119 HR 3872 IH: Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives 2025-06-10 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.
I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3872IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 10, 2025Mr. Fallon (for himself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications Act of 2025 or the MERICA Act of 2025.
2.
Application of Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to hardrock minerals
The Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) is amended—(1)in section 2 (30 U.S.C. 351)—(A)by striking Act United States and inserting the following:Act:(1)
United States
The term United States;(B)by striking Alaska. Acquired lands and inserting the following:Alaska.(2)
Acquired lands; lands acquired by the United States
The term acquired lands; (C) by striking 552). “Secretary and inserting the following: 552). (3)
Secretary
The term Secretary ; (D)by striking Interior. Mineral leasing laws shall mean and inserting the following:Interior.(4)
Mineral leasing laws
The term mineral leasing laws means;(E)by striking Acts. Lease and inserting the following:Acts.(5)
Lease
The term lease;(F)by striking requires. The term and inserting the following:requires.(6)
Oil
The term; and(G)by adding at the end the following:(7)
Hardrock mineral
The term hardrock mineral—(A)includes deposits of—(i)minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks;(ii)base metals;(iii)precious metals;(iv)industrial metals; and(v)precious and semi-precious gemstones; and(B)does not include deposits of—(i)coal;(ii)oil;(iii)oil shale;(iv)gas;(v)sodium;(vi)potassium;(vii)sulfur; or(viii)mineral materials subject to disposition under the Act of July 31, 1947, commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).; and(2)in section 3 (30 U.S.C. 352), by striking and sulfur and inserting sulfur, and hardrock minerals.