<enum>I</enum><header>Mineral Leasing, Exploration, and Development</header><section id="H78ED31DEAC0D4F3394B941CD07E67C36"><enum>101.</enum><header>Closure to entry and location</header><subsection id="HB84880A5D06A4D68A5CB0719534E2BC3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Closure</header><text>Except as otherwise provided in this section, as of the effective date of this Act, all Federal land is closed to entry and location under the general mining laws, and no new rights under the general mining laws may be acquired.</text></subsection><subsection id="HEBA194BEBA43451792A86BCF50B7B070"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Existing claims without plan of operations</header><paragraph id="HD583EB9D24C642B6A56EF9874F7C5DB9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Claims without plan of operations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any claim under the general mining laws existing on the effective date of this Act for which a plan of operations is not approved, or a notice of operations is not filed, before such date shall be subject to the requirements of this Act, and may remain in effect until not later than the end of the 10-year period beginning on such date if the claim holder remains in compliance with section 109, unless the claim holder—</text><subparagraph id="HE8B5C100E3394843B612AA458FE59E41"><enum>(A)</enum><text>relinquishes the claim; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4A8D179FE67044F59DFD668C4285CB35"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">demonstrates eligibility for a lease and requests conversion under the regulations issued under subsection (d).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF6AD7FC130B447BF8F5DB302BF0FB5F0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Shortening of period</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The 10-year period referred to in paragraph (1) shall be shortened to 3 years if—</text><subparagraph id="HF6D3EC4AE8954E7DB30A57FE13E24775"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the claim is for an area that is located in an area withdrawn or temporarily segregated from location under the general mining laws as of the effective date of this Act; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H106C726290C441139E368B6C3BCB8664"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the claim belongs to a small miner.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE76B058C413D41A19117FC28DB7400FD"><enum> (3)</enum><header>Conversion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned may convert a claim described in paragraph (1) to a noncompetitive mining lease pursuant to the regulations issued under subsection (d) if such Secretary determines that the claim holder has shown the presence of a valuable mineral deposit on the land subject to such claim.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H68137F301101449E9A5BAA2DEC620A9E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Claims not converted</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any claims described in paragraph (1) not converted to noncompetitive leases under paragraph (3) at the end of the applicable period under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be void.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7BF5CB0574874EE3966DB4E891704516"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Existing claims with plan of operations</header><paragraph id="H5A68F862F62943D69E26842F88242DEF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of any claim under the general mining laws for which a plan of operations has been approved but for which operations have not commenced before the on the effective date of this Act—</text><subparagraph id="HBF659B2303FC42D393CA5B639B5CA60A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">during the 10-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act—</text><clause id="H48C88E860195446E9B28950203947CB2"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">mineral activities on lands subject to such claim shall be subject to such plan of operations; and</text></clause><clause id="H5065D750B8E94DF89653BE5A39112313"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary shall allow the operator to make changes to such plan subject to applicable law as in effect on the day before the effective date of this Act if the Secretary determines that the requested changes are minor; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA31EDC9FD133460FAEBDBF2F6CAAB392"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the operator shall bring such mineral activities into compliance with this Act by the end of such 10-year period.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4F2D42E95F9345C081E84FCBBBEA02A6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Activities pending decision on modification to plan of operations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If an application for modification of a plan of operations referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(ii) has been timely submitted by the claim holder and an approved plan of operations expires before the Secretary concerned takes action on such application, mineral activities and reclamation may continue in accordance with the terms of the expired plan of operations until the Secretary concerned makes an administrative decision on the application.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H31C45D16A7B14F04B4B5CE2129E1446C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conversion requirement</header><subparagraph id="HA933FDC930124FDC85699B8B09F4183B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A claim described in paragraph (1) may remain in effect for a period of not more than 10 years.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF529C5D0790D45999C0E5E4BA6FC4F89"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>A claim described in paragraph (1) that is not converted to a noncompetitive lease pursuant to the regulations issued under subsection (d) before the end of such period shall, beginning on the first date after the end of such period, be subject to a fee of $100 per acre per day until such claim is converted to a noncompetitive lease.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE63FA331E87F4F42A8147C80CE5DF439"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conversion regulations</header><paragraph id="H392C4D6C94444D50893564A1A0493DB4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations regarding the conversion of existing mining claims to noncompetitive mining leases.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE30CE8D2F4944907A18FD303AB687EDF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Content</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such regulations shall—</text><subparagraph id="H58AB3C4944044104AEB4B6E1C27A7EB2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>prohibit the conversion of a mining claim to a mining lease by a claim holder who is in violation of this Act or other State or Federal environmental, health, or worker safety laws;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA1FB1A6942344F24AA33153767A800EC"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allow the Secretary to exercise discretion to include nonmineral lands within the boundaries of any millsite associated with the mining claim to be converted to a noncompetitive lease;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCE3A67C2191345568F9915210156B65E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>prohibit the area in any noncompetitive mining lease issued under this section from exceeding the maximum area authorized by this Act to be leased to any person;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H638F5B6FCEEC4EFEBF3CD1B1D7A710BE"><enum>(D)</enum><text>require the consent of the surface managing agency for conversion of a mining claim to a noncompetitive mining lease;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H439D7E140C5B4325A0ED4C2090EDE848"><enum>(E)</enum><text>require the financial terms of the converted noncompetitive mining lease to be the same as those provided in this Act for other hardrock mining leases; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA71F48B4A44A4783AFA1079D9A2BF65A"><enum>(F)</enum><text>include any other terms the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA86EFE4BCBAD4C2392F61057BDFF4B0F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>National Environmental Policy Act</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary is not required to conduct an environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) to issue a noncompetitive mining lease under this section, unless such noncompetitive mining lease modifies or extends the surface disturbance already authorized under a mine plan of operations covering the mining claim that is converted.</text></subsection></section><section id="HBDEE7A8A30724EE8A5DAE07F604EF095"><enum>102.</enum><header>Limitation on patents</header><subsection id="H4DAE2E133A5648678CCD170BCB8AF992"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Mining claims</header><paragraph id="H67173045A3BF413A9441B56780F47DE8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Determinations required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After the effective date 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 such mining claim—</text><subparagraph id="H8EFE4384C33747FC8A7DFF57108F3D77"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a patent application was filed with the Secretary on or before September 30, 1994; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H449AB084CD7046259443280F59A303FF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all requirements established under sections 2325 and 2326 of the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 29 and 30), in the case of a vein or lode claim, or sections 2329, 2330, 2331, and 2333 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/35">30 U.S.C. 35</external-xref>, 36, and 37), in the case of a placer claim, were fully complied with by that date.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC5CF80AA22C04074B3A26EF9A17B984C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Right to patent</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary makes the determinations required under paragraph (1) for any mining claim, the claim holder 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 before the effective date of this Act, unless such determinations are withdrawn or invalidated by the Secretary or by a court of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H50A1F59A05E24F8D98C5027CB144DFA4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Millsites</header><paragraph id="H13AF996544774ED9AA677193F7997927"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Determinations required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After the effective date of this Act, no patent shall be issued by the United States for any millsite located under the general mining laws unless the Secretary determines that, for such millsite—</text><subparagraph id="H3706EBE8F9BA4B2C81881609230EABCF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a patent application was filed with the Secretary on or before September 30, 1994; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H198FF633A94241B2BA405F0CD287671E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all requirements applicable to such patent application were fully complied with before that date.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HAA4AF875A69540EA973A5147ACADF1C3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Right to patent</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary makes the determinations required under paragraph (1) for any millsite, the claim holder 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 before the effective date of this Act, unless such determinations are withdrawn or invalidated by the Secretary or by a court of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HBF09638E989447B0987FA5CFA8CD73F8"><enum>103.</enum><header>Prospecting licenses and hardrock leases</header><subsection id="HD5D23AC59DA04BF68EA438D72ABC107A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No person may conduct mineral prospecting for commercial purposes for any hardrock mineral on Federal land without a prospecting license or a small miner’s lease.</text></subsection><subsection id="HEE48037937D74B2EB340406205E319AC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prospecting licenses</header><paragraph id="HE3D2E6082D1F4D24AF2AC990BAFB9EA6" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may, under such regulations as the Secretary may issue and with the concurrence of the relevant surface management agency, grant an applicant a prospecting license that shall give the exclusive right to prospect for specified hardrock minerals on Federal land for a period not longer than 2 years.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6D3EB3BF8D3446EF9CC9ACDDDDC614B4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Maximum area</header><text>The area subject to a prospecting license granted under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 2,560 acres of land, in reasonably compact form.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H08B8F926F24C4E88A46884FDA0FB569D" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Prospecting license application fee</header><text>The Secretary shall charge a fee for each prospecting license application to cover the costs of reviewing such application.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEA3D7A3BD85746D1A4E7D590157BF8A3"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Annual rental</header><text>Each prospecting license granted under paragraph (1) shall be subject to annual rentals equal to $10 per acre per year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H740E427BFD9C4F92832788C0577A7C34"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Terms and conditions</header><text>A prospecting license shall conform with the terms and conditions of a comprehensive land use plan approved under—</text><subparagraph id="H03B65D07564F472F8F351DE3ACE9212A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1701">43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFBC84E6816AE4D88835A7D1B23960FD7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1600">16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA6C552A852ED4421AFAC10E437CCEA64"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Areas without approved comprehensive land use plan</header><text>For land covered by a prospecting license for which a comprehensive land use plan treating hardrock mining as a multiple-use activity has not been completed, the Secretary concerned shall ensure that such land is suitable for mineral activities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4FFDCE6D47C64121855FEFB8F7638F54"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>The Secretary may extend a prospecting license granted under this subsection for not more than additional 4 years upon a showing by the licensee that—</text><subparagraph id="H18240BD89C3646818C07AA5BCF8BFD9B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the licensee explored with reasonable diligence and was unable to determine the existence and workability of a valuable mineral deposit covered by the license; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A3D9014746041AAB5BF43A77BE68605"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the licensee failed to perform diligent prospecting activities, such failure was due to conditions beyond the control of the licensee.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H94739ADD4B4040B7A83DAFA5A89A791D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Noncompetitive leases</header><paragraph id="H5B2E3C958462404AA5FAE61F87E4F9AB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon a showing to the satisfaction of the Secretary by a prospecting licensee under subsection (a) that a valuable mineral deposit has been discovered by the licensee within an area covered by the prospecting license and with the consent of the surface agency, the licensee shall be entitled to a lease for any or all of the land included in the prospecting license, as well as any nonmineral lands necessary for processing or milling operations, at a royalty of not less than 12.5 percent of the gross value of production of hardrock minerals or mineral concentrates or products derived from hardrock minerals under the lease.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5F4A90DB269A4EC4B56B8AD57E2545EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rentals</header><subparagraph id="H82F08A299CA2497E844774E5A31F60CC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Rentals for a lease under this section shall be set by the Secretary at not less than $10 per acre per year, with rentals paid in any 1 year credited against royalties accruing for that year.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF3626A6E9C1A4B7ABCE6921DE97DBC6F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Operations permit</header><text>A lessee under this section is not entitled to an operations permit.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFCDE61423D9145DDBC069E6A3376B6C3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Lease period</header><subparagraph id="H3081C7C5F80847DB89F23FB85AEDF346"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A lease under this subsection shall be for a period of 20 years, with the right to renew for successive periods of 10 years if hardrock minerals are being produced in commercial quantities under the lease.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7945A4E5077246A58E6DC7CF32199DA6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension during nonproduction</header><text>The Secretary may issue not more than 1 10-year extension of a lease under this subsection if hardrock minerals are not being produced in commercial quantities at the end of the primary, or any subsequent, term of such lease and—</text><clause id="H851B97B2E6E84E31A532871473313539"><enum>(i)</enum><text>it is in the interest of conservation or reclamation maintenance;</text></clause><clause id="HCDE037B445E94CB9B8A20CEF453FBAED"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the lessee shows that the lease cannot be successfully operated at a profit; or</text></clause><clause id="H7774B1FED27D489DB31BB54EBEFC3BEE"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Secretary determines that issuing such extension is appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0A889116C4E54247872F0F45D8C92F8B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Definition of commercial quantities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this paragraph, the term <term>commercial quantities</term> means any economic amount sold, bartered, or traded for profit.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB5C23ED8000C484E9746998289088C30"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Cumulative acreage limitation</header><text>No person may take, hold, own, or control at 1 time, whether acquired directly from the Secretary under this Act or otherwise, hardrock mining leases or licenses for an aggregate of more than 20,480 acres in any 1 State.</text></subsection><subsection id="H708F9783663947099B2E6233837832C5"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reduction of royalty rate</header><paragraph id="H45A80E77EEEE4FC9B643153D9F59040C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary—</text><subparagraph id="H2417039E36854B52B31D635B61346B9A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may reduce the royalty rate for a lease under this section upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence by the operator that production would not occur without the reduction in royalty rate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2762F50C72CF4A0D8AF7BB9CEA3B13C6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may reduce the royalty and rental rates for a lease under this section to encourage exploration for and development of critical minerals (as such term is defined in section 7002(a) of the Energy Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1606">30 U.S.C. 1606(a)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7E681AF12B1A4F41BF95B716659C1D24"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may not reduce the royalty rate for a lease pursuant to paragraph (1) to less than 6.25 percent.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3B2AF05E5CD64C6381CDB13737643BFE" commented="no"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Protection of land and other resources</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, in consultation with any applicable surface management agency, may include in any lease or license issued under this Act such provisions as are necessary to adequately protect land and other resources in the vicinity of the area subject to the lease or license.</text></subsection></section><section id="H32596D54204147A59EFAF25061D76674"><enum>104.</enum><header>Competitive leasing</header><subsection id="H14E3A8A40C4A424BB2D4B33DB0FBD133"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to sections 111 and 112, Federal land known to contain valuable mineral deposits that is not covered by claims, licenses, or leases issued under this Act may only be open to hardrock mineral exploration or development through competitive leasing by the Secretary through such methods the Secretary may adopt by regulation and in such areas as the Secretary may determine, including nonmineral lands the Secretary considers necessary for processing or milling operations.</text></subsection><subsection id="H5DC7C6D5D76A4AF7B926EDE8A9500C0E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The total area of land subject to a competitive lease under this section shall not exceed 2,560 acres.</text></subsection><subsection id="H72DA620CFAF044D398457E157A26CF29"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Terms and requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All terms and requirements for competitive leases under this section shall be the same as if the leases were issued noncompetitively under section 103(c).</text></subsection></section><section id="HA148B1913B954FC4A8BC8EB2D36A4F86"><enum>105.</enum><header>Small miner’s lease</header><subsection id="HF3FDC9E86950431D8FD9C2AA7D29A75C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may issue a small miner’s lease to a qualified small miner that applies, under such regulations as the Secretary may issue, including conditions to require diligent development of such lease and to ensure protection of surface resources and ground water.</text></subsection><subsection id="H8DBEC1F1ADBF43F0AC77D4B555A7953D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exclusive right</header><text>A small miner’s lease shall give the lessee the exclusive right to prospect for hardrock minerals for 3 years on not more than 200 acres of contiguous or noncontiguous Federal land.</text></subsection><subsection id="H58CA0A66057C4DEAB8E8EBAEADE48736"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application fee</header><text>The Secretary shall charge a reasonable application fee for a small miner’s lease under this subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="H4C134AD1DCB54E14BDB435B2A5059CE8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Rentals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual rentals for a small miner’s lease issued under this section shall be $5 per acre per year for the first 3 years.</text></subsection><subsection id="HA83B52DB7A4647819B3EEDC4B45D93EB"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Renewal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A small miner’s leases issued under this section may be renewed for any number of additional 3-year periods. The rental for such a renewed lease shall be $10 per acre per year rental charged.</text></subsection><subsection id="HFB949D805EF14486B54ABFD955C012F3"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Challenge</header><paragraph id="H55AA022426E54DE69792173A85E7B011"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any individual may file a challenge with the Secretary that a lessee is in violation of the diligence terms of a small miner’s lease or does not qualify as a small miner.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC8F6FE1831E340FD85B102333449FE67"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Renewal when subject to challenge</header><text>A small miner’s lease that is subject to a challenge under paragraph (1) may not be renewed unless the Secretary has determined that the lessee is a small miner and is in compliance with all the terms of the small miner’s lease.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7AA90DD9018F4334BFFE83DE586956AE"><enum>(g)</enum><header>No royalties</header><text>The Secretary shall not charge royalties for commercial production under a small miner’s lease.</text></subsection><subsection id="HCB59CEF0F2AC4B7A9B48314029E6E89C"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Conversion of existing claims</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A claim existing on the effective date of this Act that belongs to an individual that qualifies as a small miner may be converted to a small miner’s lease under the same terms and conditions that apply to a small miner’s lease under this section, except that such lease—</text><paragraph id="H300DE3EC99F54D84B26DBC43446B6275"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall not be subject to rental during the primary term of the lease;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H567C1B537CDB4B448B1B5E219CE3089F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall be subject to a rental of $5 per acre per year for the first 3-year renewal of the lease; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2C560E3A58AE4C38AAA11AABA5C33E6C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>shall be subject to a rental of $10 per acre per year for any subsequent 3-year renewal of the lease.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H63070FE0A9234DF489CB8A6514E015FA"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>A small miner’s lease—</text><paragraph id="H1B4614D4F0F0471EA7C43AD39D5C7359"><enum>(1)</enum><text>may only be held by the primary lease holder, a spouse thereof, or a direct descendent thereof;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE0A4F7A4976246FDBA2023E51E65E8EC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may not be sold or transferred, other than to a spouse or direct descendent of the primary lease holder; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB743E8ECB923467B9E7CED6277B77DFB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>is subject to all permitting requirements under this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDADB7ABA5879471E844DD0112724189B"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Conversion to hardrock mineral lease</header><paragraph id="H4572DCF14AC74BB4B700EA7C7F4E0874"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If, with regard to a small miner’s lease, the lessee does not qualify as a small miner at the time such lessee applies for a renewal of such lease, such lessee shall not be eligible to renew such lease, but shall be eligible for a noncompetitive hardrock mineral lease issued under section 103(c).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEACAAE8791F544A2AAA79B6AFD214633"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Royalties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding section 103(c)(1), royalties under a small miner’s lease converted to a hardrock mineral lease under this subsection shall only be due on the gross income that exceeds $50,000 annually or the amount of gross income specified by the Secretary as of the time such noncompetitive lease is issued. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H51F601A7D90F44909C0E4915E91F5619"><enum>106.</enum><header>Land containing nonhardrock minerals; other uses</header><subsection id="HCE472D72E50D4D16BE8E26BAFCAA53B3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In issuing licenses and leases under this Act for land that contains deposits of coal or other nonhardrock minerals, the Secretary shall reserve to the United States such nonhardrock minerals for disposal under applicable laws.</text></subsection><subsection id="H50AF3CD4138A419F92E10BE89BCF20F2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Other uses of licensed and leased lands</header><paragraph id="H56A82C921A144E759053F68F86FE2C6B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall issue regulations to allow for other uses of the land covered by a prospecting license under this Act, including leases for other minerals, if such other uses would not unreasonably interfere with operations under the prospecting license.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3353A240F8AF4F318F32A48AE049ACA6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Terms and conditions</header><text>The Secretary shall include in each prospecting license issued under section 103(b) such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines necessary to avoid unreasonable interference with other uses occurring on, or other leases of, the licensed land.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H87544BBB61BA44B8B98E13B752C9FDC7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Leases</header><text>The Secretary shall include in leases issued under this Act stipulations to allow for simultaneous operations under other leases for the same land.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H84FAB1B610CF48EF8CBAB75C44A91994"><enum>107.</enum><header>Royalty</header><subsection id="H2F778C141F6B415A90FCBE8FE8085D10"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Existing production</header><paragraph id="H4E9D21F7989243B384655F7608E5C2D7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Production of hardrock minerals, mineral concentrates, or products derived from hardrock minerals on Federal land under an operations permit from which valuable hardrock minerals were produced in commercial quantities before the effective date of this Act, other than production under a small miner’s lease, shall be subject to a royalty established by the Secretary of not less than 8 percent of the gross value of such production.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6155A8F7B3A24BF0B940342F8A6B2EC9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional Federal land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Production of hardrock minerals, mineral concentrates, or products derived from hardrock minerals on Federal land added through a plan modification to an operations permit that is submitted after the effective date of this Act shall be subject to a royalty established by the Secretary for such lease of not less than 12.5 percent of the gross value such production.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H004A2FC6E70147F1854D06A671C22DA3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Liability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The claim holder or lessee, or any operator to whom the claim holder or lessee has assigned the obligation to make royalty payments under the claim or lease and any person who controls such claim or lease holder or operator, shall be liable for payment of such royalties.</text></subsection><subsection id="HD495D08845B04759AF3863608668A8F8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Disposition</header><text>Of the revenues collected under this title, including rents, royalties, claim maintenance fees, interest charges, fines, and penalties—</text><paragraph id="HC704FB8CCD144845815359D4CE5B9429"><enum>(1)</enum><text>25 percent shall be paid to the State within the boundaries of which the leased, licensed, or claimed lands, or operations subject to such interest charges, fines, or penalties are or were located; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6BEAD5231CB6431DBADC21E7444EA942"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the remainder shall be made available to carry out, to remain available until expended without fiscal year limitation, the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation Program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA255662FFCED42199F4EA6B1A4D21343"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties of claim holders, lessees, operators, and transporters</header><paragraph id="HC750EAD539F84141B22AE31A00CB7D14"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Regulation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall issue regulations regarding the time and manner in which a person who is required to make a royalty payment under this section shall—</text><subparagraph id="HB955F894ABBB4F06B39801520A90333A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>make such payment; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H875A01A7D7C44BB69E8E8D7DA898B7EE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>notify 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 or lease under this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H801F26D394DC4806B2C38ECC69A6A23B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Written instrument</header><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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF7CB59A75A3F4B01ABFD9B7CB0E5E573"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Additional amounts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such responsibility for the periods referred to in paragraph (2) shall include any and all additional amounts billed by the Secretary and determined to be due by final agency or judicial action.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H486A4F1830D24C02833895F949FB9646"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Joint and several liability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any person liable for royalty payments under this section who assigns any payment obligation shall remain jointly and severally liable for such royalty payments.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2328F9DE76ED413EB4CD63873627B838"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Obligations</header><text>A person conducting mineral activities shall—</text><subparagraph id="HCC58B6DE9ED94917B5E29779E6329F61"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop and comply with the site security provisions in the operations permit designed to protect from theft the hardrock minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom that are produced or stored on the area subject to a mining claim or lease, and such provisions shall conform with such minimum standards as the Secretary may issue by regulation, taking into account the variety of circumstances on areas subject to mining claims and leases; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF8169B38E74E4348961AAF5750EE12C1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than the fifth business day after production begins anywhere on an area subject to a mining claim or lease, 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="H9433B0E976C24F0699F1F9377B5A63CF"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Required documentation</header><text>The Secretary may by regulation require any person engaged in transporting a hardrock mineral, concentrate, or product derived therefrom 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 hardrock mineral, concentrate, or product derived therefrom in such circumstances as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6CCD4F1506ED4BD38B4E2AC3F70EEF26"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Recordkeeping and reporting requirements</header><paragraph id="HA3B63E5FA5C04E36A0FF1A6758AA780A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="H1AD5DA98DF17475CB42163EF851DBF4C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A claim holder or lessee, operator, or other person directly involved in developing, producing, processing, transporting, purchasing, or selling hardrock minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom, subject to this Act, 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 regulations or orders under this section.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H591090B2E50E499EB61B07614026DFAD"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><clause id="H55BDA5F82D37461AB585BA2E7A766336"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Records</header><text>Records described in subparagraph (A) shall include periodic reports, records, documents, and other data.</text></clause><clause id="H94BFD2B1050D472FA381D369A67E8A37"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Reports</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reports described in subparagraph (A) may include pertinent technical and financial data relating to the quantity, quality, composition volume, weight, and assay of all minerals extracted from the mining claim or lease.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5037070B77944AD589769716B89CF691"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Availability for inspection</header><text>Upon the request of any officer or employee duly designated by the Secretary to conduct 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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0FC9BD52ABAF40BF90082B5617257E50"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Forfeiture</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Failure by a claim holder or lessee, operator, or other person referred to in paragraph (1)(A) to cooperate with an audit or investigation under paragraph (2), 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 or lease.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H388B77481C934960B68D9B9423B41B94"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Maintenance of records</header><subparagraph id="HBB9A435C0B3D4AF3BBF58E731290331D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Records required by the Secretary under this section shall be maintained for 7 years after release of financial assurance under section 306 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.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA4B688E023D04A148D909B3BA632DAEC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Audit or investigation</header><text>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></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE658F360933B4B6D89FD6B591B42A369"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Audits</header><paragraph id="H0AA025603CDC41289A50964A0C942C6B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary is authorized to conduct such audits of all claim holders or lessees, operators, transporters, purchasers, processors, or other persons directly or indirectly involved in the production or sale of minerals covered by this Act, as the Secretary determines necessary for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the requirements of this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H354C80C6C5C04304BB56D80676B7D18B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Availability of information</header><text>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></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC908E5EE7F274EFC9CB98BC9F88F38C2"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><paragraph id="H5565F08720A24E609CA1AD54915F242D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the Secretary of Agriculture to share information concerning the royalty management of hardrock 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, and to carry out any other activity described in this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF87458C59EDD4621B9B2F6F337B9B829"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Secretary of Agriculture</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in paragraph (3), and pursuant to a cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall, upon request, have access to all royalty accounting information in the possession of the Secretary with respect to the production, removal, or sale of hardrock minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom from claims or leases on land open to mineral exploration and production under this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE22FAC89090A4ADBA46251399F87A42E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Confidential information</header><subparagraph id="HFCAA6AE62D604C3C884602AF442381D2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Trade secrets, proprietary information, and other confidential information protected from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, shall be made available by the Secretary to other Federal agencies as necessary to ensure compliance with this Act and other Federal laws.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC07D94B90D8C4508BCC9309678D019E6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Protection of information</header><text>The Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, and other Federal officials shall ensure that the information described in subparagraph (A) is provided protection in accordance with the requirements of that section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7E6753B73BB94C9C9D9A032FFF51872D"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Interest and substantial underreporting assessments</header><paragraph id="H955448D51AB24698A71FB0D6ECA9C89D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Payments not received</header><subparagraph id="H39693C42547C4551890DDAAA8FC59873"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In the case of mining claims or leases 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 <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/6621">section 6621(a)(2)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE37A260536E14A84893A891DE624AF40"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Computation</header><text>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></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5CECB0E1651E4026BBFDBAA1B44D8051"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Underreporting</header><text>If there is any underreporting of royalty owed on production from a claim or lease for any production month by any person liable for royalty payments under this section, the Secretary shall assess a penalty of not more than 25 percent of the amount of the underreporting.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0B8EECACE359467FAC9D3406DB5F84E6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Self-reporting</header><text>The Secretary may waive or reduce the assessment under paragraph (2) if the person liable for royalty payments under this section corrects the underreporting before the later of—</text><subparagraph id="HB688E528E7FA48758E0C73A3BD62421B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date such person receives notice from the Secretary that an underreporting may have occurred; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2CE42D26E0E44A1C93E8A0B250EEF67F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date that is 90 days after the effective date of this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7A4AF4C305E04A7F92A7061D60591CAF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The Secretary shall waive any portion of an assessment under paragraph (2) attributable to that portion of the underreporting for which the person responsible for paying the royalty demonstrates that such person—</text><subparagraph id="H02113DE57D264966BAE8916A2B77F5E6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>had written authorization from the Secretary to report royalty on the value of the production on the basis on which it was reported;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H94E971DBCB79485C8D93734C58F30900"><enum>(B)</enum><text>had substantial authority for reporting royalty on the value of the production on the basis on which it was reported;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H113B3687A7B44D3CB0744E5DD81841BC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>previously had notified the Secretary, in such manner as the Secretary may by regulation issue, of relevant reasons or facts affecting the royalty treatment of specific production which led to the underreporting; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0E94E42C1812492D87488109AA69B510"><enum>(D)</enum><text>meets any other exception which the Secretary may, by regulation, establish.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H434890270C3845BCBD676045E3C14ED6"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Abandoned hardrock mine reclamation program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All penalties collected under this subsection shall be shall be made available to carry out, to remain available until expended without fiscal year limitation, the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation Program.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6C1A0765D97C4DCCB646446A91D2A16D"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Underreporting defined</header><text>In 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></subsection><subsection id="HBD3B167E78AD410EA10A31DA2A0822F5"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Expanded royalty obligations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each person liable for royalty payments under this section shall be jointly and severally liable for royalty on all hardrock minerals, concentrates, or products derived therefrom that are lost or wasted from a mining claim or lease if such loss or waste is due to negligence on the part of any person or due to the failure to comply with this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1615F1592CC643CB83F90B3A7CBCC224"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Failure To comply with royalty requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty under section 109 of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (<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 or lease maintained in compliance with this Act were a lease under such Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="H0DDD0D9AE1264F2580899D527F4C8FAA"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Gross income from mining defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, for any hardrock mineral, the term <term>gross income from mining</term> has the meaning given the term <term>gross income</term> in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/613">section 613(c)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.</text></subsection><subsection id="HDF91186FE5EE47A6A158B1A588B74977"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Royalties under this Act shall take effect with respect to the production of hardrock minerals after the effective date of this Act, but any royalty payments attributable to production during the first 12 calendar months after the effective date of this Act shall be payable at the expiration of such 12-month period.</text></subsection></section><section id="HA48D598575A743A9B9B1F5E07445A48F"><enum>108.</enum><header>Existing production</header><subsection id="H84249984EED04CBA87B4A3DA930067A1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The claim holder of a mining claim located or converted under this Act for which mineral activities have commenced under an approved plan of operations as of the effective date of this Act shall have the exclusive right of possession and use of the land subject to such mining claim for mineral activities, including the right of ingress and egress to such land for mineral activities, subject to the rights of the United States under this Act and other applicable Federal law.</text></subsection><subsection id="HC3DA4D6F7C7A47E68403465A1EF35B1A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Termination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The rights of the claim holder under subsection (a) shall terminate upon completion of mineral activities on such land to the satisfaction of the Secretary.</text></subsection></section><section id="HA6E6E71C0AD044468C27564CBD87F590"><enum>109.</enum><header>Hardrock mining claim maintenance fee</header><subsection id="H366AC62B2D77453BAF6F4FB50CB3C744"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Fee</header><paragraph id="HB9D760F65A7F43A7A737853C2EE48663"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="H2DED700DCB4B4C1987EA832F65F6F75A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Required fees</header><clause id="H5E964936E060458A99626BD45C81EEAE"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in section 2511(e)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/242">30 U.S.C. 242(e)(2)</external-xref>) and as otherwise provided in this Act, for each unpatented mining claim, millsite, or tunnel site on Federal land, whether located before or on the effective date of this Act, each such claimant shall pay to the Secretary, on or before September 1 of each year, a claim maintenance fee of $200 per claim to hold such unpatented mining claim, millsite, or tunnel site for the assessment year beginning at noon the following day.</text></clause><clause id="HA1C78818BD13470F86DDED7235D2CA0F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Fee in place of assessment work</header><text>A claim maintenance fee paid under clause (i) shall be in lieu of the assessment work requirement 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 in sections 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></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE6B81321976F44DBB1A7055856024E65"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fee adjustments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any adjustment to a fee under this subsection made under section 502 shall begin to apply in the first assessment year which begins after the adjustment is made.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF16DC91988C04F77A9B09B7D4265B5F9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Exception for small miners</header><text>Subparagraph (A) and the assessment work requirement 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>) shall not apply with respect to a small miner’s lease.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H48A3009A83534B4089FCCD452111073A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reclamation program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Moneys received under this subsection that are not otherwise allocated for the administration of this Act by the Secretary shall be made available to carry out, to remain available until expended without fiscal year limitation, the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation Program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBD5EC83503C64DE8A282634B25857727"><enum>(b)</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>) shall remain in effect except that the annual claim maintenance fee under subsection (a), where applicable, shall replace applicable assessment requirements and expenditures under that Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1B75770CC8574AA4976CC5D2ED9BAE0E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Failure To pay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Failure to pay the claim maintenance fee under subsection (a) in a timely manner shall conclusively constitute a forfeiture of the unpatented mining claim, millsite, or tunnel site by the claimant and the claim, millsite, or tunnel site shall be deemed null and void by operation of law.</text></subsection><subsection id="H77A4C2C069A1401C986639D7CD351E07"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Other requirements</header><paragraph id="HD57A322116114EC9A2A6B860BD53B83A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Required filings</header><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 that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1744">43 U.S.C. 1744(c)</external-xref>) related to filings required by section 314(b) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1744">43 U.S.C. 1744(b)</external-xref>), which remain in effect.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HFA7FD756184B4866842FE559AB7E8899"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mining Law of 1872</header><text>Section 2324 of the Mining Law of 1872 (<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 Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025</short-title></quote> after <quote>Act of 1993</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3559843B555B4764A03BAC3E4506D027" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>110.</enum><header>Effect of payments for use and occupancy of claims</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Except as otherwise provided in section 101, timely payment of the claim maintenance fee required by section 109 or any related law relating to the use of Federal land, asserts the authority of the claimant to use and occupy the Federal land concerned for prospecting and exploration, consistent with the requirements of this Act and other applicable law.</text></section><section id="H37A657FC9B654291AD52E9B7046FB930"><enum>111.</enum><header>Protection of special places</header><subsection id="HDF3A077AA9484AE59D015DFFDCDD3FCE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Protection of National Park System units and national monuments</header><text>No agency may authorize any mineral activity that would impair the land or resources of a unit of the National Park System or a national monument, including—</text><paragraph id="H0DFDA96E5A584179A66E52BCA6682F5B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any diminution of the affected land, including wildlife, scenic assets, water resources, air quality, and acoustic qualities; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD6EC6FACAE9F4F55850DE10ED367A1CB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>other changes that would impair a the experience of a citizen at the National Park System unit or a national monument.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAE861B2422504D029F9FA908BB00F9DA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Protection of National Conservation System units</header><text>In order to protect the resources and values of National Conservation System units, the Secretary, as appropriate, shall use authority under this Act 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="HC4E319DAB1DF4F998D88FBF7D4783593"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Lands not open to mining</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to valid existing rights, no agency shall authorize mineral activities within any of the following areas:</text><paragraph id="H9DA213601427460D9C4B4AD0483C2616"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Sacred sites.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE46B7178CBF94888B7FFC7C325403440"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Wilderness study areas.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7B441EF458B3440594CA5129C2BD328D"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Habitat designated as critical habitat under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H041937810B534194AC68B9E0603B5AA7"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Areas of critical environmental concern (as such term is defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1702">43 U.S.C. 1702</external-xref>)).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFCB4C8501C2B4110A4DCF890507D8FA5"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Units of the National Conservation System.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H29AC778A589244B68C67C28203DD67AC"><enum>(6)</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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1276">16 U.S.C. 1276(d)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5EFEF37469B94F11A8117A2748626ABB"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inventoried Roadless Areas under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, part 294 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Colorado Roadless Areas, or Idaho Roadless Areas.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H8E0384E5E98C4703947082593207C75D"><enum>112.</enum><header>Suitability determination</header><subsection id="HB34776896D134CECB2901FFB16597A4F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In accordance with subsection (b), the Secretary concerned shall make each determination of whether land is suitable for mineral activities that is required by this Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="HDAC0C1665C4946D1A9EC20A748C3578C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Suitability</header><paragraph id="HCFA660DA514B45F6ADF4A1E9D0316F52"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned shall consider land suitable for mineral activities if the Secretary concerned finds that such mineral activities would not result in unnecessary or undue degradation to a special characteristic described in paragraph (2) of such land that cannot be prevented by the imposition of conditions in the permit required for such activities under title III.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H18344F8C64BD42EB9B243D4E1FBEBF8D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Special characteristics</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall consider each of the following to be a special characteristic:</text><subparagraph id="HF1DBC0CE3C3B4C6387F79570A5980F30"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The existence of a significant water resource or supply in or associated with such land, including any aquifer or aquifer recharge area.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBB150AD5F0044D0B9732A1786A8B41C3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The presence on such land, or any adjacent land, of a publicly owned place that is listed on, or determined by the Secretary to be eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H118CE754E9C4419E94CA356CA666EB6E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The designation of all or any portion of such land, or any adjacent land, as a National Conservation System unit.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5D558BF5DABC4559A287D3F525C9AA3C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The designation of all or any portion of such land, or any adjacent land, as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC352ED4D1FC74C7CA9EA577B05648784"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The designation of all or any portion of such land, or any adjacent land, as a class I area under section 162 of the Clean Air Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7472">42 U.S.C. 7472</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6803A0C8530C4ED7A5B800364879C8AF"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The presence of such other resource values as the Secretary concerned may by regulation specify, determined based upon field testing, evaluation, or credible information that verifies such values.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC09489AD50714ED6AB2C4E4A6AB7E522"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The designation of such land, or adjacent land, as a Research Natural Area.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1376904DCB724DFEB08F10E503160802"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The presence on such land, or any adjacent land, of a sacred site.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B64AAAE932042CC81A9B177FECFC171"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The presence or designation of such land adjacent to land not open to mining pursuant to section 111.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2EA6D14FFC5947F79AA086CADCB2B5DA"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Public comment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A determination under this subsection of suitability for mineral activities shall be made after publication of notice and an opportunity for submission of public comment for a period of not less than 60 days.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF0D54E1F6109417588C8D20EA6622B7A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Inclusion in Federal land use plan</header><text>Any determination made in accordance with this subsection with respect to land shall be incorporated into each Federal land use plan applicable to such land, at the time such Federal land use plan is adopted, revised, or significantly amended pursuant to any Federal law other than this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H158F4FF6233041A6B800E8C99FC06C0C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Change request</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned shall, by regulation, provide an opportunity for any person to request a change in determination for any Federal land found suitable under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="HCB324FCE314A45F99242CE6E9C89167B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Existing operations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect land on which mineral activities were being conducted on the effective date of this Act under an approved plan of operations or under notice.</text></subsection></section>

Definitions and references

(a)

In general

As used in this Act:(1)The term Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation Program means the program established by section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (30 U.S.C. 1245).(2)The term adjacent land means any land not more than 2 miles from the boundary of a described land tract.(3)The term affiliate means, with respect to any person, any of the following:(A)Any person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such person.(B)Any partner of such person.(C)Any person owning at least 10 percent of the voting shares of such person.(4)The term agency has the meaning given the term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.(5)The term applicant means any person applying for a lease, license, or permit under this Act or a modification to or a renewal of a lease, license, or permit issued under this Act.(6)The term beneficiation means the crushing and grinding of hardrock mineral ore and such processes as are employed to free the mineral from other constituents, including physical and chemical separation techniques.(7)The term casual use—(A)means mineral activities that do not ordinarily result in any disturbance of Federal land and resources;(B)includes collection of geochemical, rock, soil, or mineral specimens using handtools, hand panning, or nonmotorized sluicing; and(C)does not include—(i)the use of mechanized earth-moving equipment, suction dredging, or explosives;(ii)the use of motor vehicles in areas closed to off-road vehicles;(iii)the construction of roads or drill pads; or(iv)the use of toxic or hazardous materials.(8)The term claim holder means—(A)any person holding a mining claim, millsite, or tunnel site located under the general mining laws or this Act and maintained in compliance with such laws; and(B)any agent of such person.(9)The term control means having the ability, directly or indirectly, to determine (without regard to whether exercised through 1 or more corporate structures) the manner in which an entity conducts mineral activities, through any means, including—(A)ownership interest;(B)authority to commit the real or financial assets of the entity;(C)position as a director, officer, or partner of the entity; or(D)contractual arrangement.(10)The term displaced material means any raw ore or waste dislodged from its location by human disturbance, including from hardrock mineral activities.(11)The term exploration—(A)means creating surface disturbance, other than casual use, to evaluate the type, extent, quantity, or quality of minerals present;(B)includes mineral activities associated with sampling, drilling, and analyzing hardrock mineral values; and(C)does not include extraction of mineral material for commercial use or sale.(12)The term Federal land—(A)means any land, and any interest in land, that is owned by the United States; and(B)does not include—(i)lands in the National Park System;(ii)Indian lands; or(iii)lands on the Outer Continental Shelf.(13)The term hardrock mineral—(A)means any mineral that was subject to location under the general mining laws as of the effective date of this Act, and that is not subject to disposition under—(i)the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.);(ii)the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.);(iii)the Act of July 31, 1947, commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or(iv)the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.); and(B)does not include any mineral that is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States and is—(i)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 (25 U.S.C. 2101); or(ii)owned by any Indian or Indian Tribe, as defined in that section.(14)The term Indian lands means—(A)lands held in trust for the benefit of an Indian Tribe or Indian;(B)lands held by an Indian Tribe or Indian subject to a restriction by the United States against alienation; or(C)lands held by an Alaska Native village, village corporation, or regional corporation, as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).(15)The term Indian Tribe means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village, village corporation, or regional corporation, as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.(16)The term mining claim means any mining claim made pursuant to—(A)this Act; or(B)the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.) before the effective date of this Act.(17)The term mineral activities means any activity carried out on a mining claim, millsite, or tunnel site, authorized by a lease, license, or permit issued under this Act, for, related to, or incidental to, mineral exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, or reclamation activities for any hardrock mineral.(18)The term National Conservation System unit means any unit of the National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, National Wilderness Preservation System, National Landscape Conservation System, or National Trails System, or a National Conservation Area, a National Recreation Area, a Wilderness Study Area, a National Monument, or any unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System or lands within the National Forest System, including the following:(A)National Volcanic Monuments.(B)Recreation Areas, Scenic Recreation Areas, and Winter Recreation Areas.(C)Scenic Areas, Scenic-Research Areas, Scenic Highways, and National Scenic and Wildlife Areas.(D)National Game and Wildlife Preserves.(E)Special Management, Wildlife, Conservation, and Protection Areas, including botanical, hydrological (watershed), geological, historical, paleontological, and zoological areas.(F)Experimental Forests, Ranges, and Watersheds. (G)Research Sites and Research Natural Areas.(H)Inventoried Roadless Area, Colorado Roadless Area, and Idaho Roadless Area.(I)Recommended Wilderness and Primitive Areas.(19)The term operator means—(A)any person proposing or authorized by a permit issued under this Act to conduct mineral activities; and(B)any agent of such person.(20)The term person 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.(21)The term processing means processes downstream of beneficiation employed to prepare hardrock mineral ore into a final marketable product, including smelting and electrolytic refining.(22)The term raw ore means ore in its unprocessed form, containing profitable amounts of a hardrock mineral.(23)The term reclamation means taking measures following the disturbance of Federal land by mineral activities to meet applicable performance standards and achieve conditions required by the Secretary concerned at the conclusion of such mineral activities, including, where applicable—(A)isolation, control, or removal of acid-forming, toxic, or deleterious substances;(B)regrading and reshaping to conform with adjacent landforms, facilitate revegetation, control drainage, and minimize erosion;(C)rehabilitation of fisheries or wildlife habitat;(D)placement of growth medium and establishment of self-sustaining revegetation;(E)removal or stabilization of buildings, structures, or other support facilities;(F)plugging of drill holes and closure of underground workings; and(G)providing for post-mining monitoring, maintenance, or treatment.(24)The term sacred site means any specific delineated location on Federal land that is identified by an Indian Tribe—(A)as sacred by virtue of its established religious significance to, or ceremonial use by, an Indian religion; or(B)to be of established cultural significance.(25)The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, unless otherwise specified.(26)The term Secretary concerned means—(A)the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service) with respect to National Forest System land; and(B)the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management) with respect to other Federal land.(27)(A)The term small miner means a person (including all related parties thereto) that—(i)holds not more than 10 mining claims, millsites, or tunnel sites, or any combination thereof, on Federal land;(ii)is a claim holder or operator with respect to not more than 200 acres of Federal land;(iii)certifies to the Secretary in writing that the person had annual gross income in the preceding calendar year from mineral production in an amount less than $50,000; and(iv)has performed assessment work required under the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.) to maintain any mining claims held by the person and all related parties thereto for the assessment year ending on noon of September 1 of the calendar year in which payment of the claim maintenance fee was due.(B)For purposes of subparagraph (A), with respect to any person, the term all related parties means—(i)the spouse or qualifying child (as such term is defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) of such person; or(ii)an affiliate of the person concerned.(C)For purposes of subparagraph (A)(iii), the dollar amount shall be applied, for a person, to the aggregate of all annual gross income from mineral production under all mining claims held by or assigned to such person and all related parties with respect to such person, including mining claims located or for which a patent was issued before the effective date of this Act.(28)The term temporary cessation means a halt in mineral activities for a continuous period that does not exceed 5 years.(29)The term ton means 2,000 pounds avoirdupois (.90718 metric ton).(30)The term unnecessary or undue degradation means irreparable harm to significant scientific, cultural, or environmental resources on Federal land.(31)The term valuable mineral deposit means a deposit of hardrock minerals that is of sufficient value for a prudent operator to extract, remove, and market at a profit.(32)The term waste means rock that must be fractured and removed in order to gain access to raw ore.(b)

References to other laws

(1)

General mining laws

Any reference in this Act 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.(2)

Act of July 23, 1955

Any reference in this Act to the Act of July 23, 1955, is a reference to the Act entitled 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 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).