098"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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 requirements of a permit approved under
this title may request an inspection. The Secretary, or for National Forest
System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall determine within 10 working
days of receipt of the request whether the request states a reason to believe
that a violation exists. If the person alleges and provides reason to believe
that an imminent threat to the environment or danger to the health or safety of
the public exists, the 10-day period shall be waived and the inspection shall
be conducted immediately. The identity of the person supplying information to
the Secretary relating to a possible violation or imminent danger or harm shall
remain confidential with the Secretary if so requested by that person.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3488AB6701DA48EDA9C1B0AAC996D483" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretaries shall, by joint rule,
establish procedures 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 concerned shall furnish such persons requesting the review a
written statement of the reasons for the Secretary’s final disposition of the
case.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H14407743FCAD423098057087E68E66D2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Monitoring</header>
<paragraph id="HE3898092A8264FC68F0B0D965D04540A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall require
all operators to develop and maintain a monitoring and evaluation system that
shall identify compliance with all requirements of a permit approved under this
title. The Secretary concerned may require additional monitoring to be
conducted as necessary to assure compliance with the reclamation and other
environmental standards of this title. Such plan must be reviewed and approved
by the Secretary and shall become a part of the explorations or operations
permit.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H818A42F8E3474775AB1EFBB686C9193B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The operator shall
file reports with the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the
Secretary of Agriculture, on a frequency determined by the Secretary concerned,
on the results of the monitoring and evaluation process, except that if the
monitoring and evaluation show a violation of the requirements of a permit
approved under this title, it shall be reported immediately to the Secretary
concerned. The Secretary shall evaluate the reports submitted pursuant to this
paragraph, and based on those reports and any necessary inspection shall take
enforcement action pursuant to this section. Such reports shall be maintained
by the operator and by the Secretary and shall be made available to the
public.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCF7392A3462B487CAF219B25EDB5F738"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall determine
what information shall be reported by the operator pursuant to paragraph (2). A
failure to report as required by the Secretary concerned shall constitute a
violation of this title and subject the operator to enforcement action pursuant
to section 146.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H8BD993359B774414A020C27B04DC6452"><enum>144.</enum><header>Citizens
suits</header>
<subsection id="HD2DE32EC2BD14088865DD7F56D2C4413"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (b), any person may
commence a civil action on his or her own behalf to compel compliance—</text>
<paragraph id="H5466BF2E94A24C8A80E3A1DEFCCEB4BC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>against any person
(including the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture) who is alleged to be
in violation of any of the provisions of this title or any regulation
promulgated pursuant to subtitle C of this title or any term or condition of
any permit issued under subtitle C of this title; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H997F601D75A34DC5B63A3D8D5480F969"><enum>(2)</enum><text>against the
Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture where there is alleged a failure of
such Secretary to perform any act or duty under this title, or to promulgate
any regulation under this title, which is not within the discretion of the
Secretary concerned.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">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 title.
The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to compel
agency action unreasonably delayed.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="HBCEA8BDD263D4E38B251B677766102A5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exceptions</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H097023481B434CB0BCC02B2259075D64"><enum>(1)</enum><text>No action may be
commenced under subsection (a) before the end of the 60-day period beginning on
the date the plaintiff has given notice in writing of such alleged violation to
the alleged violator and the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the
Secretary 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 environment or to the health or safety of the
public.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6468B98B72FE4386AE66E6CCE78C466C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCA0DDF64A5B742E7B7FB6B063ABD80C3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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 any provision of law at any time after such promulgation, issuance, or
denial is final.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H37F6A48C4DB444B7B79B2BE5BBD261F0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Venue</header><text>Venue
of all actions brought under this section shall be determined in accordance
with section
1391 of title 28, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H604AE577466D412388242F516AB8663D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Costs</header><text>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 or substantially prevailing party whenever the court
determines such award is appropriate. The court may, if a temporary 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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H72BA5589B2C9496C9A4EB350203E5686"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Savings
clause</header><text>Nothing in this section shall restrict any right which any
person (or class of persons) may have under
chapter
7 of title 5, United States Code, under this section, 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 violation of this title or of any regulation or
permit issued under this title or for any failure to act as required by law.
Nothing in this section shall affect the jurisdiction of any court under any
provision of title 28, United States Code, including any action for any
violation of this title or of any regulation or permit issued under this title
or for any failure to act as required by law.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HF65A1923835145B0920B6AC3907568A7"><enum>145.</enum><header>Administrative
and judicial review</header>
<subsection id="HFDD5CA9C72C64B0391F0C8ADE4D8470B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Review by
secretary</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5133A689FC294E72B1C3C14412BBF878"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HDEDBDA1F3A4D42258E02F91EBB505F82"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Any person issued a
notice of violation or cessation order under section 146, 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.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8741BDB73A2F4B70899980A740E45F73" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Any person who is subject to a penalty
assessed under section 146 may apply to the Secretary concerned for review of
the assessment.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB07537F9EDD24186ABD091C28A17CB5A" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Any person may apply to such Secretary
for review of the decision.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H40F02A609BBB456986B5DD81F5BB51FE" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Pending a review by the Secretary or
resolution of an administrative appeal, final decisions (except enforcement
actions under section 146) shall be stayed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEFFA1B99468F4362BDA81E1C3DAC04D4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary
concerned shall provide an opportunity 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 section 146.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5A71EAEA18254F94B18AFB3AE016E176"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3031EAEF54914FE48482996082065C2D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Pending completion
of any review proceedings under this subsection, the applicant may file with
the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of
Agriculture, a written request that the Secretary grant temporary relief from
any order issued under section 146 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 conditions as he or she may prescribe only if such
relief shall not adversely affect the health or safety of the public or cause
imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H96FDF37B352A4CEC97E52665DBB6945E"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The availability
of review under this subsection shall not be construed to limit the operation
of rights under section 144 (relating to citizen suits).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6ED4AB14C2CF49BC8E6DFFAC4ABC248D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Costs</header><text>Whenever
a proceeding occurs under subsection (a), 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 reasonably incurred by such person for or in connection with
participation in such proceedings, including any judicial review 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
administrative 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 substantial contribution to a full and fair determination of
the issues.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H88FC9275B178444485D62592E8254426"><enum>146.</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<subsection id="H51CB5A7CC3FE4E318BF3CCE9045FA727"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Orders</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF1B40137D7484000B9C7CA4EB266950D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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 environmental protection requirement under subtitle C or any
regulation issued by the Secretaries to implement this title, such Secretary or
authorized representative shall issue to such person a notice of violation
describing the violation and the corrective measures 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 Secretary 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 or she shall
immediately order a cessation of all mineral activities or the portion thereof
relevant to the violation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD4FF6F764DE949CBB62ED8DC5ABA381D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If the Secretary
concerned, or the authorized representative of the Secretary concerned,
determines that any condition or practice exists, or that any person is in
violation of any requirement under a permit approved under this title, and such
condition, practice or violation is causing, or can reasonably be expected to
cause—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3CE155D72F34489FB3737952DE93628F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an imminent danger
to the health or safety of the public; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC2632252F07349C2BB499CC9CB1046AE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>significant,
imminent environmental harm to land, air, water, or fish or wildlife
resources,</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">such
Secretary or authorized representative shall immediately order a cessation of
mineral activities or the portion thereof relevant to the condition, practice,
or violation.</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE55F11E06204394A5BBADBF8B376199"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HFC94B554489A493E844DEB9D8B75835D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A cessation order
pursuant to paragraphs (1) or (2) shall remain in effect until such Secretary,
or authorized representative, determines that the condition, practice, or
violation has been abated, or until modified, vacated or terminated by the
Secretary or authorized representative. 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 assurances to ensure that the abatement obligations are
met.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4019439465A34EB68428400381D5720C" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Any notice or order issued pursuant to
paragraphs (1) or (2) may be modified, vacated, or terminated by the Secretary
concerned or an authorized representative of such Secretary. Any person to whom
any such notice or order is issued shall be entitled to a hearing on the
record.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H45C64B3A9BBB4E6485D2A0358AD25F33"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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 alternative
enforcement action against the claim holder or operator (or any person who
controls the claim holder or operator) as will most likely bring about
abatement in the most expeditious manner possible. Such alternative enforcement
action may include, but is not necessarily limited to, seeking appropriate
injunctive relief to bring about abatement. Nothing in this paragraph shall
preclude the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of
Agriculture, from taking alternative enforcement action prior to the expiration
of 30 days.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEB4FAEE7A7D44D23A7D3C0B476F3813A"><enum>(5)</enum><text>If a claim holder
or operator (or any person who controls the claim holder or operator) fails to
abate a violation or defaults on the terms of the permit, the Secretary, or for
National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall forfeit the
financial assurance for the plan as necessary to ensure abatement and
reclamation under this title. The Secretary concerned may prescribe conditions
under which a surety may perform reclamation in accordance with the approved
plan in lieu of forfeiture.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H82885C99481D4191A4B73A67F01D0120"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Secretary, or
for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture, shall not cause
forfeiture of the financial assurance while administrative or judicial review
is pending.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF6FA911B292A46DBBD22426B3DBA9468"><enum>(7)</enum><text>In the event of
forfeiture, the claim holder, operator, or any affiliate thereof, as
appropriate as determined by the Secretary by rule, shall be jointly and
severally liable for any remaining reclamation obligations under this
title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBA6DD6E4103B4250B352591C9AAE6D67"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Compliance</header><text>The
Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the Secretary of Agriculture,
may request 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 district court of the United States for the district in which
the mineral activities are located whenever a person—</text>
<paragraph id="H49A3B58C8D124A22A4546A4DE36580B7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>violates, fails,
or refuses to comply with any order issued by the Secretary concerned under
subsection (a); or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5D4E147552234896874978FEE75E71C6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>interferes with,
hinders, or delays the Secretary concerned in carrying out an inspection under
section 143.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">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.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="HAFA80A3030EB47E4A3B28D04E9EC2C3D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Delegation</header><text>Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the Secretary may utilize personnel of the Office
of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to ensure compliance with the
requirements of this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2F4048FF50194DF4BD50CDC002A80247"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Penalties</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA11DAFC9CA3648B6B34C86F6CDE76F31"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any person who
fails to comply with any requirement of a permit approved under this title or
any regulation issued by the Secretaries to implement this title 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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCDF80BCFE44F4188A53B2EC0D17D48C1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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 assessed a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 per violation for
each day during which such failure continues.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H842E3A9A793A417C992094E3EF70A199"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Whenever a
corporation is in violation of a requirement of a permit approved under this
title or any regulation issued by the Secretaries to implement this title or
fails or refuses to comply with an order issued under subsection (a), any
director, officer, or agent of such corporation who knowingly authorized,
ordered, or carried out such violation, failure, or refusal shall be subject to
the same penalties as may be imposed upon the person referred to in paragraph
(1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE97951F1C1134A77A55C437BA138C3BB"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Suspensions or
revocations</header><text>The Secretary, or for National Forest System lands
the Secretary of Agriculture, shall suspend or revoke a permit issued under
subtitle C, in whole or in part, if the operator—</text>
<paragraph id="H1F4FB6004E74418899FED853F4DFFDF2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>knowingly made or
knowingly makes any false, inaccurate, or misleading material statement in any
mining claim, notice of location, application, record, report, plan, or other
document filed or required to be maintained under this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H78681E68FEDC4F198400DD34F2EFBCF4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>fails to abate a
violation covered by a cessation order issued under subsection (a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEBFED32F80CF41648B0D0C6EE511C021"><enum>(3)</enum><text>fails to comply
with an order of the Secretary concerned;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDCCCDD8A34504E29922213897D20B207"><enum>(4)</enum><text>refuses to permit
an audit pursuant to this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H547C024C20AC41B9884E2ED275ECA354"><enum>(5)</enum><text>fails to maintain
an adequate financial assurance under section 136;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE77E9BB873D2408EAB98CCDC1E88A41E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>fails to pay claim
maintenance fees or other moneys due and owing under this title; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H412673F58AA249D382AEAE549A50A08C"><enum>(7)</enum><text>with regard to
plans conditionally approved under section 135(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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H50C8D578E5A24BFBBB0B27C0F56D6D88"><enum>(f)</enum><header>False
statements; tampering</header><text>Any person who knowingly—</text>
<paragraph id="H51E8052C7B69487E8EB5B69E7DB26476"><enum>(1)</enum><text>makes any false
material statement, representation, or certification in, or omits or conceals
material information from, or unlawfully alters, any mining claim, notice of
location, application, record, report, plan, or other documents filed or
required to be maintained under this title; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H850CA698969245159D61E815C807F7E0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>falsifies, tampers
with, renders inaccurate, or fails to install any monitoring device or method
required to be maintained under this title,</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">shall upon
conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000. If a conviction of
a person is for a violation committed after a first conviction of such person
under this subsection, punishment shall be by a fine of not more than $20,000
per day of violation. Each day of continuing violation may be deemed a separate
violation for purposes of penalty assessments.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="HA066D9876209493394A7E5E36BDFA313"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Knowing
violations</header><text>Any person who knowingly—</text>
<paragraph id="H50195912D9EF4CAC9E13698F93D343B6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>engages in mineral
activities without a permit required under subtitle C; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0890A179990F4A59AD740143C35698DF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>violates any other
requirement of a permit issued under this title, or any condition or limitation
thereof,</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">shall upon
conviction be punished by a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $50,000
per day of violation. If a conviction of a person is for a violation committed
after the first conviction of such person under this subsection, punishment
shall be a fine of not less than $10,000 per day of violation.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="HE0EF0D245A9E401EAD83862BA9D6EE17"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Knowing and
willful violations</header><text>Any person who knowingly and willfully commits
an act for which a civil penalty is provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (g)
shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $50,000.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4DB509E3EE284456A87A943DC6B50798"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For
purposes of this section, the term <term>person</term> includes any officer,
agent, or employee of a person.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEC83CEE565424FC3B582C180B3FDD71E"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Adjustment of
penalties</header><text>The Secretary may adjust the penalties described in
this section as necessary.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H2328F94E15794D3A8FA54E07713DEBCF"><enum>147.</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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.</text>
</section><section id="H3D41A24ECA3B488DA5AA8928DA0BEBC9"><enum>148.</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title shall take
effect on the date of enactment of this Act, except as otherwise provided in
this title.</text>
</section><section id="HCB3030ED01324A2797DA16B50FEAC899"><enum>149.</enum><header>Savings
clause</header>
<subsection id="H96AC8724FE77466484D5FF0F411E9AFF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Special
Application of mining laws</header><text>Nothing in this title shall be
construed as repealing or modifying 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 required under this title, 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 title. Nothing in this title shall be
construed as applying to or limiting mineral investigations, studies, or other
mineral activities 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 Comprehensive 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.).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA1E44950AA204CBAAEC4ADBFD79446AB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effect on other
Federal laws</header><text>The provisions of this title shall supersede the
general mining laws, except for those parts of the general mining laws
respecting location of mining claims that are not expressly modified by this
title. Except for the general mining laws, nothing in this title shall be
construed as superseding, modifying, 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, directly or indirectly, any law which refers
to and provides authorities or responsibilities for, or is administered by, the
Environmental Protection Agency or the Administrator 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 Disposal 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 Prosecution Act of 1990, and the Federal
Facilities Compliance Act of 1992, or any statute containing an amendment 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 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/101/601">Public Law 101–601</external-xref>) or any provision
of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1996">42 U.S.C. 1996</external-xref>), the National
Historic Preservation Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/470">16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.</external-xref>), and the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/2000bb">42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H123D08A7346A45CF96CDFDC16817BEE2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Protection of
conservation areas</header><text>In order to protect the resources and values
of National Conservation System units, the Secretary, as appropriate, shall
utilize authority under this title and other applicable law to the fullest
extent necessary to prevent mineral activities that could have an adverse
impact on the resources or values for which such units were established.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8EC9CC3EDDCE4E7190BB5A2DCA195AAD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sovereign
immunity of indian tribes</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be
construed so as to waive the sovereign immunity of any Indian tribe.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H53AB60D133964E2C9DE4286E829C5BB6"><enum>150.</enum><header>Availability of
public records</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Copies of
records, reports, inspection materials, or information 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 Code, in central and sufficient
locations in the county, multicounty, and State area of mineral activity or
reclamation so that such items are conveniently available to residents in the
area proposed or approved for mineral activities and on the Internet.</text>
</section><section id="H55CD83F06FCF4697BD21D840652767D8"><enum>151.</enum><header>Miscellaneous
powers</header>
<subsection id="HCE4A56E2C3B84DD4ACDDBAC29D7BDA41"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In carrying out his or her duties under this title, the
Secretary, or for National Forest System 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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H98BFA8ED7BF24904A274941D647E214B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Ancillary
powers</header><text>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:</text>
<paragraph id="H5E0D2FB3B61C43B4B023184BCEC06D43"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Require, by
special or general order, any person to submit in writing such affidavits and
answers 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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H227B2475D350439190C04529C341C2FC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Administer
oaths.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD912AF5D4C65471DA69624807D17B1D8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Require by
subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all
books, papers, records, documents, matter, and materials, as such Secretary may
request.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H08BC67865A6842AEB9181FE18BC35C48"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Order testimony to
be taken by deposition before any person who is designated by such Secretary
and who has the power to administer oaths, and to compel testimony and the
production of evidence in the same manner as authorized under paragraph (3) of
this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC7E1ADD0A3DC4965B410D180CD2BEAE0"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Pay witnesses the
same fees and mileage as are paid in like circumstances in the courts of the
United States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H532D7AB47C7848DEBA1649ED9B785B7A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Enforcement</header><text>In
cases of refusal to obey a subpoena served upon any person under this section,
the district court of the United States for any district in which such person
is found, resides, or transacts business, upon application by the Attorney
General at the request of the Secretary concerned and after notice to such
person, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to
appear and produce documents before the Secretary concerned. Any failure to
obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as contempt thereof
and subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 a day.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA5CBBB9A8C0F47589C38D572398677AE"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Entry and
access</header><text>Without advance notice and upon presentation of
appropriate credentials, the Secretary, or for National Forest System lands the
Secretary of Agriculture, or any authorized representative thereof—</text>
<paragraph id="HCDA860588BD84BD590C98442F9F69033"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall have the
right of entry to, upon, or through the site of any claim, mineral activities,
or any premises in which any records required to be maintained under this title
are located;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF75C49BCF0BB4F2A8A27A7318D59508E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may at reasonable
times, and without delay, have access to records, inspect any monitoring
equipment, or review any method of operation required under this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF0A19FBCC53D41DD88D9D350EF0A54C8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>may engage in any
work and do all things necessary or expedient to implement and administer the
provisions of this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB78FD1BF8F9F42EDA3D77C63E1C0C787"><enum>(4)</enum><text>may, on any mining
claim located under the general mining laws and maintained in compliance with
this title, and without advance notice, stop, and inspect any motorized form of
transportation that such Secretary has probable cause to believe is carrying
locatable minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom from a claim
site for the purpose of determining whether the operator of such vehicle has
documentation related to such locatable minerals, concentrates, or products
derived therefrom as required by law, if such documentation is required under
this title; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H472D080840714F9F9A7B2A9A22C02C59"><enum>(5)</enum><text>may, if
accompanied by any appropriate law enforcement officer, or an appropriate law
enforcement officer alone, stop and inspect any motorized form of
transportation which is not on a claim site if he or she has probable cause to
believe such vehicle is carrying locatable minerals, concentrates, or products
derived therefrom from a claim site on Federal lands or allocated to such claim
site. Such inspection shall be for the purpose of determining whether the
operator of such vehicle has the documentation required by law, if such
documentation is required under this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF58D7146E11547128F7D8FD73863132E"><enum>152.</enum><header>Multiple
mineral development and surface resources</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The provisions of sections 4 and 6 of the
Act of August 13, 1954 (30 U.S.C. 524 and 526), commonly known as the Multiple
Minerals Development Act, and the provisions of section 4 of the Act of July
23, 1955 (30 U.S.C.
612), shall apply to all mining claims located under the
general mining laws and maintained in compliance with such laws and this
title.</text>
</section><section id="HD629BF099DA74D96AAF2495AE83FF1AD"><enum>153.</enum><header>Mineral
materials</header>
<subsection id="H9CC8A77BCA7E413E8AFFFE208618540C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Determinations</header><text>Section
3 of the Act of July 23, 1955 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/611">30 U.S.C. 611</external-xref>), is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H27E6673B933F4010B6A22C5C098DE6B5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(a)</quote> before the first sentence;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE7580102D0B24D02B42E2B34A6650581"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>mineral materials, including</quote> after <quote>varieties of</quote>
in the first sentence;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDA80085C7C7D473DBE973318E824C6D6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>or cinders</quote> and inserting in lieu thereof <quote>cinders, and
clay</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H98F88515C5CA4E14ABB26E9FDBCBB74E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding the
following new subsection at the end thereof:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF4F8C2F949C949CF85BCBFA680F43D56" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H7B6B3D16549D49B9A598E2D3EEF4B4AB"><enum>(b)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H5983EF0ECBE448869A72A51A92527A6A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Subject to valid
existing rights, after the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Mining Reform and Deficit Reduction Act of
2013</short-title>, notwithstanding the reference to common varieties in
subsection (a) and to the exception to such term relating to a deposit of
materials with some property giving it distinct and special value, all deposits
of mineral materials referred to in such subsection, including the block pumice
referred to in such subsection, shall be subject to disposal only under the
terms and conditions of the Materials Act of 1947.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC0AAD08EDBB84305918EEF2ED3A26A41" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For purposes of paragraph (1), the
term <term>valid existing rights</term> means that a mining claim located for
any such mineral material—</text>
<subparagraph id="H69B26E32C51F443E800264FCD6EC880B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>had and still has some property giving
it the distinct and special value referred to in subsection (a), or as the case
may be, met the definition of block pumice referred to in such
subsection;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A4BF7C473654F4E916C3F73C1431D8D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>was properly located and maintained
under the general mining laws prior to the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Mining Reform and Deficit Reduction Act of
2013</short-title>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9251DB104E247EDBAA10F850B64933E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>was supported by a discovery of a
valuable mineral deposit within the meaning of the general mining laws as in
effect immediately prior to the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Mining Reform and Deficit Reduction Act of
2013</short-title>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5A3AA9BA1005417EA30316583995BE0C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>that such claim continues to be valid
under this
Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF438C5617C1D4CE2A9063AC125407703"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mineral
materials disposal clarification</header><text>Section 4 of the Act of July 23,
1955 (30 U.S.C.
612), is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HFCC3101990F7476AA81E291C06EA00E7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)
by inserting <quote>and mineral material</quote> after
<quote>vegetative</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5EC9D99EEDAB46E88FC5B8C6D9921A3E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)
by inserting <quote>and mineral material</quote> after
<quote>vegetative</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC1985301827E4448BB92CA03626D2B3E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Section 1 of the Act of July 31, 1947, entitled
<quote>An Act to provide for the disposal of materials on the public lands of
the United States</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/601">30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by
striking <quote>common varieties of</quote> in the first sentence.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAA05C5648BAC4D9E9302318C734E7687"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Short
titles</header>
<paragraph id="HB12AD3CF01044C6EB7E742C3DAEBE056"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Surface
resources</header><text>The Act of July 23, 1955, is amended by inserting after
section 7 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H15982795E72E4A589956FC39A76F6E2A" style="traditional">
<section id="H72DD54FA0E5A44458ED654B1380A3DE8"><enum>8.</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the <term>Surface
Resources Act of
1955</term>.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H49BC4378EBB142E980F12B31B0AF3375"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mineral
materials</header><text>The Act of July 31, 1947, entitled <quote>An Act to
provide for the disposal of materials on the public lands of the United
States</quote> (30
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 4 the
following new section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9233D7DA0D194A5C8C29B7391C7F5EE2" style="traditional">
<section id="H9C62CBB770FE4C9EBA44CD2A00D6F61F"><enum>5.</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the
<term>Materials Act of
1947</term>.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H19E0E40E57BF423FBD2863963414515C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Repeals</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDD46A5227ED64CFA8F6D1412F637C867"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Subject to valid
existing rights, the Act of August 4, 1892 (27 Stat. 348,
30 U.S.C.
161), commonly known as the Building Stone Act, is hereby
repealed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCCF94865E1CC420F984C2DA7C3DF535C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Subject to valid
existing rights, the Act of January 31, 1901 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/162">30 U.S.C. 162</external-xref>), commonly known as
the Saline Placer Act, is hereby repealed.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>Abandoned Mine
Reclamation </header>
<section id="H4DE14BC720C84A94A330614F5F2910B0"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short
title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited
as the <quote><short-title>Abandoned Mine Reclamation and
Deficit Reduction Act of 2013</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAB26B2A586B14BF4ABF191EA461AFE8F"><enum>202.</enum><header>Definitions and
references</header>
<subsection id="H019E760F13D84BF7BE112BC96DDEC5F7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>As used in this title:</text>
<paragraph id="H0164ED1AB20C404980943B76A8F9E9D4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The term
<term>beneficiation</term> means the crushing and grinding of hardrock mineral
ore and such processes as are employed to free the mineral from other
constituents, including but not necessarily limited to, physical and chemical
separation techniques.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4A54EFA3A90645979EAD5B2CA8B9780A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>claim holder</term> means a
person holding a mining claim, millsite claim, or tunnel site claim located
under the general mining laws and maintained in compliance with such laws and
this title. Such term may include an agent of a claim holder.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6FBE37835E694284AC17CB01FEC59D44"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term
<term>control</term> means having the ability, directly or indirectly, to
determine (without regard to whether exercised through one or more corporate
structures) the manner in which an entity conducts mineral activities, through
any means, including without limitation, ownership interest, authority to
commit the entity’s real or financial assets, position as a director, officer,
or partner of the entity, or contractual arrangement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H151EF68778074126AAB3430F6F384E1E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The term
<term>crude ore</term> means ore in its unprocessed form, containing profitable
amounts of the target mineral.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF99F1E1E5A814F1EA5E72D056076384C"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The term
<term>displaced material</term> means any crude ore and waste dislodged from
its location at the time hardrock mining begins at surface, underground, or
in-situ mines.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H32D3BF8D06B54385930E930D671C0F25"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The term
<term>exploration</term> means surface disturbance to evaluate the type,
extent, quantity, or quality of minerals present including sampling, drilling,
and analyzing hardrock mineral values.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF70B9CDE62DC45C2AA22DC1DB86A8A04"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The term
<term>Federal land</term> means any land, including mineral interests, owned by
the United States without regard to how the United States acquired ownership of
the land and without regard to the agency having responsibility for management
thereof, except Indian lands.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H113282988E2F424A87140A9DC3E038E9"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>hardrock</term> means any
mineral mined under the Mining Law of 1872 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22–54</external-xref>), and with respect
to State, Indian, and private lands, any minerals on those lands that would be
considered hardrock minerals if such minerals had been mined under the Mining
Law of 1872.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HED8B1509088F468CBD1A0E9F9C1F736B"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>hardrock mining
operation</term> means any activities or operations conducted to mine minerals
under the Mining Law of 1872 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22–54</external-xref>), and, with respect
to State, Indian, and private lands, any activities or operations conducted on
such lands to mine minerals that would be considered hardrock minerals if such
minerals had been mined under the Mining Law of 1872: <italic>Provided,
however</italic>, That if subsequent to the date of enactment of this Act, any
minerals mined under the Mining Law of 1872 are transferred from the
requirements of the Mining Law of 1872 to different statutory requirements,
those activities or operations conducted on lands to mine those minerals so
transferred will continue to be subject to the provisions of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF84B5FB7DA614D7FAE0C94E2E7CA8A68"><enum>(10)</enum><text>The term
<term>Indian lands</term> means lands held in trust for the benefit of an
Indian tribe or individual or held by an Indian tribe or individual subject to
a restriction by the United States against alienation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HED1145F71BB1498C97BB0B901EE6ED07"><enum>(11)</enum><text>The term
<term>Indian tribe</term> 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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1601">43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.</external-xref>), that is
recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the
United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4BA909FBA1FD4A84B2E7C69C8BFCB4EB"><enum>(12)</enum><text>The term
<term>mineral activities</term> means any activity on a mining claim, millsite
claim, or tunnel site claim for, related to, or incidental to, mineral
exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, or reclamation activities for
any hardrock mineral.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H23248C82D7874424B1D872E4362519A3"><enum>(13)</enum><text>The term
<term>operator</term> means any person that conducts mineral activities and any
agent of such person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF28128E777D6474C93F9AD6DBEE59989"><enum>(14)</enum><text>The term
<term>person</term> means an individual, Indian tribe, partnership,
association, society, joint venture, joint stock company, firm, company,
corporation, cooperative, or other organization and any instrumentality of
State or local government including any publicly owned utility or publicly
owned corporation of State or local government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3B21FEA1127C4BD69D241334EE2C3555"><enum>(15)</enum><text>The term
<term>processing</term> means processes downstream of beneficiation employed to
prepare hardrock mineral ore into the final marketable product, including but
not limited to smelting and electrolytic refining.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4E57A9DC21FC47BC86689BBE1E267A10"><enum>(16)</enum><text>The term
<term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior, unless otherwise
specified.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9DCB4FD7FE47477DB6A2E11259B26228"><enum>(17)</enum><text>The term
<term>ton</term> means 2,000 pounds avoirdupois (.90718 metric ton).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4350648BF8304E6D95DA93EC6ED39DF1"><enum>(18)</enum><text>The term
<term>waste</term> means rock that must be fractured and removed in order to
gain access to crude ore.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8FD49482F770427799A55A9218FE04C1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>References to
other laws</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H0A9F6920E52744DCB69E22106F36D597"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any reference in this
title to the term <term>general mining laws</term> is a reference to those Acts
that generally comprise chapters 2, 12A, and 16, and sections 161 and 162, of
title 30, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H264960A27D114A5BB0F902AEA5012F9C" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any reference in this title to the
Act of July 23, 1955, is a reference to the Act entitled <quote>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</quote> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/601">30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><subtitle id="HC05F2016F372487E948D8789161FA81A"><enum>A</enum><header>Hardrock Mining
Reclamation</header>
<section id="H4221732B56EF4834B56ACC437853686F"><enum>211.</enum><header>Displaced
material reclamation fee</header>
<subsection id="H5C2E057675A14DAFAB24A58E916BD9B0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Imposition of
fee</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), each operator of a
hardrock mining operation shall pay to the Secretary, for deposit in the
Abandoned Mine Cleanup Fund established by section 221(a), a displaced material
reclamation fee of 7 cents per ton of displaced material.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAA2391A1BDAB45529DAB6E7FD8F6F0DF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Payment
deadline</header><text>The reclamation fee shall be paid not later than 60 days
after the end of each calendar year beginning with the first calendar year
occurring after the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5AFD10D40750486B81621FDF390B75A9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Submission of
statement</header><text>Together with such reclamation fee, all operators of
hardrock mining operations shall submit a statement of the amount of displaced
materials produced during mineral activities during the previous calendar year,
the accuracy of which shall be sworn to by the operator and notarized.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDB481EF18BEF464EB1C83BEA73A96B95"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Penalty</header><text>Any
person, corporate officer, agent or director, on behalf of a hardrock mining
operation, who knowingly makes any false statement, representation or
certification, or knowingly fails to make any statement, representation or
certification required in this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a
fine of not more than $10,000.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA1C2FF3471934346959687A787B1B346"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Civil action To
recover fee</header><text>Any portion of the reclamation fee not properly or
promptly paid pursuant to this section shall be recoverable, with statutory
interest, from the hardrock mining operations operator, in any court of
competent jurisdiction in any action at law to compel payment of debts.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H65106B1E4C4C47B19A79DE1AB4DC47F3"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Deposit of
revenues</header><text>Amounts received by the Secretary under subsection
(a)(1) shall be deposited in the Abandoned Mine Cleanup Fund established by
section 221(a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB7D35F5B0F704675975C26D3CC92D5AB"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing
in this section requires a reduction in, or otherwise affects, any similar fee
required under any law (including regulations) of any State.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD536EEA9A06142639144F1761CDD0FBF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>212.</enum><header>Fees
adjustments</header>
<subsection id="HA0B31880546F40B7ABB41C24E129DC26"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior shall adjust the fees
required by section 211 to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor every 5
years after the date of enactment of this Act, or more frequently if the
Secretary determines an adjustment to be reasonable.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HCC6A7C6EFA87443ABA0D0BF235B9F97F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>The
Secretary shall provide claimants notice of any adjustment made under this
section not later than July 1 of any year in which the adjustment is
made.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDD8C0983D3FC4D3581B1C27FF797AD32"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header><text>A
fee adjustment under this section shall begin to apply in the calendar year
following the calendar year in which it is made.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H0C5B55E49BF94E5F9138A2BD6B3ACFEE"><enum>B</enum><header>Abandoned Mine
Cleanup Fund</header>
<section id="HD32DA72459044A70814C833BF7057F82"><enum>221.</enum><header>Establishment
of fund</header>
<subsection id="H67242ECC4DF64C6B8BF312A4A62FDFB4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There
is established on the books of the Treasury of the United States a separate
account to be known as the Abandoned Mine Cleanup Fund (hereinafter in this
subtitle referred to as the <term>Fund</term>) consisting of the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="H29EF9DF2DD8342FDA207E9314407FE3F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>All donations by
persons, corporations, associations, and foundations for the purposes of this
subtitle.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB0CCC74C7C0048B1B2FC3D13CC15FCB9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>All amounts
deposited in the Fund under section 211.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7C566E1A98AD4B19B9EFBC605751F2E9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>All income on
investments under subsection (b).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8710817C70EC45C0BEEB37873C3C163D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Investment</header><text>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 withdrawals.
The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such portion 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, taking into
consideration current market yields on outstanding marketplace obligations of
the United States of comparable maturities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H93924992F68C4D97AB26CDCB89E973C1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administration</header>
<paragraph id="H760E8AC72A6B4B6799966372A7F999CB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Fund shall be
administered by the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0F36BFB8EFC945DEA2F639D9E1D36AF0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Amounts credited
to the Fund shall be available, without further appropriation, for obligation
and expenditure, and shall remain available until expended.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H650AFD2F92E34B28930F9370BF47D6E2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary may
retain such funds as necessary for the administrative expenses of the United
States, Indian tribes, and the States to accomplish the purposes of this
subtitle.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HECBA185AB55747B3A34C7DB5566D8597"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Expenditures</header><text>Subject
to section 222, amounts in the Fund may, without fiscal year limitation and
without further appropriation—</text>
<paragraph id="H09C4B86ED2DC4296BD16DE3FDEE81C9F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be expended by the
Secretary for the purposes described in section 222;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0D161E0097584BD3B6B298055A43FD67"><enum>(2)</enum><text>be transferred by
the Secretary to the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, the Chief of
the Forest Service, the Director of the National Park Service, the Director of
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the head of any other Federal
agency, that develops, implements, and has the ability to carry out all or a
significant portion of a reclamation program under this subtitle; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H67A3042CE1434652BF5F3EACF82E8ABF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>be transferred by
the Secretary to an Indian tribe or a State with an approved reclamation
program, as provided in subsection (e).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H89C5A116446A478AB4EE9276CE4902E3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>State and tribal
reclamation programs</header>
<paragraph id="H13D8E97834FA4883ABDFA656955A4DE8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Each State having
within the borders of the State, or tribe having within the borders of the
reservation of the tribe, mined land that is eligible for reclamation under
this title may submit to the Secretary a reclamation program for the
land.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE0752FE1C85F484FAB31965F7A02774C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If the Secretary
determines that a State or tribe has developed and submitted a program for
reclamation of abandoned mines consistent with the priorities established under
section 222(c) and has the ability and necessary State or tribal legislation to
implement this subtitle, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H191BCDD411014DFB9E56D78B93A6DC96"><enum>(A)</enum><text>approve the
program; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAF8A6A8A96DE4078A8360B050C523938"><enum>(B)</enum><text>grant to the State
or tribe the exclusive responsibility and authority to implement the approved
program.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE9F9FF8E2B9A4C3490F6F0A96F66B213"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall withdraw the approval and authorization if the Secretary determines that
the State or tribal program is not in compliance with procedures, guidelines,
and requirements established by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF1934AE5A6C54CCC91D84BC659767E86"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Subject to
paragraph (3), any State program in an abandoned hardrock mine State or tribal
program for reclamation of abandoned mines approved under title IV of the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1231 et
seq.) before the date of enactment of this Act and in good
standing with the Secretary as of that date shall be considered approved under
this subtitle.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H8E287FD84E5E438E9B1B6F241A179735"><enum>222.</enum><header>Use and
objectives of the fund</header>
<subsection id="H88D4BE4F20F6463B92AE0FAE5A89E317"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Use</header>
<paragraph id="HC440F2FBA1E24852AB3756B8265AEC8B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary may,
subject to the availability of appropriations, use amounts in the Fund for the
reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by
past hardrock minerals and mining and related activities in abandoned hardrock
mine States and on Indian land located within the exterior boundaries of
abandoned hardrock mine States, including the conduct of activities—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF97313C8246B46759795C2C5922A0E5C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to protect public
health and safety;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H837FE99A7C5F4A718C94A9D9558062F2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to prevent, abate,
treat, and control water pollution created by abandoned mine drainage,
including activities conducted in watersheds;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H545D88A7B63842179C32BBB9EDFCAD33"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to reclaim and
restore abandoned surface and underground mined areas;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H963D4C53C269426881C58C6EB6ADEAF5"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to reclaim and
restore abandoned milling and processing areas;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H297FDDA48EB84DF7B7F3E806A5F54958"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to backfill, seal,
or otherwise control abandoned underground mine entries;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H73D98D13E9E64F588B3FFB6925CE74E6"><enum>(F)</enum><text>to revegetate land
adversely affected by past mining activities—</text>
<clause id="H150C4898469645F28DE0259B89C8A333"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to
prevent erosion and sedimentation; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H8F2E522ACC134EFFB04C3FF52E2B0F91"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for
any other reclamation purpose;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F568EF0D2F047EB8D91C66F3FFFC161"><enum>(G)</enum><text>to control surface
subsidence due to abandoned underground mines; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1E3C1E02B8764945919AC82EB43765F5"><enum>(H)</enum><text>to enhance fish
and wildlife habitat.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H37D4E38659D2444180EB81077866D9B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Before expending
amounts in the Fund for the purposes described in paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall make a determination that no claim holder, operator, or other person who
is legally responsible under Federal or State law for the reclamation of the
mine site can be located before reclamation under this title of the abandoned
hardrock mine site begins.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H92E790E507874EA983922F874FC5F18A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Allocation</header><text>Of
the amounts deposited in the Fund each fiscal year—</text>
<paragraph id="H700E3C7444624E6BAFB419A25420ED0A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>30 percent shall
be allocated by the Secretary for expenditure by the Secretary or, if a State
or Indian tribe has a program approved under section 221(e), by the State or
Indian tribe, in the States in which, or on Indian land on which, hardrock
minerals are produced, based on a formula reflecting existing production in the
State or on the land of the Indian tribe;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD4CD9A3D6045480CB8F475424BBB98D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">30 percent shall be allocated by the
Secretary for expenditure by the Secretary or, if a State or Indian tribe has a
program approved under section 221(e), by the State or Indian tribe, in the
States and on Indian land using a formula based on the quantity of hardrock
minerals historically produced in the State or from the Indian land before the
date of enactment of this Act;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H32DB36A9918F492EA51E5D4402B1ED40"><enum>(3)</enum><text>30 percent shall
be allocated by the Secretary for expenditures on high priority abandoned mine
sites on Federal and non-Federal land based on the priorities established in
subsection (c); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDBA60EE58B4645479B63AEBEBC6A31F9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>10 percent shall
be available to the Secretary for grants under subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H91A53F2D25FD43628AE9EC9FC2629F2E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priorities</header><text>Expenditures
of moneys from the Fund shall reflect the following priorities in the order
stated:</text>
<paragraph id="H0BE201914CF6496295916CA15386047F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The protection of
public health and safety, from extreme danger from the adverse effects of past
mineral activities, especially as relates to surface water and groundwater
contaminants.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4E38956FFD4B4554AC1C4E43C2A1390B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The protection of
public health and safety, from the adverse effects of past mineral
activities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5C662C3E01654F809A952ECB2EFBC60B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The restoration of
land, water, and fish and wildlife resources previously degraded by the adverse
effects of past mineral activities, which may include restoration activities in
river watershed areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H927351E515554A6083958C6611E8D3A5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>For the years 2013
through 2018, the Secretary shall give first priority to and fully fund
projects to cleanup and reclaim abandoned hardrock mines—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7711F6593522424DA6E6FA9568F79ADA"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in States and tribal lands that have
previously been certified for completing their reclamation obligations under
the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et
seq.); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBB034BE359464CDEBC7F7848C32D490A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that are currently utilizing funds
available under section 411 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1201">30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.</external-xref>) to fund the cleanup of abandoned hardrock
mines. The Secretary shall fund, to the extent that funds are available in the
Abandoned Mine Cleanup Fund, such cleanups to the same level as established by
the formula established in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of
1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1201">30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.</external-xref>) notwithstanding the changes made under subtitle C
of this title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBF0009A136D1498DB50A72539B66241D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Grants to public
entities and nonprofit organizations</header><text>The Secretary shall use
amounts made available under subsection (b)(4) to make grants to public
entities (including State fish and game agencies and local governments) and
nonprofit organizations (based on criteria established by the Secretary by
regulation) to carry out activities that support collaborative restoration
projects to improve fish and wildlife habitat affected by past hardrock
minerals and mining activities, including activities that—</text>
<paragraph id="H8EDE69A0E803404B84021A9E1D0C00C7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>improve water
quality and quantity;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0A3B1180F37C44F9829DA121166808EE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>restore watersheds
in which historic mining dewatered or otherwise fragmented stream
habitats;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H458C4371B1D24CD4A974B04B113D79C6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>restore instream
habitat conditions necessary to support aquatic species;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H10221406DF9647F9A6A495EACFF85425"><enum>(4)</enum><text>restore vegetative
cover and streamside areas to control erosion and improve conditions for fish
and wildlife;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H196927EDE6374E55938A79B2F4648D87"><enum>(5)</enum><text>control and remove
noxious weeds and invasive species associated with historic mining disturbances
that affect fish and wildlife;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3D4F29CE4DD54F1DA6B6216FB6ADF3CB"><enum>(6)</enum><text>restore fish and
wildlife habitat in cases in which previous hardrock minerals and mining
activity limits fish and wildlife productivity;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H181C4DFFEAAB496BA7B86424070E5075"><enum>(7)</enum><text>protect and
restore fish and wildlife habitat in areas affected by historic minerals and
mining activity; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA598412D7D034A2AA85B2E88D51AEA4D"><enum>(8)</enum><text>mitigate impacts
to watersheds affected by past hardrock minerals and mining activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9DA90E857F1343B4B0519F09706663AF"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Habitat</header><text>Reclamation
and restoration activities under this subtitle shall include appropriate
mitigation measures to provide for the continuation of any established habitat
for wildlife in existence prior to the commencement of such activities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBDFB5836A4644804AA73B7298539B259"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Response or
removal actions</header><text>Reclamation and restoration activities under this
subtitle which constitute a removal or remedial action under section 101 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C.
9601), shall be conducted with the concurrence of the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Secretary and the
Administrator shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to establish
procedures for consultation, concurrence, training, exchange of technical
expertise, and joint activities under the appropriate circumstances, that
provide assurances that reclamation or restoration activities under this
subtitle shall not be conducted in a manner that increases the costs or
likelihood of removal or remedial actions under the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et
seq.), and that avoid oversight by multiple agencies to the
maximum extent practicable.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H3F7E6929082C42838DAB67FDB9CAD4B4"><enum>223.</enum><header>Eligible lands
and waters</header>
<subsection id="HF86B1C008EB1440788EC67875B46B755"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>Reclamation
expenditures under this subtitle may be made with respect to Federal, State,
local, tribal, and private land or water resources that traverse or are
contiguous to Federal, State, local, tribal, or private land where such lands
or water resources have been affected by past mineral activities, including any
of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H9653EB4B64804EB48EA1546D142C6241"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Lands and water
resources that were used for, or affected by, mineral activities and abandoned
or left in an inadequate reclamation status before the effective date of this
Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6E02E1FF2DE94E07995D3219C036B183"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Lands for which
the Secretary makes a determination 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.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H98D6BF30B7D248309BC6FE487F755E7B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Specific Sites
and Areas Not Eligible</header><text>Sites and areas designated for remedial
action pursuant to the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (42
U.S.C. 7901 et seq.) or that have been listed for remedial action pursuant to
the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/9601">42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.</external-xref>) shall not be eligible for expenditures from the Fund
under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC39418C398AC4B629234C67BB708C24D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Inventory</header>
<paragraph id="H574EC744747942378ADBF8EDC93CD5FF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall prepare and maintain a publicly available inventory of abandoned hardrock
minerals mines on public lands and any abandoned hardrock mineral mines on
Indian lands that may be eligible for expenditures under this subtitle, and
shall deliver a yearly report to the Congress on the progress in cleanup of
such sites.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF2F82F83B036485D98522857DEC02A74"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not later than 5
years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter,
the Secretary shall update the inventory described in paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="HC184BAFBCAFC438C9A8172253016250D"><enum>C</enum><header>Administrative
Provisions</header>
<section commented="no" id="HBB833798502146ABA91A2FA8AD930272"><enum>231.</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title shall take
effect on the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</section><section id="H8E5C045729264C68B6C151730E10713C"><enum>232.</enum><header>Fees
adjustments</header>
<subsection id="H28AD7DC0E05E4290B20D40196FC510B2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior shall adjust the fees
required by section 211 to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor every 5
years after the date of enactment of this Act, or more frequently if the
Secretary determines an adjustment to be reasonable.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3793CF68CE9B4FF5BC8FB1F3C4DC2118"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>The
Secretary shall provide claimants notice of any adjustment made under this
section not later than July 1 of any year in which the adjustment is
made.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5FD89561606742F4823BAE17ECB7E117"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header><text>A
fee adjustment under this section shall begin to apply in the calendar year
following the calendar year in which it is made.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H326343A084DB4CA8ABDF94306BA87952"><enum>233.</enum><header>Inspection and
monitoring</header>
<subsection id="H147A5C22C9414BD1B7E4F40FCE246879"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Inspections</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior shall make
inspections of mineral activities so as to ensure compliance with the
requirements of this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H547658172D574B898E2EF7FB6D05C889"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Ancillary
powers</header><text>In connection with any hearing, inquiry, investigation, or
audit under this title, the Secretary may take any of the following
actions:</text>
<paragraph id="HB1B2B77FA7734093989BB515FAB8D069"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Require, by
special or general order, any person to submit in writing such affidavits and
answers 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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1447BF5784BA4A3AA4ECD8CE0EC6D013"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Administer
oaths.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA5A09EB1DD92402DA04036026F52781D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Require by
subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all
books, papers, records, documents, matter, and materials, as such Secretary may
request.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD9EDF0EA28554DD2862358AC79767524"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Order testimony to
be taken by deposition before any person who is designated by such Secretary
and who has the power to administer oaths, and to compel testimony and the
production of evidence in the same manner as authorized under paragraph (3) of
this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H21F4903B4E6348DAB069CA21DFCC5D65"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Pay witnesses the
same fees and mileage as are paid in like circumstances in the courts of the
United States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7A4EB942412E4C5588C60EB62DD8136B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Enforcement</header><text>In
cases of refusal to obey a subpoena served upon any person under this section,
the district court of the United States for any district in which such person
is found, resides, or transacts business, upon application by the Attorney
General at the request of the Secretary concerned and after notice to such
person, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to
appear and produce documents before the Secretary concerned. Any failure to
obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as contempt thereof
and subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 a day.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H085103215B07401E9E3A837F13CEE094"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Entry and
access</header><text>Without advance notice and upon presentation of
appropriate credentials, the Secretary or any authorized representative
thereof—</text>
<paragraph id="HBB3FC2E68BB1424B8AFFF322E8260F7A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall have the
right of entry to, upon, or through the site of any claim, mineral activities,
or any premises in which any records required to be maintained under this title
are located;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDA71412A41B34242A94CB636EE4674DE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may at reasonable
times, and without delay, have access to records, inspect any monitoring
equipment, or review any method of operation required under this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB815EC0E0FED4A0BA7AB06B9466349F8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>may engage in any
work and do all things necessary or expedient to implement and administer the
provisions of this title; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC8E9C89A805F423CB0037AD7B3FC7DB3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>may, if
accompanied by any appropriate law enforcement officer, or an appropriate law
enforcement officer alone, stop and inspect any motorized form of
transportation which is not on a claim site if he or she has probable cause to
believe such vehicle is carrying hardrock minerals, concentrates, or products
derived therefrom from a claim site on Federal lands or allocated to such claim
site. Such inspection shall be for the purpose of determining whether the
operator of such vehicle has the documentation required by law, if such
documentation is required under this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H12853BE314FE4611A89C6FCCD28A74B3"><enum>234.</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture shall issue such regulations as are necessary to
implement this Act. 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.</text>
</section><section id="HD2C70C37268B43D2A39DF3DF650F1B2A"><enum>235.</enum><header>Availability of
public records</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Copies of
records, reports, inspection materials, or information obtained by the
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture under this title
shall be made immediately available to the public, consistent with
section
552 of title 5, United States Code, in central and sufficient
locations in the county, multicounty, and State area of mineral activity or
reclamation so that such items are conveniently available to residents in the
area proposed or approved for mineral activities and on the Internet.</text>
</section></subtitle>