MINING AND MINERAL RESOURCES

Amendments

Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act: amend (S. 209), S7347 [20OC]

Strategic materials: promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 1937), H7114, H7115, H7116, H7117, H7118 [22OC]

——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 1937), consideration (H. Res. 481), H7050 [21OC]

Bills and resolutions

Alaska: exempt national forest lands from the Roadless Area Conservation Rule (see S. 631), S1246 [3MR]

——— reinstate certain mining claims (see S. 1395), S3183 [20MY]

Allegheny National Forest: protect private mineral rights (see H.R. 3881), H7623 [3NO]

Arctic Ocean: prohibit drilling (see S. 1794), S5170 [16JY] (see H.R. 3632), H6306 [28SE]

Arizona: repeal land exchange with Resolution Copper Mining (company) (see S. 2242), S7814 [5NO] (see H.R. 2811), H4491 [17JN]

——— withdraw certain Federal lands and interests in Pima and Santa Cruz Counties from mining and mineral leasing laws (see H.R. 2924), H4770 [25JN]

Benefits: transfer certain funds to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan and the United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan (see S. 1714), S4686 [7JY] (see H.R. 2403), H3309 [18MY]

Black Lung Benefits Act: ensure inclusion of black lung disease benefits in replacement language for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (see H. Res. 167), H1900 [24MR]

——— provide equity for certain eligible survivors (see H.R. 130), H40 [6JA]

BLM: incorporate needs and input of affected communities before taking any travel management action affecting access to public lands (see H.R. 1555), H1848 [23MR]

——— increase royalty rate for coal produced from surface mines on Federal land and prohibit export of coal produced on Federal land (see S. 2339), S8241 [1DE]

——— provide small miner waivers from claim maintenance fees for a period of time after written receipt of defects is provided to the claimant to cure defects or pay the claim maintenance fee (see H.R. 334), H358 [13JA]

California: designate certain off-highway vehicle recreation areas, wilderness, wild, scenic, and recreational rivers, and protect and manage additional Federal lands (see H.R. 3668), H6787 [1OC]

Claims: authorize the collection of claim location and maintenance fees for a certain period (see H.R. 3843), H7331 [28OC]

Coal: establish a worker adjustment assistance program to provide assistance and job retraining for workers who have lost their jobs due to unplanned closures of coal and coal-dependent industries (see H.R. 3689), H6835 [6OC]

Dept. of Energy: collect information on critical energy supplies and establish a Working Group on Energy Markets (see S. 1420), S3237 [21MY]

——— develop an energy critical elements program, a rare earth materials program, and amend the National Materials Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act (see H.R. 2687), H3921 [8JN]

——— promote mapping and development of geothermal resources by establishing a direct loan program for high risk exploration wells, improve technology, and demonstrate use in large scale thermal applications (see S. 1155), S2567 [30AP]

Dept. of Justice: improve compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program for workers involved in uranium mining (see S. 331), S697 [2FE] (see H.R. 994), H1068 [13FE]

Dept. of Labor: ensure that claims for benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act are processed in a fair and timely manner and protect miners from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) (see S. 2096), S7005 [29SE] (see H.R. 3625), H6306 [28SE]

Dept. of the Interior: convey to States all right, title, and interest in, and to a percentage of, the mineral royalties and other amounts required to be paid relative to public land and deposits in the State (see S. 500), S982 [12FE] (see H.R. 945), H1034 [12FE]

——— ensure scientific transparency in the development of environmental regulations (see S. 1458), S3309 [22MY]

——— ensure timely review of BLM notices before appearance in the Federal Register in order to streamline energy development permitting process (see S. 113), S59 [7JA]

——— establish goals for an all-of-the-above energy production plan strategy on onshore Federal lands (see H.R. 459), H480 [21JA]

——— grant rights-of-way on Federal land under the Mineral Leasing Act (see S. 1196), S2650 [5MY]

——— improve coal royalties by collecting royalties based on actual market value of the coal and increasing transparency and standardizing the royalty collection process (see S. 1891), S6136 [29JY] (see H.R. 3303), H5763 [29JY]

——— prohibit hydraulic fracturing or acid well stimulation treatment in Pacific Outer Continental Shelf region until completion of an environmental impact study (see H.R. 1951), H2416 [22AP]

——— provide for the termination of certain mineral materials contracts (see S. 154), S200 [13JA]

——— retire coal preference right lease applications for which an affirmative commercial quantities determination has been made (see H.R. 1820), H2269 [15AP]

Ecology and environment: ensure transparency in development of environmental regulations (see H.R. 1644), H2107 [26MR]

Education: provide support to mining schools (see H.R. 3734), H6973 [9OC]

Energy and Minerals Reclamation Foundation: establish (see H.R. 3844), H7331 [28OC]

EPA: address liability relative to release of wastewater from Gold King Mine into Animas and San Juan Rivers (see S. 2135), S7124 [5OC]

——— allow preservation leasing as a form of compensatory mitigation for discharges of dredged or fill material affecting State or Indian land (see H.R. 3271), H5589 [28JY]

——— clarify and confirm authority to deny or restrict the use of a defined area as a dredged or fill material disposal site (see S. 54), S57 [7JA] (see S. 234), S420 [22JA]

——— implement guidelines for specification of certain dredged or fill material disposal sites (see S. 1914), S6187 [30JY] (see H.R. 3434), H5782 [31JY]

——— provide compensation to injured persons relating to the Gold King Mine spill and amend CERCLA to address mining-related issues (see S. 2063), S6893 [22SE] (see H.R. 3602), H6227 [24SE]

——— remove authority to retroactively disapprove permits to discharge dredged or fill material into navigable waters that have been issued by the Corps of Engineers (see H.R. 1203), H1525 [2MR]

Federal agencies and departments: repeal prohibition on the procurement and acquisition of alternative fuels (see S. 1026), S2300 [21AP]

Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument: designate (see H.R. 3882), H7623 [3NO]

Health: place a moratorium on permitting for mountaintop removal coal mining until health studies are conducted by the Dept. of HHS (see H.R. 912), H1032 [12FE]

Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act: amend (see S. 209), S347 [21JA]

Minnesota: prohibit future mining on federally managed land within Rainy River Drainage Basin and implement more stringent environmental standards for existing mining leases (see H.R. 1796), H2268 [15AP]

——— withdraw Federal land located within the Rainy River Drainage Basin from location, entry, and patent under mining laws (see H.R. 2072), H2497 [28AP]

National Construction Equipment Museum: tribute (see H. Res. 59), H662 [28JA]

Nevada: provide for withdrawal of certain Federal land in Garden Valley (see S. 196), S283 [20JA] (see H.R. 857), H917 [10FE]

Nuclear weapons: designate a national day of remembrance for workers of the U.S. nuclear weapons program (see S. Res. 213), S4602 [24JN]

Oregon: withdraw certain land in Curry and Josephine Counties from coverage under public land laws, mining laws, and mineral and geothermal leasing laws (see S. 346), S736 [3FE] (see H.R. 682), H755 [3FE]

Power resources: achieve domestic energy independence by empowering States to control development and production of all forms of energy on all available Federal land (see S. 490), S982 [12FE] (see H.R. 866), H980 [11FE]

——— ban hydraulic fracturing on land owned by the U.S. and leased to a third party (see H.R. 1902), H2353 [21AP]

——— clarify that a State has the sole authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing on Federal land within the boundaries of the State (see S. 828), S1660 [19MR]

——— impose tax on greenhouse gas emissions, reduce corporate tax rate to mitigate high energy costs, assist displaced coal industry workers, and protect consumers from transition to new energy sources (see H.R. 2202), H2791 [1MY]

——— modernize U.S. energy policy (see S. 2012), S6532 [9SE]

——— stop all new and nonproducing Federal leases for oil, gas, or coal extraction on public lands and waters (see S. 2238), S7771 [4NO]

Public lands: modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands (see S. 2254), S7814 [5NO]

——— modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands consistent with the principles of self-initiation of mining claims (see H.R. 963), H1066 [13FE]

——— reduce the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands (see S. 2031), S6651 [15SE] (see H.R. 1992), H2463 [23AP]

Safety: improve occupational safety law compliance, empower workers to raise concerns, prevent workplace tragedies, and establish rights for workplace accident victims and families (see S. 1145), S2567 [30AP] (see H.R. 1926), H2415 [22AP]

Strategic materials: promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (see S. 883), S2041 [26MR] (see H.R. 1937), H2415 [22AP]

——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 1937), consideration (see H. Res. 481), H7026 [20OC]

Taxation; repeal percentage depletion allowance for certain hardrock mines (see S. 2154), S7219 [7OC]

Cost Estimates

Energy Policy Modernization Act (S. 2012): CBO, S8236 [1DE]

Explanations

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (H.R. 22): Payments From Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to Certified States and Indian Tribes, H8997 [3DE]

Letters

Federal district court decision on environmental compliance of Dept. of the Interior permit issued to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Inc., for expansion of Colowyo mine: John W. Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado, S4072 [11JN]

——— Representative Perlmutter, S4072 [11JN]

——— Senator Gardner and Representative Tipton, S4072 [11JN]

National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act: Representative Goodlatte, Committee on the Judiciary (House), H7111 [22OC]

——— Representative Rob Bishop, Committee on Natural Resources (House), H7111 [22OC]

Motions

Strategic materials: promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 1937), H7122 [22OC]

Remarks in House

Allegheny National Forest: protect private mineral rights (H.R. 3881), H7396 [3NO]

Black Lung Benefits Act: ensure inclusion of black lung disease benefits in replacement language for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H. Res. 167), H1854 [24MR]

BLM: notify tribal landowners of right to appeal surveys, grant tribes right of first refusal to purchase BLM lands, fully compensate landowners, and protect certain tribal surface or mineral interests, H9179–H9181 [9DE]

Colorado: Federal district court decision on environmental compliance of Dept. of the Interior permit issued to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Inc., for expansion of Colowyo mine, H4423 [16JN], H5341 [22JY]

Corps of Engineers: prohibit updating of regulations relating to the definitions of ‘‘fill material’’ or ‘‘discharge of fill material’’, H2640, H2641 [29AP]

Courts: allow judicial review and awarding of attorney fees recoverable under the Equal Access to Justice Act in litigation cases dealing with certain mining exploration and mining permits on Federal lands, H7116 [22OC]

Dept. of Defense: prohibit funding earmarked for purchase of anthracite coal from Tamaqua, PA, for Air Force base in Germany, H4081, H4082 [10JN]

Dept. of Justice: improve compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program for workers involved in uranium mining (H.R. 994), E1074 [15JY]

Dept. of the Interior: ensure continued co-development of oil, gas, and potash deposits in designated potash areas in New Mexico, H7117, H7118 [22OC]

——— expand eligibility for participation in the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program, H4743 [25JN]

——— Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement regulations relative to stream buffer zone in mountaintop removal coal mining, H4792, H4793 [7JY], H5575, H5578 [28JY], H9663, H9664 [17DE]

Ecology and environment: ensure transparency in development of environmental regulations (H.R. 1644), H4868 [8JY], H5575, H5578, H5579 [28JY], H8637 [30NO]

Education: provide support to mining schools (H.R. 3734), H9299 [11DE]

EPA: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund funding through reductions in Dept. of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement funding, H4742 [25JN]

——— impact of Government regulations on coal industry, H1171 [26FE], H1700 [17MR], H4727 [25JN], H5574–H5580 [28JY]

——— impact of release of wastewater from Gold King Mine into Animas River tributary near Silverton, CO, H5790 [8SE]

——— release of regulations on hydraulic fracturing, H1811 [23MR]

——— report on impact of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water, H4386 [16JN]

Natural gas: importance of Marcellus shale reserves drilling, H1178 [26FE], H2253 [15AP]

New Mexico: ensure continued co-development of oil, gas, and potash deposits in designated potash areas, H7118 [22OC]

Obama, President: evaluation of coal industry policies, H2298–H2301 [16AP], H5573 [28JY], H8868 [2DE]

Power resources: enhance U.S. energy independence and security by providing for exploration, development, and production activities for mineral resources in the Gulf of Mexico, H3302 [18MY]

Public lands: modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands consistent with the principles of self-initiation of mining claims (H.R. 963), H7049 [21OC], E1521 [23OC]

Strategic materials: clarify definition of ‘‘strategic and critical minerals’’ to only include minerals identified by the National Research Council as strategic and critical, H7109, H7112–H7115 [22OC]

——— ensure all mine explorations or mine permits require environmental impact statements, H7115, H7116 [22OC]

——— ensure projects to promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials will allow for process to assess how project may contribute to climate change, H7122, H7123 [22OC]

——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 1937), H7107–H7124 [22OC], E1521 [23OC]

——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 1937), consideration (H. Res. 481), H7047–H7050 [21OC]

——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 1937), motion to recommit, H7122, H7123 [22OC]

——— require proposed strategic and critical minerals projects to meet certain domestic supply and demand milestones and notification of intent to sell such minerals outside the U.S., H7118, H7119 [22OC]

Remarks in Senate

Alaska: exempt national forest lands from the Roadless Area Conservation Rule (S. 631), S1252 [3MR]

——— reinstate certain mining claims (S. 1395), S3185 [20MY]

Colorado: Federal district court decision on environmental compliance of Dept. of the Interior permit issued to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Inc., for expansion of Colowyo mine, S3984 [10JN], S4070–S4073 [11JN]

Dept. of Justice: improve compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program for workers involved in uranium mining (S. 331), S5146 [16JY]

Dept. of the Interior: improve coal royalties by collecting royalties based on actual market value of the coal and increasing transparency and standardizing the royalty collection process (S. 1891), S6140 [29JY]

Economy: national objectives priority assignments, S1361–S1363 [10MR]

EPA: address liability relative to release of wastewater from Gold King Mine into Animas and San Juan Rivers, S7633 [29OC], S7768 [4NO]

——— environmental impact of wastewater release from Gold King Mine into Animas River tributary near Silverton, CO, on Navajo and Ute tribes’ farms and irrigation systems, S7541 [27OC]

——— impact of Government regulations on coal industry, S146 [12JA], S7449 [22OC]

——— impact of release of wastewater from Gold King Mine into Animas River tributary near Silverton, CO, S6785 [17SE]

——— implement guidelines for specification of certain dredged or fill material disposal sites (S. 1914), S6191 [30JY]

——— impose carbon pollution fee and use proceeds to provide rebate to consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and regulate hydraulic fracturing, S4237 [17JN]

——— proposed rule establishing new source performance standards to limit greenhouse gas emissions from existing powerplants, S258 [20JA]

Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act: amend (S. 209), S416 [22JA], S8617 [10DE]

Nuclear weapons: designate a national day of remembrance for workers of the U.S. nuclear weapons program (S. Res. 213), S6959 [25SE]

Power resources: modernize U.S. energy policy (S. 2012), S6884 [22SE], S7024 [30SE], S8139 [19NO], S8236 [1DE]

——— stop all new and nonproducing Federal leases for oil, gas, or coal extraction on public lands and waters (S. 2238), S7772 [4NO]

Public lands: modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands (S. 2254), S7817–S7819 [5NO]

Reports filed

American Soda Ash Competitiveness Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 1992) (H. Rept. 114–236), H5762 [29JY]

Consideration of H.R. 1937, National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 481) (H. Rept. 114–301), H7026 [20OC]

Energy Policy Modernization Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 2012) (S. Rept. 114–138), S6532 [9SE]

Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 209) (S. Rept. 114–149), S7046 [30SE]

National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 1937) (H. Rept. 114–253), H5846 [8SE]

Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining (STREAM) Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 1644) (H. Rept. 114–277), H6786 [1OC]

Texts of

H. Res. 481, consideration of H.R. 1937, National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act, H7047 [21OC]

H.R. 1937, National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act, H7113 [22OC]

S. 196, Garden Valley Withdrawal Act, S285 [20JA]

S. 1891, Coal Royalty Fairness Act, S6140 [29JY]

S. Res. 213, national day of remembrance designation for workers of the U.S. nuclear weapons program, S4607 [24JN]