MINING AND MINERAL RESOURCES

Amendments

Dept. of the Interior and related agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 2361), S7325 [23JN], S7331, S7374, S7379, S7380 [24JN], S7403, S7404, S7405, S7406, S7409, S7411, S7412, S7413, S7414, S7417, S7418, S7420, S7421, S7422, S7439, S7440, S7441, S7442, S7443, S7444, S7445 [27JN], S7480, S7511, S7512, S7539 [28JN], S7552, S7569, S7642, S7643 [29JN], H3333 [16MY], H3437 [17MY], H3557, H3558 [18MY], H3614, H3620, H3623, H3631, H3634, H3638, H3640, H3642, H3644, H3646, H3658, H3659, H3663, H3664, H3665, H3669, H3670, H3671, H3672, H3696 [19MY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), consideration (H. Res. 287), H3594 [19MY]

Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area: establish (S. 1170), S13037, S13038, S13059 [16NO]

National Geologic Mapping Act: reauthorize and amend (S. 485), S13037, S13057 [16NO]

Public lands: reduce the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands (S. 203), S8989, S9008 [26JY]

Analyses

Rocky Flats Minerals Acquisition Act (H.R. 4181), E2220 [28OC]

Appointments

Conferees: H.R. 2361, Dept. of the Interior and related agencies appropriations, S7644 [29JN], H6466 [26JY]

Articles and editorials

Dirty Secret—Coal Plants Could Be Much Cleaner, S5977 [26MY]

New Mexico Tech Second on `Best Value' College List, S3896 [19AP]

W.R. Grace Indicted in Libby Asbestos Deaths—Mine Company and Seven Executives Face Criminal Charges, S1102 [8FE]

Bills and resolutions

Bankruptcy: prevent courts from dismissing companies' Coal Act obligations to pay workers promised benefits (see S. 594), S2482 [10MR]

———protect labor rights of current and former employees of coal industry employers that are debtors (see H.R. 1367), H1691 [17MR]

Big Horn County, WY: open certain withdrawn land to locatable mineral development for bentonite mining (see S. 97), S144 [24JA]

Black Lung Benefits Act: ensure benefit equity for eligible survivors (see H.R. 300), H193 [25JA]

Black Lung Disability Trust Fund: resolve structural indebtedness (see H.R. 3915), H8387 [27SE]

Carson National Forest: withdraw the Valle Vidal Unit from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws (see H.R. 3817), H8088 [15SE]

Coal: allow certain coal exporters to directly claim a refund of the excise tax unconstitutionally imposed on coal exported by such exporters (see H.R. 3771), H7948 [14SE]

———clarify that certain coal industry health benefits may not be modified or terminated (see S. 162), S436 [25JA] (see H.R. 299), H193 [25JA]

———develop Federal coal resources (see S. 814), S3734 [15AP] (see H.R. 905), H792 [17FE]

———provide Federal financial incentives for deployment of advanced coal-based generation technologies (see S. 1153), S6021 [26MY]

Coal miners: issue commemorative postage stamp (see H. Con. Res. 61), H629 [15FE]

Colorado: authorize acquisition of certain mineral rights (see H.R. 4181), H9425 [28OC]

Courts: provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure (see S. 852), S3897 [19AP] (see H.R. 1360), H1690 [17MR]

———provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos or silica exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos or silica exposure (see H.R. 1957), H2734 [28AP]

Dept. of Energy: purchase certain essential mineral rights and resolve natural resource damage liability claims (see S. 1835), S11212 [6OC] (see H.R. 3978), H8732 [6OC]

———purchase certain essential mineral rights as part of a comprehensive natural resource damage settlement (see S. 1251), S6658 [15JN]

Dept. of the Interior: establish a program to lease certain land for oil shale development (see S. 1092), S5580 [20MY]

———facilitate acquisition of certain mineral rights (see H.R. 2111), H2977 [4MY]

———issue separate leases for tar sand and oil and gas for the same area (see S. 53), S143 [24JA] (see H.R. 681), H520 [9FE]

———sell certain public lands in Pershing County, NV, subject to mining operations and support sustainable community development opportunities that provide economic development and local government revenues (see H.R. 3419), H6431 [25JY]

Dept. of the Interior and related agencies: making appropriations (see H.R. 2361), H3330 [16MY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), consideration (see H. Res. 287), H3554 [18MY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), consideration of conference report (see H. Res. 392), H6932 [27JY]

Ecology and environment: promote remediation of inactive and abandoned mines (see S. 1848), S11212 [6OC]

———reauthorize collection of reclamation fees, revise abandoned mine reclamation program, promote remining, and authorize Office of Surface Mining to collect black lung excise tax (see H.R. 2721), H4141 [26MY]

Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area: establish (see S. 1170), S6100 [6JN]

Land use: modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands (see H.R. 3968), H8732 [6OC]

Libby, MT: require vermiculite mining companies to establish a medical trust fund for treating asbestos-related illnesses before emerging from bankruptcy (see S. 1788), S10594 [28SE]

Livingston Parish, LA: repeal the reservation of mineral rights made by the U.S. when certain lands were conveyed (see H.R. 249), H136 [6JA]

Los Padres National Forest: withdraw from location, entry, and patent under mining laws (see S. 1545), S9285 [28JY] (see H.R. 3149), H5600 [30JN]

Mineral Leasing Act: set forth procedures for reinstatement of leases terminated due to unforeseeable circumstances (see S. 1094), S5580 [20MY] (see H.R. 1181), H1263 [9MR]

National Geologic Mapping Act: reauthorize and amend (see S. 485), S1867 [1MR] (see H.R. 2362), H3330 [16MY]

Native Americans: provide for acquisition of subsurface mineral rights to land owned by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and land held in trust for the Tribe (see S. 1291), S7293 [23JN] (see H.R. 631), H410 [8FE]

Nevada: convey certain public lands in and around historic mining townsites (see S. 2072), S13361 [18NO]

———conveyance of certain public lands in and around historic mining townsites (see H.R. 4401), H11033 [18NO]

New Mexico: convey certain lands by resolving a dispute between the Arch Coal Co., and the Navajo Nation, associated with coal preference right lease interests on the land (see S. 692), S3147 [4AP]

Outer Continental Shelf: ensure that offshore energy development continues to serve the needs of the U.S. and create opportunities for new development and the use of alternative resources (see S. 1026), S5071 [12MY]

Petroleum: promote oil shale and tar sand development (see S. 1111), S5851 [24MY]

Public lands: reduce the royalty required to be paid for potassium and potassium compounds produced from sylvite on Federal lands (see H.R. 485), H285 [1FE]

———reduce the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands (see S. 203), S647 [31JA] (see H.R. 811), H628 [15FE]

Reclamation of land: abandoned hardrock mines (see H.R. 1266), H1371 [10MR]

———improve reclamation of abandoned hardrock mines (see S. 1701), S10037 [14SE]

———provide a source of funding for the reclamation of abandoned hardrock mines (see H.R. 1265), H1371 [10MR]

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act: reauthorize and reform the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (see S. 961), S4546 [28AP] (see H.R. 1600), H1968 [13AP]

Tariff: manganese metal flake (see H.R. 2954), H4655 [16JN]

Taxation: allow an income tax credit to holders of bonds issued to finance land and water reclamation of abandoned mine land areas (see H.R. 1165), H1024 [8MR]

———repeal percentage depletion allowance for certain hardrock mines (see S. 534), S2148 [7MR]

———treatment of tax attributes in connection with a discharge of indebtedness in a bankruptcy case of a company having asbestos-related claims against it (see H.R. 3533), H7557 [28JY]

U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea: ratification (see H. Con. Res. 56), H584 [10FE]

West Virginia: allow the operation of certain vehicles for the hauling of coal and coal by-products on Interstate Route 77 in Kanawha County (see H.R. 1044), H940 [2MR]

Conference reports

Dept. of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations (H.R. 2361), H6562-H6628 [26JY]

Letters

Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act: Alan Reuther, UAW, S3939 [19AP]

———Barry B. Direnfeld, Asbestos Study Group, S3940 [19AP]

———Senators Specter and Leahy, Committee on the Judiciary (Senate), S7287-S7289 [23JN]

———several veterans' organizations, S3940 [19AP]

Uranium mining and reclamation technologies research and development funding: Jill Lancelot, Taxpayers for Common Sense (organization), H2401 [21AP]

———Lynnea Smith, Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining, H2400 [21AP]

———Sharon Clahchischilliage, Navajo Nation, H2400 [21AP]

Lists

Supporters of Udall of New Mexico amendment to H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act, on uranium mining and reclamation technologies research and development funding, H2400 [21AP]

Motions

Dept. of the Interior and related agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 2361), S7496 [28JN], S7562 [29JN], H3674 [19MY], H6458 [26JY]

Proposals

Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act, S1013-S1042 [7FE]

Remarks in House

Carson National Forest: withdraw the Valle Vidal Unit from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws (H.R. 3817), H8066 [15SE]

Coal: clarify that certain coal industry health benefits may not be modified or terminated (H.R. 299), E57 [25JA]

———eliminate competitive advantage of Western coal producers over producers from other States relative to access to utility markets, H2201 [20AP]

Colorado: authorize acquisition of certain mineral rights (H.R. 4181), E2219 [28OC]

Courts: provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure (H.R. 1360), E506 [17MR]

Dept. of the Interior: facilitate acquisition of certain mineral rights (H.R. 2111), E870 [4MY]

Dept. of the Interior and related agencies: across-the-board funding reduction, H3664, H3665 [19MY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), H3336 [17MY], H3595-H3675 [19MY], H6458 [26JY], E1036 [20MY], E1053, E1054 [23MY], E1084 [24MY], E1323 [23JN]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), conference report, H7013-H7023 [28JY], E1620 [27JY], E1720, E1732, E1742 [29JY], E1751, E1762 [6SE]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), consideration (H. Res. 287), H3589-H3595 [19MY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), consideration of conference report (H. Res. 392), H6941-H6943 [28JY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), motion to instruct conferees, H6458-H6463 [26JY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), motion to recommit, H3674 [19MY]

Land use: modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands, E2263 [3NO]

———modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands (H.R. 3968), E2017 [6OC]

National Geologic Mapping Act: reauthorize and amend (H.R. 2362), H5204 [27JN]

Nuclear energy: uranium mining and reclamation technologies research and development funding, H2399-H2401 [21AP]

Ottawa Lake Quarry (business): National Mining Association Sentinels of Safety Trophy recipient, E1913 [21SE]

Public lands: reduce the royalty required to be paid for potassium and potassium compounds produced from sylvite on Federal lands (H.R. 485), H3276 [16MY]

———sale of national forest lands to special interests, H10632, H10633 [17NO]

Reclamation of land: abandoned hardrock mines (H.R. 1266), E430, E432 [10MR]

———provide a source of funding for the reclamation of abandoned hardrock mines (H.R. 1265), E430, E432 [10MR]

Rural areas: economic development funding following mining company closures, H10628 [17NO]

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act: reauthorize and reform the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (H.R. 1600), E642 [13AP]

U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea: ratification (H. Con. Res. 56), E211 [10FE]

Remarks in Senate

Bankruptcy: prevent courts from dismissing companies' Coal Act obligations to pay workers promised benefits, S1905, S1906 [2MR], S2331, S2332 [9MR]

———prevent courts from dismissing companies' Coal Act obligations to pay workers promised benefits (S. 594), S2487 [10MR], S2967 [17MR]

Big Horn County, WY: open certain withdrawn land to locatable mineral development for bentonite mining (S. 97), S9039 [26JY]

BLM: oil shale reserves development, S7033 [22JN], S7273 [23JN]

———treatment of oil and gas development activities in certain potash reserves, S7268, S7269 [23JN]

Coal: clarify that certain coal industry health benefits may not be modified or terminated (S. 162), S491 [25JA]

Colleges and universities: Illinois basin coal research and development funding, S7460 [28JN]

Courts: provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure, S12 [4JA], S1009-S1042 [7FE], S1101 [8FE]

———provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure (S. 852), S3905-S3941 [19AP], S5493 [19MY], S6278 [9JN], S7287 [23JN], S12873, S12875 [16NO], S13483 [13DE]

Dept. of Energy: purchase certain essential mineral rights and resolve natural resources damage liability claims relative to conversion of Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site into a wildlife refuge, S8788, S8789 [25JY], S12808 [15NO]

Dept. of the Interior: issue separate leases for tar sand and oil and gas for the same area, S9357 [29JY]

Dept. of the Interior and related agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 2361), S7331-S7371, S7373, S7374, S7389 [24JN], S7403-S7422 [27JN], S7477-S7481, S7485-S7491, S7495-S7512 [28JN], S7545-S7547, S7550-S7597 [29JN], S7800, S7807, S7871 [30JN], S7897 [1JY], S8394, S8414 [18JY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), conference report, S9323, S9331-S9334, S9367-S9372 [29JY]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2361), conference report—unanimous-consent agreement, S9319 [28JY]

———reduce appropriations for unrequested, low-priority, unnecessary, and wasteful spending programs, S7595 [29JN]

———require appropriations conference report inclusion of limitations, directives and earmarks, S7497, S7498, S7500 [28JN]

Ecology and environment: promote remediation of inactive and abandoned mines (S. 1848), S11232 [6OC]

Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area: establish (S. 1170), S6106 [6JN], S13058 [16NO]

Libby, MT: require vermiculite mining companies to establish a medical trust fund for treating asbestos-related illnesses before emerging from bankruptcy, S2055 [4MR], S2215 [8MR]

Los Padres National Forest: withdraw from location, entry, and patent under mining laws (S. 1545), S9306 [28JY]

National Geologic Mapping Act: reauthorize and amend (S. 485), S13057 [16NO]

Native Americans: provide for acquisition of subsurface mineral rights to land owned by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and land held in trust for the Tribe (S. 1291), S7296 [23JN]

Nevada: convey certain public lands in and around historic mining townsites (S. 2072), S13378 [18NO]

New Mexico: convey certain lands by resolving a dispute between the Arch Coal Co., and the Navajo Nation, associated with coal preference right lease interests on the land (S. 692), S3152 [4AP]

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology: Princeton Review, Inc., designation as ``best value'' college, S3895 [19AP]

Outer Continental Shelf: ensure that offshore energy development continues to serve the needs of the U.S. and create opportunities for new development and the use of alternative resources (S. 1026), S5157 [12MY], S5292-S5295 [17MY]

Petroleum: promote oil shale and tar sand development, S9357 [29JY]

———promote oil shale and tar sand development (S. 1111), S5853 [24MY]

Power resources: coal industrial gasification technology, S10531 [28SE]

Public lands: reduce the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands (S. 203), S649 [31JA], S9018 [26JY]

Taxation: repeal certain benefits relative to oil and gas well intangible drilling and development costs, S13082-S13085 [17NO]

———repeal percentage depletion allowance for certain hardrock mines (S. 534), S2149 [7MR]

Reports filed

Big Horn Bentonite Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 97) (S. Rept. 109-37), S2644 [14MR]

Consideration of Conference Report on H.R. 2361, Dept. of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 392) (H. Rept. 109-198), H6932 [27JY]

Consideration of H.R. 2361, Dept. of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 287) (H. Rept. 109-87), H3554 [18MY]

Dept. of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations: Committee of Conference (H.R. 2361) (H. Rept. 109-188), H6649 [26JY]

———Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 2361) (H. Rept. 109-80), H3330 [16MY]

———Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (H.R. 2361) (S. Rept. 109-80), S6825 [20JN]

Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 852), S6740 [16JN]

———Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 852) (S. Rept. 109-97), S7818 [30JN]

Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 1170) (S. Rept. 109-163), S12005 [27OC]

National Geologic Mapping Act Reauthorization and Amendments: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 485) (S. Rept. 109-161), S12005 [27OC]

———Committee on Resources (House) (H.R. 2362) (H. Rept. 109-113), H4295 [8JN]

Pascua Yaqui Mineral Rights Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 1291) (S. Rept. 109-116), S9466 [29JY]

Soda Ash Royalty Reduction Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 203) (S. Rept. 109-4), S1513 [16FE]

Rulings of the Chair

Dept. of the Interior and related agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 2361), S7588 [29JN], H3632, H3637, H3641, H3642, H3658, H3659, H3669, H3670 [19MY]

Statements

Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act: John Engler, National Association of Manufacturers, S3940 [19AP]

———Senator Specter, S3906-S3908 [19AP]

Summaries

Facilitate Acquisition of Certain Mineral Rights (H.R. 2111), E870 [4MY]

Tables

Committee on the Budget (Senate) scoring of H.R. 2361, Dept. of the Interior and related agencies appropriations, S7422 [27JN]

Dept. of the Interior and related agencies appropriations (H.R. 2361), H3596-H3602 [19MY]

———conference report, H7014-H7018 [28JY]

Texts of

H. Res. 287, consideration of H.R. 2361, Dept. of the Interior and related agencies appropriations, H3589 [19MY]

H. Res. 392, consideration of conference report on H.R. 2361, Dept. of the Interior and related agencies appropriations, H6941 [28JY]

H.R. 485, Potash Royalty Reduction Act, H3276 [16MY]

H.R. 2361, Dept. of the Interior and related agencies appropriations, S7331-S7363 [24JN]

H.R. 2362, National Geologic Mapping Act, H5203 [27JN]

S. 97, Big Horn Bentonite Act, S9039 [26JY]

S. 162, clarify that certain coal industry health benefits may not be modified or terminated, S491 [25JA]

S. 203, Soda Ash Royalty Reduction Act, S9018 [26JY]

S. 485, National Geologic Mapping Act reauthorization and amendment, S13057 [16NO]

S. 534, Elimination of Double Subsidies for the Hardrock Mining Industry Act, S2150 [7MR]

S. 692, Bisti PRLA Dispute Resolution Act, S3152 [4AP]

S. 852, Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act, S3908-S3939 [19AP]

S. 1170, Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area Act, S6107 [6JN], S13058 [16NO]

S. 1291, Pascua Yaqui Mineral Rights Act, S7296 [23JN]

S. 1848, Cleanup of Inactive and Abandoned Mines Act, S11233-S11235 [6OC]

S. 2072, Nevada Mining Townsite Conveyance Act, S13379 [18NO]