Hardrock Mining: Information on State Royalties and Trends in	 
Mineral Imports and Exports (21-JUL-08, GAO-08-849R).		 
                                                                 
Since the passage of the General Mining Act of 1872, miners have 
extracted billions of dollars worth of gold, silver, copper, and 
other hardrock (locatable) minerals from federal lands without	 
having to pay a royalty. Congress is now considering amending the
General Mining Act to, among other things, assess a royalty to	 
ensure that the public is compensated for hardrock minerals	 
extracted from federal lands, as more recently enacted laws	 
require for oil, gas, and other minerals. The vast majority of	 
the federal lands where hardrock mining operations occur are in  
12 western states, including Alaska (hereafter referred to as the
12 western states). These western states have statutes governing 
hardrock mining operations on lands in their state. However,	 
unlike the federal government, these states charge royalties that
allow them to share in the proceeds from hardrock minerals	 
extracted from state-owned lands. In addition, most of these	 
states charge taxes, such as severance taxes, mine license taxes,
or resource excise taxes, on hardrock mining operations that	 
occur on private, state, and federal lands. Although states may  
use similar names for functional royalties they assess, there can
be wide variations in their forms and rates. To aid in the	 
understanding of royalties, including functional royalties, the  
royalties are grouped as follows: (1) Unit-based is typically	 
assessed as a dollar rate per quantity or weight of mineral	 
produced or extracted, and does not allow for deductions of	 
mining costs; (2) Gross revenue is typically assessed as a	 
percentage of the value of the mineral extracted and does not	 
allow for deductions of mining costs; (3) Net smelter returns is 
assessed as a percentage of the value of the mineral, but with	 
deductions allowed for costs associated with transporting and	 
processing the mineral; and (4) Net proceeds is assessed as a	 
percentage of the net proceeds (or net profit) of the sale of the
mineral with deductions for a broad set of mining costs. Hardrock
minerals play an important role in the U.S. economy, contributing
to multiple industries, including transportation, defense,	 
aerospace, electronics, energy, agriculture, construction, and	 
health care. The Department of the Interior's (Interior) U.S.	 
Geological Survey (USGS) annually calculates U.S. "net import	 
reliance as a percentage of U.S. apparent consumption" (hereafter
referred to as "net import reliance") for nonfuel minerals using 
production data from annual USGS mineral industry surveys and	 
import and export data from other sources. According to USGS, in 
recent years the United States has relied heavily on foreign	 
sources for raw and processed minerals, including many hardrock  
minerals. In this context, Congress asked us to provide 	 
information on (1) which types of royalties the 12 western states
assess on hardrock mining operations and (2) trends on imports	 
and exports of hardrock minerals. In addition, you asked us to	 
provide data on hardrock mining operations on federal lands that 
the federal government either does not routinely collect or	 
consistently maintain.						 
-------------------------Indexing Terms------------------------- 
REPORTNUM:   GAO-08-849R					        
    ACCNO:   A82999						        
  TITLE:     Hardrock Mining: Information on State Royalties and      
Trends in Mineral Imports and Exports				 
     DATE:   07/21/2008 
  SUBJECT:   Extractive industry				 
	     Federal regulations				 
	     Federal/state relations				 
	     Land leases					 
	     Metals						 
	     Mineral bearing lands				 
	     Mineral leases					 
	     Mineral resources					 
	     Mineral resources conservation			 
	     Mineral rights					 
	     Mining						 
	     Precious metals					 
	     Public lands					 
	     Royalty payments					 
	     Statutory limitation				 

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GAO-08-849R

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GAO-08-849R: 

United States Government Accountability Office: 
Washington, DC 20548: 

July 21, 2008: 

The Honorable Harry Reid:
Majority Leader:
United States Senate: 

The Honorable Jeff Bingaman:
Chairman:
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: 
United States Senate: 

The Honorable Nick J. Rahall II:
Chairman:
Committee on Natural Resources:
House of Representatives: 

Subject: Hardrock Mining: Information on State Royalties and Trends in 
Mineral Imports and Exports: 

Since the passage of the General Mining Act of 1872, miners have 
extracted billions of dollars worth of gold, silver, copper, and other 
hardrock (locatable) minerals from federal lands without having to pay 
a royalty.[Footnote 1] Congress is now considering amending the General 
Mining Act to, among other things, assess a royalty to ensure that the 
public is compensated for hardrock minerals extracted from federal 
lands, as more recently enacted laws require for oil, gas, and other 
minerals. The vast majority of the federal lands where hardrock mining 
operations occur are in 12 western states, including Alaska (hereafter 
referred to as the 12 western states).[Footnote 2],[Footnote 3] 

These western states have statutes governing hardrock mining operations 
on lands in their state. However, unlike the federal government, these 
states charge royalties that allow them to share in the proceeds from 
hardrock minerals extracted from state-owned lands. In addition, most 
of these states charge taxes, such as severance taxes, mine license 
taxes, or resource excise taxes, on hardrock mining operations that 
occur on private, state, and federal lands.[Footnote 4] For the 
purposes of this report, we use the term "functional royalty" to refer 
to taxes that function like a royalty in that they permit the state to 
share in the value of the mine's production. Although states may use 
similar names for functional royalties they assess, there can be wide 
variations in their forms and rates. To aid in the understanding of 
royalties, including functional royalties, the royalties are grouped as 
follows: 

* Unit-based is typically assessed as a dollar rate per quantity or 
weight of mineral produced or extracted, and does not allow for 
deductions of mining costs. 

* Gross revenue is typically assessed as a percentage of the value of 
the mineral extracted and does not allow for deductions of mining 
costs. 

* Net smelter returns is assessed as a percentage of the value of the 
mineral, but with deductions allowed for costs associated with 
transporting and processing the mineral (typically referred to as mill, 
smelter, or treatment costs); however, costs associated with extraction 
of the mineral are not deductible. 

* Net proceeds is assessed as a percentage of the net proceeds (or net 
profit) of the sale of the mineral with deductions for a broad set of 
mining costs. The particular deductions allowed vary widely from state 
to state, but may include extraction costs, processing costs, 
transportation costs, and administrative costs, such as for capital, 
marketing, and insurance. 

Hardrock minerals play an important role in the U.S. economy, 
contributing to multiple industries, including transportation, defense, 
aerospace, electronics, energy, agriculture, construction, and health 
care. For example, copper is used extensively in building construction 
(in products like electrical wire, water pipes, and plumbing fixtures) 
and in consumer electronic products. The Department of the Interior's 
(Interior) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) annually calculates U.S. "net 
import reliance as a percentage of U.S. apparent consumption" 
(hereafter referred to as "net import reliance") for nonfuel minerals 
using production data from annual USGS mineral industry surveys and 
import and export data from other sources.[Footnote 5],[Footnote 6] A 
net import reliance of 50 for a particular mineral would indicate that 
50 percent of the domestic consumption of that mineral was supplied 
through net imports. A net import reliance of less than zero indicates 
that the United States was a net exporter of that particular mineral in 
that year. According to USGS, in recent years the United States has 
relied heavily on foreign sources for raw and processed minerals, 
including many hardrock minerals. 

In this context, you asked us to provide information on (1) which types 
of royalties the 12 western states assess on hardrock mining operations 
and (2) trends on imports and exports of hardrock minerals. In 
addition, you asked us to provide data on hardrock mining operations on 
federal lands that the federal government either does not routinely 
collect or consistently maintain. This information is presented in 
enclosure IV. In our March 2008 testimony before the Senate Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources, we provided information on federal 
expenditures to clean up abandoned hardrock mines, the estimated number 
of abandoned mine lands, and the value and coverage of financial 
assurances operators use to guarantee reclamation costs on Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) land.[Footnote 7] 

To identify the types of royalties, including functional royalties, 
that the 12 western states assess on hardrock mining operations, we 
reviewed state statutes and regulations pertaining to royalties on 
hardrock mining operations. To aid in understanding general patterns in 
state royalties, we consulted academic and industry sources and then we 
categorized each royalty according to how it is assessed. To identify 
import and export trends, we interviewed officials from BLM and the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service to identify those 
hardrock minerals commonly produced on federal land. We also reviewed 
reports on hardrock mining from the Congressional Research Service 
(CRS), GAO, and the National Academy of Sciences and identified 
additional minerals that are frequently referred to as examples of 
hardrock minerals. Through these efforts, we identified the following 
15 hardrock minerals for our review: barite, copper, fluorspar, gold, 
gypsum, lead, magnesium compounds, magnesium metal, nickel, palladium, 
perlite, platinum, silver, tungsten, and zinc. To determine trends in 
U.S. imports and exports of these 15 minerals, we analyzed USGS's net 
import reliance data for 1975 through 2007. In addition, through 
interviews with BLM and Forest Service and the review of relevant 
agency documents and reports, we identified information on hardrock 
mining operations on federal lands that is not collected or 
consistently maintained by the federal government, including data on 
the amount of hardrock minerals being produced on federal land and the 
amount of hardrock minerals remaining and the total acreage of federal 
lands withdrawn from hardrock mining operations. 

We conducted this performance audit from November 2007 through July 
2008, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing 
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 
to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable 
basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. 
We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for 
our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. Enclosure I 
provides more detailed information on our scope and methodology. 

In Summary: 

The 12 western states assess multiple types of royalties, including 
functional royalties, on mining operations, which often differ 
depending on land ownership and the mineral being extracted; in 
addition, each royalty can be governed by different sets of exclusions, 
deductions, and limitations. For example, for private mining operations 
conducted on federal, state, or private land, Arizona assesses a net 
proceeds functional royalty of 1.25 percent on gold mining operations, 
and an additional gross revenue royalty of at least 2 percent for gold 
mining operations on state lands. In addition, 9 of the 12 states 
assess different types of royalties for different types of minerals. 
For example, Wyoming employs three different functional royalties for 
all lands: (1) net smelter returns for uranium, (2) a different net 
smelter returns for trona--a mineral used in the production of glass, 
and (3) gross revenue for all other minerals. Finally, the royalties 
the states assess often differ in the allowable exclusions, deductions, 
and limitations. For example, in Colorado, a functional royalty on 
metallic mining excludes gross incomes below $19 million, whereas in 
Montana a functional royalty on metallic mining is applied on all 
mining operations after the first $250,000 of revenue. The actual 
amount assessed for a particular mine may depend not only on the type 
of royalty, its rate, and exclusions, but also on such factors as the 
mineral's processing requirements, mineral markets, mine efficiency, 
and mine location relative to markets, among other factors. Enclosure 
II provides information on royalties, including functional royalties, 
that the 12 western states assess. 

Based upon USGS data on 15 common hardrock minerals, over the past 32 
years, the degree to which the United States has relied on imported 
minerals to satisfy its domestic consumption has held relatively 
constant for 4 of those minerals (fluorspar, gypsum, palladium, and 
platinum); fluctuated for 5 (copper, lead, silver, tungsten, and zinc); 
increased for 4 (barite, magnesium compounds, magnesium metal, and 
perlite); and decreased for 2 (gold and nickel.) Moreover, in some 
years, the United States was a net exporter of some hardrock minerals. 
Over the period, for example, the United States has: 

* consistently relied on imports to provide between 77 percent and 100 
percent of its fluorspar needs--a key ingredient in the manufacture of 
aluminum, gasoline, steel, and uranium fuel; 

* fluctuated in its reliance on imports to meet its need for copper, 
importing copper in most years and providing net exports in 1975 and 
1991; 

* decreased its reliance on imports of nickel from a high of 80 percent 
in 1978 to a estimated low of 17 percent in 2007; 

* consistently been a net exporter of gold between 1982 and 2003; and: 

* been a net exporter of magnesium metal until 1997, when the United 
States began to import magnesium metal. 

Enclosure III provides information on trends in U.S. imports and 
exports of 15 common hardrock minerals. 

Agency Comments: 

We provided a draft of this report to the Secretaries of Agriculture 
and of the Interior for review and comment. The Department of 
Agriculture told us in an e-mail that it had no comments on our report. 
The Department of the Interior provided technical comments, which we 
incorporated as appropriate. 

As agreed with your offices, unless you publicly announce the contents 
of this report earlier, we plan no further distribution for 30 days 
from the report date. At that time, we will send copies of this report 
to interested congressional committees and the Secretaries of 
Agriculture and of the Interior, and other interested parties. We will 
also make copies available to others upon request. In addition, the 
report will be available at no charge on the GAO Web site at 
[hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov]. 

If you or your staffs have any questions about this report, please 
contact Robin M. Nazzaro at (202) 512-3841 or [email protected]. Contact 
points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs 
may be found on the last page of this report. GAO staff who made major 
contributions to this report are included in enclosure V. 

Signed by: 

Robin M. Nazzaro:
Director, Natural Resources and the Environment: 

[End of section] 

Enclosure I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology: 

This enclosure details the scope of our review and the methods we used 
to obtain information on (1) which types of royalties the 12 western 
states assess on hardrock mining operations and (2) trends on imports 
and exports of hardrock minerals. In addition, we identified data on 
hardrock mining operations on federal lands that the federal government 
either does not collect or consistently maintain. 

To identify the royalties, including functional royalties (taxes that 
function like a royalty), that 12 western states (Alaska, Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, 
Washington, and Wyoming) assess on hardrock mining operations,[Footnote 
8] we reviewed state statutes and regulations authorizing royalties on 
state, private, and federal lands. States charge royalties on the 
hardrock mining operations on state lands and taxes that function like 
a royalty, which we refer to as functional royalties, on the hardrock 
mining operations on private, state, and federal lands. For each 
royalty that we identified, we recorded the type of minerals assessed; 
the land ownership on which the royalty applied; the current royalty 
rate; the base on which the rate is applied; the deductions, 
limitations, and exclusions allowed; and other determinants of how the 
royalty is assessed. We contacted state officials responsible for 
managing state lands in five states (Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and 
Washington) when we needed additional information or clarification. We 
characterized the royalty rate as (1) uniform, if the rate was the same 
for all mines of the same mineral type or size; (2) progressive, if the 
rate increased as production or revenue increased; or (3) case by case, 
if the rate was determined individually for each lease. 

To aid in understanding the types of royalties, including functional 
royalties, in western states, we reviewed reports by GAO, the 
Congressional Research Service (CRS), the World Bank, and other 
experts. Because there are no broadly accepted definitions for the 
different types of royalties, we also interviewed private sector 
experts knowledgeable about hardrock mining royalties in the western 
United States and mineral-producing foreign countries. We then placed 
each of these royalties according to how the royalty is assessed and 
the allowable deductions, exclusions, and limitations in one of the 
following four categories: (1) unit-based royalties are typically 
assessed as a dollar rate per quantity or weight of mineral produced or 
extracted and do not allow for deductions of mining costs; (2) gross 
revenue royalties are typically assessed as a percentage of the value 
of the mineral extracted and do not allow for deductions of mining 
costs; (3) net smelter returns royalties are also assessed as a 
percentage of the value of the mineral, but with deductions allowed for 
costs associated with transporting and processing the mineral 
(typically referred to as mill, smelter, or treatment costs); and (4) 
net proceeds royalties are assessed as a percentage of the net proceeds 
(or net profit) of the sale of the mineral with deductions for a broad 
set of mining costs. In some cases, a royalty, including a functional 
royalty, generally fits into one of these four categories, but with 
some difference; we identified these royalties as modified. In 
addition, for those royalties that are lease-specific, a state statute 
typically delegates to a state board or agency the authority to 
determine the royalty rate, the basis for assessing the royalty (base), 
deductions, exclusions, and limitations. 

To select minerals to identify import and export trends, we interviewed 
officials from the Department of the Interior's (Interior) Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest 
Service to identify those hardrock minerals commonly produced on 
federal land. We also reviewed reports on hardrock mining from CRS, 
GAO, and the National Academy of Sciences and identified additional 
minerals that are frequently referred to as hardrock minerals. Through 
this process, we identified the following 15 hardrock minerals for our 
review: barite, copper, fluorspar, gold, gypsum, lead, magnesium 
compounds, magnesium metal, nickel, palladium, perlite, platinum, 
silver, tungsten, and zinc. 

To determine trends in U.S. imports and exports of these 15 hardrock 
minerals, we obtained data from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on net 
import reliance for 1975 through 2007. USGS mineral commodity 
specialists calculate net import reliance for a particular mineral as 
imports minus exports, with adjustments made for changes in government 
and industry stocks. Net import reliance is presented as a percentage 
of U.S. apparent consumption--calculated by USGS as production plus 
imports minus exports, with adjustments for changes in government and 
industry stocks. A net import reliance figure of 50 for a particular 
mineral would indicate that 50 percent of the domestic consumption of 
that mineral was supplied through net imports. A net import reliance 
figure of E represents a negative percentage, which indicates that the 
United States was a net exporter of that particular mineral in that 
year. We analyzed the USGS data to determine which hardrock minerals 
had remained relatively constant, experienced a decrease or increase in 
net import reliance, and had fluctuated over time. 

In addition, we identified data on hardrock mining operations on 
federal lands that is not routinely collected or consistently 
maintained by the federal government through interviews with BLM and 
Forest Service officials and the review of relevant agency documents 
and reports. These data include the amount of hardrock minerals being 
produced on federal land and the amount of hardrock minerals remaining 
and the total acreage of federal lands withdrawn from hardrock mining 
operations. 

We conducted this performance audit from November 2007 through July 
2008, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing 
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 
to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable 
basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. 
We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for 
our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. 

[End of enclosure] 

Enclosure II: Types of Royalties Assessed on Hardrock Mining 
Operations: 

States charge royalties on the hardrock mining operations on state 
lands and taxes that function like a royalty, which we refer to as 
functional royalties, on the hardrock mining operations on private, 
state, and federal lands. Table 1 shows the types and definitions of 
royalties, including functional royalties, assessed and table 2 shows 
the types of functional royalties the western states assess on all 
lands, including federal, state and private lands, as well as the 
royalties assessed only on state lands.[Footnote 9] Tables 3 through 14 
provide information on the royalties and functional royalties, 
including rates, deductions, and limitations in Alaska, Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, 
Washington, and Wyoming. 

Table 1: Types of Royalties, Including Functional Royalties Assessed, 
Definition, and Formula Used: 

Type of royalty: Unit-based; 
Definition: These royalties are typically assessed as a dollar rate per 
quantity or weight of mineral produced or extracted, and do not allow 
for deductions of mining costs. While this type of royalty is often 
applied to minerals used in construction, it is sometimes used for 
hardrock minerals, such as those that are homogenous and typically sold 
in bulk; certain types of limestone and potash are examples of 
homogenous minerals; 
Formula: Unit-based royalty payment = royalty rate x quantity or weight 
of mineral extracted. 

Type of royalty: Gross revenue[A]; 
Definition: This type of royalty is typically assessed as a percentage 
of the value of the mineral extracted. To determine the value of the 
mineral, states often use the actual sales price used in a sales 
transaction. In other instances, however, a state may calculate the 
value of the mineral on the basis of a reference price, such as the 
price of the mineral traded in a commodities exchange like the New York 
Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). We refer to these royalties as "gross 
revenue royalty with reference price." Generally, gross revenue 
royalties do not allow producers to deduct mining costs, although in 
some instances, some deductions are allowed for such costs as 
transportation from the mine to the point of sale. When the gross 
revenue is measured at the mine opening and the mineral must be 
processed prior to sale, the gross revenue royalty is similar or 
identical to a net smelter returns royalty; 
Formula: Gross revenue royalty payment = royalty rate x production 
volume x price; (price = sales price or reference price). 

Type of royalty: Net smelter returns; 
Definition: Like the gross revenue royalty, the net smelter returns 
royalty is assessed as a percentage of the value of the mineral, but 
with deductions allowed for costs associated with transporting and 
processing the mineral (typically referred to as mill, smelter, or 
treatment costs); however, costs associated with extraction of the 
mineral are not deductible. A common variation of the net smelter 
returns royalty provides a standard deduction rate (such as a 
percentage of the value of the mineral) intended to represent the 
processing costs; 
Formula: Net smelter returns royalty payment = royalty rate x 
production volume x price - deductible costs (limited to processing and 
transportation costs); (price = sales price or reference price). 

Type of royalty: Net proceeds; 
Definition: Unlike the other royalty types, the net proceeds royalty is 
assessed as a percentage of the net proceeds (or net profit) of the 
sale of the mineral with deductions for a broad set of mining costs. 
The particular deductions allowed vary widely from state to state but 
may include extraction costs, processing costs, transportation costs, 
and administrative costs, such as for capital, marketing, and 
insurance. If a particular mining operation is not profitable (e.g., if 
the operation was inefficient or the price of the mineral falls too 
low, so that revenues do not cover the deductible costs), there will be 
no royalty collected. A common variation of net proceeds royalty 
provides a standard deduction rate (such as a percentage of the value 
of the mineral) intended to represent the mining costs and any other 
allowed deductible costs; 
Formula: Net proceeds royalty payment = royalty rate x production 
volume x price - deductible costs (including mining and other costs); 
(price = sales price or reference price). 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes, regulations, and expert 
literature. 

[A] Gross revenue royalties are also sometimes referred to as gross 
receipts, gross income, or gross value of the products royalties. 

[End of table] 

Table 2: Types of Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed 
on Hardrock Mining Operations in Western States, by State: 

State: 
Unit-based: 
Gross revenue: 
Net smelter returns: 
Net proceeds: 

State: Alaska; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: Alaska; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: Arizona; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Arizona; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: California; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: California; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Check]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Colorado; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: Colorado; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Check]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Idaho; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Check]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Idaho; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: Montana; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Check]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Montana; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Check]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Check]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Nevada; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Nevada; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: New Mexico; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Check]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: New Mexico; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Check]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: Oregon; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Check]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Oregon; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Utah; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Utah; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Empty]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Check]. 

State: Washington; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Washington; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Wyoming; State lands; 
Unit-based: [Check]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Empty]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Wyoming; All lands; 
Unit-based: [Empty]; 
Gross revenue: [Check]; 
Net smelter returns: [Check]; 
Net proceeds: [Empty]. 

State: Total; State lands; 
Unit-based: 2; 
Gross revenue: 10; 
Net smelter returns: 3; 
Net proceeds: 3. 

State: Total; All Lands; 
Unit-based: 3; 
Gross revenue: 5; 
Net smelter returns: 3; 
Net proceeds: 6. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

Note: Sales and use taxes are excluded. Royalties often apply only to 
specific minerals. 

[End of table] 

Table 3: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Alaska: 

Alaska: State lands; Production royalty[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed; Minerals locatable under U.S. General 
Mining Act (excludes coal, sodium, potassium, oil, and gas) extracted 
from mining claims, leaseholds, or leases on state land; 
Type of royalty: Modified net proceeds; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 3%; Base: Mine's net 
income; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Overhead and operating 
expenses, development costs properly charged to expense, depreciation, 
some taxes, losses sustained, among other things; Limitations: Subject 
to exploration incentive credit. 

Alaska: All lands; Mining license tax[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed; Valuable metals, ores, minerals, 
asbestos, gypsum, coal, marketable earth, or stone (but not oil and 
gas) extracted from all mines (including that on federal, state, and 
private lands); 
Type of royalty: Modified net proceeds; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Progressive; Current rate: 3% to 7%; Base: 
Taxpayer's net income from all mines in state, less depletion; 
depletion is percentage that varies by mineral; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Overhead and operating 
expenses, development costs properly charged to expense, depreciation, 
some taxes, losses sustained, among other things; Limitations: 
Exemption for first 3.5 years of new mine; subject to exploration 
incentive credit. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Alaska Stat. ï¿½ 38.05. 185, ï¿½ 38.05.212, ï¿½ 27.30, ï¿½ 43.65; Alaska 
Admin. Code tit. 11, ï¿½ 86, art. 9; Alaska Admin. Code tit. 11, ï¿½ 
86.760. 

[B] Alaska Stat. ï¿½ï¿½ 43.65.010, 43.65.060 (definitions) 27.30.030; 
Alaska Admin. Code tit. 15, ï¿½ 65. 

[End of table] 

Table 4: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Arizona: 

Arizona: State lands: Royalty--minerals[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: All metallic ore minerals and 
industrial minerals other than common variety minerals (e.g., stone, 
gravel, clay, sand) extracted from state lands; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty with reference price; Rate 
determination: Statute delegates determination to the State Land 
Commissioner, subject to statutory standard and minimum; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case; Current rate: Market royalty 
rate; at least 2% of gross value; Base: Gross value determined by 
quantity and published prices (or, where unavailable, appraisal of fair 
market price). Where processing is performed after the mineral is 
extracted, the mineral shall be deemed produced and sold when the 
concentrate or cathode results from that processing;
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None specified in law 
or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Arizona: All lands: Severance tax--metallic minerals[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Metalliferous minerals ("copper, gold, 
silver, molybdenum or other metal or any ore or substance containing 
such metals including turquoise") extracted from federal, state or 
private land; 
Type of royalty: Net proceeds royalty; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform rate; Current rate: 2.5% on net 
severance base (effectively 1.25% of net revenue); Base: Net severance 
base is 50% of difference between gross value of production and 
production costs. Gross value of production is the sale price (or price 
from last period, if no sale) multiplied by the number of recoverable 
units of the mineral; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Production costs; 
generally the costs incurred in mining and processing until the point 
of sale (e.g., primary crusher, reduction works, or delivery of leach 
liquor to precipitation or solvent extraction facility); includes 
depreciation and property taxes; does not include severance tax and 
depletion, as well as corporate expenses and income tax (e.g., these 
are not deductible); Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Arizona: All lands: Transaction privilege tax--mining 
classification[C]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Oil, natural gas, limestone, sand, 
gravel, or any other nonmetalliferous mineral product extracted from 
all lands; applies to persons in the business of mining, quarrying, or 
producing for sale, profit, or commercial use any nonmetalliferous 
mineral product; 
Type of royalty: Modified gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: 
Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform rate; Current rate: 3-1/8% of the tax 
base; Base: The tax base is the "gross proceeds of sales or gross 
income derived from the business," "the value of the entire product 
mined, quarried or produced for sale, profit or commercial use in this 
state" [D]; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Municipal and Indian 
sales taxes; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Ariz. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ 27-231 et seq. 

[B] Ariz. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ 42-5201 to -5204; gross proceeds or income from 
retail sales are not subject to the Severance Tax, but are taxed under 
the Transaction Privilege Tax. 

[C] Ariz. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ï¿½ 42-5010, 42-5072, 42-5001-02; sales that are 
taxed under the retail classification (5 percent) are not subject to 
the mining classification tax. 

[D] "Gross income" means the gross receipts of a taxpayer derived from 
trade, business, commerce, or sales of tangible personal property or 
services. "Gross proceeds of sales" means the value proceeding or 
accruing from the sale of tangible personal property without any 
deduction on account of the cost of property sold, expense of any kind, 
or losses. Retail tax does not apply to sale of precious metal bullion 
or monetized bullion. 

[End of table] 

Table 5: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in California: 

California: State lands: Production royalty[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Minerals except oil, gas, and other 
hydrocarbons extracted from leases and prospecting permits on state 
lands; 
Type of royalty: Modified gross revenue royalty or net proceeds 
royalty; Rate determination: Statute delegates choice of type and rate 
determination, subject to a minimum, to State Land Commission; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case; Current rate: (1) Preferential 
lease. At the option of the Commission, either (a) a royalty, in money 
or in kind, of not less than 10% of the gross value of all mineral 
production from the leased lands, or (b) a percentage, to be determined 
by the Commission, of the net profits derived from mineral extraction 
operations under the lease. (2) Negotiated leases. At the option of the 
Commission, "a royalty in money or in kind or a percentage of the net 
profits." (3) Competitively bid leases. Bidding on the basis of "cash 
bonus, royalty rate, net profit, or other single biddable factor;" 
Base: Gross value or net profits (except for competitively bid leases) 
(the terms are not defined in the code or in regulations.) 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: For gross value, 
approved charges associated with transporting or processing the state's 
share; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

California: All lands: Fee on gold and silver[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Gold and silver extracted from all 
lands; 
Type of royalty: Unit-based royalty; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform rate; Current rate: $5 per ounce gold, 
$0.10 per ounce silver; Base: Ounces of gold/silver mined; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Cal. Pub. Res. Code ï¿½ 6895-97; Royalties are also assessed on any 
minerals extracted under a prospecting permit (prior to a lease). The 
permit royalty is 20 percent. 

[B] Cal. Pub. Res. Code ï¿½ 2207(d)(4)(b)(i); Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14, ï¿½ 
3698. 

[End of table] 

Table 6: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Colorado: 

Colorado: State lands: Royalty--general; gems, specimens, and placer 
minerals[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: All minerals; includes construction 
materials, natural oil and gas, oil shale, coal, and geothermal 
resources; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: Statute 
delegates to Board of Land Commissioners ("such royalty upon the 
product as the board may determine"); 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case; generally uniform for gems 
category; Current rate: No general rate; gems, specimens, and placer 
minerals, 7%; Base: Gross revenue of mineral at the mine; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Colorado: State lands: Royalty--gold and silver[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Gold and silver extracted from state 
lands; 
Type of royalty: Either gross revenue or net proceeds; Rate 
determination: Statute delegates to Board of Land Commissioners ("such 
royalty upon the product as the board may determine"); 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 5% of gross value or 
10% of net value; Base: Either gross value or net value; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: For gross value, none 
identified in statute or regulation; for net value, as specified in 
lease; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Colorado: State lands: Royalty--uranium[C]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Uranium extracted from state lands; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: Statute 
delegates to Board of Land Commissioners ("such royalty upon the 
product as the board may determine"); 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Progressive; Current rate: 5% to over 12% 
depending on the published price per pound of yellowcake (U3O8); rate 
increases as price increases; Base: Gross value; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Colorado: All lands: Severance tax--metallic minerals[D]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Metallic minerals; all minerals except 
molybdenum, oil, gas, coal, oil shale, rock, sand, gravel, stone 
products, earths, limestone, carbon dioxide, dolomite extracted from 
all mines/lands; 
Type of royalty: Modified gross revenue royalty[F]; Rate determination: 
Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform rate above income exclusion; Current 
rate: 2.25%; Base: Gross income above $19M/year Gross income is "the 
value of ore immediately after its removal from the mine, and does not 
include any value added subsequent to mining by any treatment 
processes"; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Any value added after 
mining (e.g., crushing, transportation, etc.); Limitations: Subject to 
credit for amount of the royalty, up to 50% of the severance tax. 

Colorado: All lands: Severance tax--molybdenum[E]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Molybdenum ore extracted from all 
mines/lands; 
Type of royalty: Unit-based royalty; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform above exclusion; Current rate: $0.05 
per ton above 625,000 tons per quarter; Base: Not applicable; Royalty 
deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in statute or 
regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Colo. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ 36-1-113 and correspondence, State of Colorado, 
Mar. 27, 2008. 

[B] Colo. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ 36-1-113 and correspondence, State of Colorado, 
Mar. 27, 2008. 

[C] Colo. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ 36-1-113 and correspondence, State of Colorado, 
Mar. 27, 2008. 

[D] Colo. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ 39-29-102, 103. 

[E] Colo. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ 39-29-102, 104. 

[F] The gross revenue royalty can function much like a net smelter 
returns royalty depending on how the gross revenue is measured and the 
deductions allowed. 

[End of table] 

Table 7: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Idaho: 

Idaho: State lands: Royalty--general[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Phosphate, sodium, asbestos, gold, 
silver, lead, zinc, copper, antimony, geothermal resources, and all 
other minerals extracted from state lands; 
Type of royalty: Net smelter returns royalty (most minerals); Rate 
determination: Statute delegates to Board of Land Commissioners subject 
to standard of "fair and in the interest of the state," with a 
statutory minimum of 2.5%; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 5%; Base: Value of 
mineral produced and saved; market value or actual price, whichever is 
higher; gross receipts earned or received at point of sale of first 
marketable minerals; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Reasonable 
transportation costs to closest feasible point of sale, smelter or 
treatment costs for material that requires additional processing to 
obtain marketable minerals after being mined and removed from leased 
land; Limitations: Rental payments are credited toward the royalties. 

Idaho: State lands: Royalty--riverbed mineral leases[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Gold extracted from submerged state 
lands; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: Statute 
delegates to Board of Land Commissioners subject to standard of "fair 
and in the interest of the state," with a statutory minimum of 2.5%; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 5%; Base: Value of 
mineral produced and saved; market value or actual price, whichever is 
higher; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: Rental payments are credited toward 
the royalties. 

Idaho: All lands: Mining license tax[C]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Quartz, gold, silver, copper, lead, 
zinc, coal, phosphate, limestone, and other metals and minerals 
extracted from all mines; 
Type of royalty: Net proceeds royalty; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 1%; Base: Net value of 
ore; taxpayer may select either of two methods of computation[D]; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: (1) Internal Revenue 
Service method - deductions include costs of mining and processing, and 
depletion[E]; (2) Interior Method-deductions include costs of mining 
and transportation, and depletion; Limitations: None identified in 
statute or regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Idaho Code ï¿½ 47-701 et seq; correspondence, State of Idaho Minerals 
Program, Mar. 25, 2008; at present, there is no production from 
hardrock mineral leases in Idaho. 

[B] Idaho Code ï¿½ 47-701 et seq. Idaho Admin. Code r. 20.03.05.001 et 
seq.; State of Idaho Minerals Program, Mar. 25, 2008. 

[C] Idaho Code ï¿½ï¿½ 47-1201, 47-1202, 47-1205; State of Idaho Minerals 
Program, Mar. 25, 2008. 

[D] Depletion is an accounting method used to reflect the actual 
physical reduction of natural resources in asset value; two-thirds of 
the tax is placed into an abandoned mine reclamation fund. 

[E] Referencing an Internal Revenue Service method and an Interior 
method. 

[End of table] 

Table 8: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Montana: 

Montana: State Lands: Royalty--Metalliferous Mines[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Metalliferous minerals (including 
gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, platinum, iron, and all other 
metallic minerals) or gems (sapphires, rubies, and other stones 
commonly known as "precious stones" or "semiprecious stones"); 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue or net smelter returns; Rate 
determination: Statute requires royalty, and delegates to Board of Land 
Commissioners subject to standard of "a royalty which shall, together 
with other considerations to be paid by the mining lessee, constitute 
the full market value of the leasehold interest," and a minimum 
percentage; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case, within direction of statute; 
Current rate: 5% to 8% of returns, but no less than 5% of the fair 
market value; Base: Fair market value is defined as the value of the 
minerals or gems in raw crude form as recovered at the mine site; 
Returns are defined as the net amount received by the shipper after 
deducting reasonable transportation costs to the closest feasible point 
of sale, smelting charges and deductions, and other treatment costs; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deduction: (Note: For returns, any 
cost of producing or treating at the mine is not included as a 
deduction); Limitation: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Montana: State Lands: Royalty--non metallic minerals[B];
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Nonmetallic minerals (not including 
coal, oil, or gas); 
Type of royalty: Lease-specific; Rate determination: Statute requires 
royalty, and delegates to Board of Land Commissioners subject to 
certain bases and the standard that the rates shall be as would be 
charged by private owners under similar circumstances, or as in the 
determination of the board is fair and reasonable; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case, within direction of statute; 
Current rate: Not available; Base: Gross value by either weight or 
cubic measurement; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Not applicable; 
Limitations: Not applicable. 

Montana: All lands: Mining license tax--metal mine[C]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Gold, silver, copper, lead, or any 
other metal or metals or precious or semiprecious gems or stones of any 
kind extracted from all mines on state lands; 
Type of royalty: Net smelter returns royalty; Rate determination: 
Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform within each category; Current rate: 
Precious and base metal processed concentrates shipped to a refinery--
1.6%; mineral concentrates shipped to smelter, mill, or reduction 
works--1.81%; Base: Gross value of product, less first $250,000; Gross 
value is the receipts received from the sale of concentrates or metals 
extracted from mines or recovered from the smelting, milling, 
reduction, or treatment of such ores. Receipts received is defined as 
the payment received, less allowable deductions; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Treatment and refinery 
charges; costs of transportation from the mine or mill to the smelter, 
roaster, or other processing facility, quantity, price, impurity and 
penalty charges; and interest; Limitations: None identified in statute 
or regulation. 

Montana: All lands: Mining license tax--micaceous mines[D]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Vermiculite, perlite, kerrite, 
maconite, or any other micaceous minerals extracted from all mines on 
state lands; 
Type of royalty: Unit-based; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: $0.05 per ton; Base: 
Not applicable; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Not applicable; 
Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Montana: All lands: Resource indemnity and groundwater assessment 
tax[E]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Any precious stones or gems, gold, 
silver, copper, coal, lead, petroleum, natural gas, oil, uranium, talc, 
vermiculite, limestone, or other nonrenewable, merchantable products 
extracted from all mines on state lands; 
Type of royalty: Metals--net smelter returns royalty; Selected 
minerals--revenue royalty with reference price; Rate determination: 
Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform within each category; Current rate: 
Default rate: 0.5% of gross value > $5,000; garnets: 1% of gross value 
> $2,500; Limestone: 10% of gross value > $250; vermiculite: 2% of 
gross value > $1,250; talc: 4% of gross value > $625; Base: Gross 
value, defined as the market value of any merchantable mineral 
extracted. For several minerals, the gross value is fixed by the 
statute, with reference to a price index. For metals and gems, the 
gross value is the receipts received (see above under License Tax); 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Generally, none; metals 
and gems--as outlined above under License Tax; Limitations: None 
identified in statute or regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Mont. Code Ann. ï¿½ 77-3-101 et seq; Mont. Admin. R. 36.25.601-617. 

[B] Mont. Code Ann. ï¿½ 77-3-201-211. 

[C] Mont. Code Ann. ï¿½ï¿½ 15-37-101 et seq.; Mont. Code Ann. ï¿½ï¿½ 15-23-801. 

[D] Mont. Code Ann. ï¿½ 15-37-201. 

[E] Mont. Code Ann. ï¿½ 15-38-101-136; persons who have paid the license 
tax for metal mines are exempt from this tax. 

[End of table] 

Table 9: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Nevada: 

Nevada: State lands: Royalty[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Minerals extracted from state lands; 
Type of royalty: Lease-specific; Rate determination: Statute delegates 
broad authority for lease of public lands to Administrator of the 
Division of State Lands, for such terms and consideration as the 
Administrator of the Division of State Lands may determine reasonable 
based upon the fair market value; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case; Current rate: Not available; 
Base: Not available; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Nevada: All lands: Extraction/severance tax[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Ores, coal, oil, gas, or other mineral 
substances, but not sand and gravel extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Net proceeds royalty; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Progressive (tax rate increases as mining 
efficiency increases, and maximum rate imposed at threshold proceeds 
level); Current rate: 2% to 5%; rate is progressive based on the ratio 
of net proceeds to gross proceeds (seven steps between <10% and >50%). 
Also: If net proceeds over $4M then at 5%; if below $4M, and the county 
tax ad valorem is more than 2%, then that rate shall be the minimum 
tax; Base: Net proceeds defined as gross value less deductions. Gross 
value of mineral product is defined as the proceeds of the sale of the 
product (applies to all minerals including any reduction, beneficiation 
or any treatment used by the producer to obtain a commercially 
marketable mineral product); 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Deductions include 
extraction costs, processing, refining and sale costs, transportation 
from the mine to place of processing and sale, marketing costs, 
operating costs, royalties, reclamation costs, and certain 
administrative overhead costs; taxes and liability insurance costs are 
not deductible; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Nev. Rev. Stat. ï¿½ï¿½ 322.010-322.075; in practice, there are no 
current state lands mineral leases because Nevada owns very little 
available land. 

[B] Nev. Rev. Stat. Ch. 362; Nev. Admin. Code Ch. 362. 

[End of table] 

Table 10: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in New Mexico: 

New Mexico: State Lands: Royalty (general)[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Minerals other than common salt, oil 
and gas, coal, shale, clay, gravel, building stone and building 
materials, potassium, sodium, phosphorus and other minerals of similar 
occurrence, and their salts and compounds; and excepting rare earths, 
etc., extracted from public lands over which the Commissioner of Public 
Lands has jurisdiction[J]; 
Type of royalty: Net smelter returns royalty; Rate determination: 
Delegated to Commissioner of Public Lands with statutory minimum; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case, subject to statutory minimum; 
Current rate: As determined by the Commissioner, but not less than 2%; 
Base: Gross returns shall be based on the arm's length sales price of 
the produced minerals (from the smelter, mill, reduction process, or 
other sale) (including all premiums, bonuses, and other consideration 
of any kind received by the lessee for the minerals produced); 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Reasonable 
transportation and smelting or reduction charges, up to 50% of gross 
returns; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

New Mexico: State Lands: Royalty on selected minerals, such as uranium, 
and gems[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Rare earths, precious stones or 
semiprecious stones, uranium, thorium, plutonium, and any other mineral 
designed by the Atomic Energy Commission to be peculiarly essential to 
the production of fissionable materials extracted from all public lands 
over which the Commissioner of Public Lands has jurisdiction[J]; 
Type of royalty: Net smelter returns royalty; Rate determination: 
Delegated to Commissioner of Public Lands with statutory minimum of 5%; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case subject to statutory minimum; 
Current rate: Not available; no less than 5%; Base: Gross returns shall 
be based on the arm's-length sales price of the produced minerals (from 
the smelter, mill, reduction process, or other sale) and shall include, 
if applicable, all premiums, bonuses, and other consideration of any 
kind received by the lessee for the minerals produced; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Reasonable 
transportation and smelting or reduction charges, up to 50% of gross 
returns; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

New Mexico: State Lands: Royalty on selected minerals and salts[C]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and 
other minerals of similar occurrence and their salts and compounds, 
including chlorides, sulphates, carbonates, borates, silicates, 
nitrates, and any and all other salts and compounds; except sodium 
chloride extracted from all public lands over which the Commissioner of 
Public Lands has jurisdiction[J]; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: Statute 
delegates to Commissioner to grant leases; leases must contain a 
royalty, to be established by regulation[K]; 
Rate type: Case by case, within direction of statute, and for selected 
minerals, subject to a minimum; Current rate: Not available; Base: 
Gross value of the product after processing; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

New Mexico: All lands: Severance tax--general provisions[D]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: All metalliferous and nonmetalliferous 
minerals extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Where posted market price available--Net smelter 
returns royalty Default--Gross revenue royalty Where mineral requires 
processing before sale--Net smelter returns royalty; Rate 
determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 0.125% (1/8); Base: 
Taxable value is defined as the gross value less rental and royalty 
payments to state or federal governments. Gross value is the sales 
value of the severed and saved product at the first marketable point; 
however, where posted field or market price is available, it shall be 
used; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Deductions for 
calculation of gross value: (1) The default is no deductions; (2) Where 
posted field or market price is used, the costs of hoisting, crushing, 
and loading necessary to place the severed product in marketable form 
and place are deductible, up to 50% of the posted field or market 
price; (3) For products that must be processed or beneficiated before 
sale, the freight charges from the point of severance to the point of 
first sale and the cost of processing or beneficiation may be deducted; 
Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

New Mexico: All lands: Severance tax--copper, lead, zinc, gold, 
silver[E]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver 
extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Net proceeds royalty; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform within several categories; Current 
rate: Copper 1/2%; gold and silver 1/5%; lead and zinc 1/8%; Base: 
Taxable value = gross value less rental or royalty payments to state or 
federal governments. Gross value: Copper, lead, and zinc = 66.67% of 
sales value from published price data; Gold = sales value from 
published price data; Silver = 80% of sales value from published price 
data; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Deductions for 
calculation of gross value: Standard deduction of 50% of sales value 
for hoisting, crushing, loading, processing, and beneficiation; 
Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

New Mexico: All lands: Severance tax--Molybdenum[F]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Molybdenum extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Net proceeds royalty/standard deduction; Rate 
determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 0.125% (1/8); Base: 
Taxable value is the gross value less rental or royalty payments to 
State or U.S. Gross value is the value of molybdenum in concentrates 
shipped from mine; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Deductions for 
calculation of gross value: Standard deduction of 50% of the value; 
Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

New Mexico: All lands: Severance tax--potash[G]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Potash or potash products extracted 
from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Net proceeds; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 2.5%; Base: Taxable 
value is the gross value less rental or royalty payments to state or 
federal governments; gross value: (1) for potash requiring processing 
or beneficiation, 33-1/3% of sale proceeds or value (2) otherwise, 40% 
of the posted field or market price; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Actual cost of 
hoisting, crushing, and loading, up to 50% of market price; 
Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

New Mexico: All lands: Severance tax--uranium[H]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Uranium extracted from all lands;
Type of royalty: Net proceeds royalty[L]; Rate determination: 
Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 3.50% on taxable value 
(effectively 1.75% on revenue); Base: Taxable value is 50% of sales 
price of the content of uranium oxide; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

New Mexico: All lands: Resources excise tax (severers and 
processors)[I]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Metalliferous and nonmetalliferous 
extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Modified gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: 
Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform within several categories; Current 
rate: Default 0.75% Potash 0.5% (severers) or 0.125% (processors); 
Molybdenum 0.125%; Base: Taxable value, which is the value after 
severing or processing; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Royalties paid to state 
or federal governments; proceeds from sales to the State, U.S., tribes, 
or nonprofit organizations; Limitations: The Resources Excise Tax 
imposes a resources tax on severers and a processors tax on processors; 
however, only one of the two taxes is imposed on a given mineral 
product. If the mineral is mined and processed in state, only the 
processors tax is paid. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] N.M. Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 19-8-14, -22; N.M. Admin. Code ï¿½ 19.2.2; if a 
lease is renewed to a fourth term (where minerals have not yet been 
discovered), advance royalties are due on a per acre basis. 

[B] N.M. Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 19-8-14, -22; N.M. Admin. Code ï¿½ 19.2.2. 

[C] N.M. Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 19-8-4, ï¿½ 19-8-6; N.M. Admin. Code ï¿½ 19.2.3.2, 
19.2.3.12. 

[D] N.M Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 7-26-1 et seq. 

[E] N.M Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 7-26-4, -5. 

[F] N.M. Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 7-26-4, -5. 

[G] N.M Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 7-26-4. 

[H] N.M. Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 7-26-7, ï¿½ 7-26-4(I). 

[I] N.M. Stat. Ann. ï¿½ 7-25-1-9; there also is a service tax, which 
essentially imposes the severer's tax on a nonowner severer where the 
product is not otherwise taxed by the resource excise tax. 

[J] For example, granted to New Mexico from the United States in the 
New Mexico enabling act. 

[K] Regulation provides that royalties will be established by the 
Commissioner on a negotiated basis. The regulation establishes minimum 
royalties for potassium chloride and sulfates, but the Commissioner may 
issue a lease at a reduced rate upon a showing of good cause. 

[L] Although structured like a gross revenue royalty, the taxable value 
discount of 50% makes the royalty function more like a net proceeds 
royalty with standard deduction. 

[End of table] 

Table 11: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Oregon: 

Oregon: State lands: Royalty--metallics and uranium[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Metallic minerals removed in 
quantities greater than 10 yards per year extracted from on-shore state-
owned lands[C]; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: Statute 
delegates rules and conditions of leases to the Department of State 
Lands; regulations specify rate; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 5%; Base: Gross value 
of minerals at the mine mouth; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None specified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: Rent ($1 per acre per year) is 
credited against annual royalties. 

Oregon: State lands: Royalty--Non-metallics[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Nonmetallic minerals removed in 
quantities greater than 10 yards per year extracted from on-shore state-
owned lands; 
Type of royalty: Unit-based; Rate determination: Statute delegates 
rules and conditions of leases to the Department of State Lands; 
regulations do not specify terms for leases of nonmetallic minerals, 
and delegate determination of royalty to Director subject to "fair and 
reasonable" standard; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Case by case; Current rate: A rate per ton to 
be determined by the Director to be fair and reasonable under the 
particular lease; Base: Not applicable; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Not applicable; 
Limitations: Rent ($1 per acre per year) is credited against annual 
royalties. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] OR Rev Statute ï¿½ 273.775 thru 790; Or. Admin. R. ï¿½ 141-071-0400 et 
seq, -0610, -0620. 

[B] OR Rev Statute ï¿½ 273.775 thru 790; Or. Admin. R. ï¿½ 141-071-0400 et 
seq, -0610. 

[C] State statute provides for royalties for use of stream bed 
materials, but prohibits leases of submersible and submerged lands for 
hardrock mineral mining. 

[End of table] 

Table 12: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Utah: 

Utah: State lands: Royalty[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Classified minerals, including 
metalliferous, potash, phosphate, gemstone/fossil, gypsum, gilsonite, 
and others extracted from mines on lands and mineral estates owned or 
held in trust by the state; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: Statute 
requires a royalty on every mineral lease; directs Division of 
Forestry, Fire and State Lands to issue rules specifying the basis upon 
which the royalty shall be computed; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform within each category; Current rate: 
metalliferous metals, fissionable (e.g., uranium)--8%; Metalliferous 
metals, non-fissionable--4% potash, phosphate, gypsum -- 5%; 
gemstone/fossil--10% (subject to annual minimum of $5 per acre) 
gilsonite--10% (additional categories are listed in the regulation); 
Base: Actual compensation received (plus value of any services, in- 
kind, and other non-monetary compensation); 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None; Limitations: Rent 
paid is credited against royalty. 

Utah: All lands: Severance tax on metals and metalliferous minerals[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Ore, metal, or other substance 
containing gold, iron, mercury, nickel, uranium, or other of 57 listed 
metals; does not include gem stones, potash, sand and gravel, oil, gas, 
and coal, and others extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Net proceeds royalty/standard deduction; Rate 
determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 2.6% of the taxable 
value; Base: For minerals other than uranium, the taxable value is 
defined as the gross proceeds from sale, less exemption of first 
$50,000/year/mine, then reduced by standard percentage deduction. For 
uranium, the gross proceeds is the amount received for the sale of 
yellowcake; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Metal, 70% deduction is 
applied; ore (raw materials with metals content less than 15%) shipped 
or sold out of state, 20% deduction is applied; Limitations: None 
identified in statute or regulation. 

Utah: All lands: Severance tax--beryllium[C]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Beryllium; 
Type of royalty: Other[D] (cost-based); Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform within several categories; Current 
rate: 2.6% of the taxable value; Base: Taxable value is 125% of the 
direct mining costs; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Not applicable; 
Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Utah Code Ann. ï¿½ 65A-6-1, 2; Utah Admin. R. R652-20-200, 1000, 
4000; correspondence, State of Utah SITLA, Mar. 25-26, 2008; royalties 
may be readjusted in leases with readjustment clause. 

[B] Utah Code Ann. ï¿½ 59-5-201, 203; Utah Admin. R. R865-16R. 

[C] Utah Code Ann. ï¿½ 59-5-201-203; Utah Admin. R. R865-16R. 

[D] We categorized this royalty as other because it does not fit into 
the four categories. 

[End of table] 

Table 13: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Washington: 

Washington: State lands: Royalty[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Valuable minerals and specified 
materials (except rock, gravel, sand, silt, coal, or hydrocarbons) 
extracted from mines on lands and mineral estates owned or held in 
trust by the state; 
Type of royalty: Modified gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: 
Statute requires production royalty on all leases (mining contracts); 
delegates to Board of Natural Resources; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 5%; Base: "Gross 
receipts" are receipts paid, earned, or received, at the point of sale 
of the first marketable valuable mineral(s) produced, subject to 
deduction; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: Limited to 
transportation costs which are part of the development plan approved by 
the department; Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Washington: All lands: Business tax[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: All (coal, oil, natural gas, ore, 
stone, sand, gravel, clay, mineral, or other natural resource product) 
extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 0.48%; Base: The value 
of products and byproducts extracted for use or sale; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Wash. Rev. Code ï¿½ï¿½ 79.14.300 et seq, .410, .420; Wash Admin. Code ï¿½ 
333.16155; the royalty may be revised upon renewal of a mining 
contract, by reference to then existing law. 

[B] Wash. Rev. Code ï¿½ 82.04.100, 230; extractors also may be subject to 
a retail or wholesaler tax; however, the extracting tax is credited 
against any retail/wholesale liability, effectively voiding it based on 
current rates. 

[End of table] 

Table 14: Royalties, Including Functional Royalties, Assessed on 
Hardrock Mining Operations in Wyoming: 

Wyoming: State lands: Royalty--general[A]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Metallic and nonmetallic rocks and 
minerals extracted from state lands; 
Type of royalty: Default gross revenue royalty provided in regulation; 
Rate determination: Statute delegates to Board of Land Commissioners to 
establish in rules and regulations for mineral leases[H]; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Progressive (default rates), case by case; 
Current rate: Minimum $0.50/ton. Default rates are 5% to 10%, based on 
the sales value per ton; Base: Sales value, which is total 
consideration received for state production; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Wyoming: State lands: Royalty--trona[B]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Trona/sodium extracted from state 
lands; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty provided in regulation; Rate 
determination: Statute delegates to Board of Land Commissioners to 
establish in rules and regulations for mineral leases. Regulations 
provide the royalty "shall be based on the terms of the particular 
lease agreement," but that specified default rates shall apply unless 
specifically authorized by the board; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform (default), case by case; Current rate: 
6% (default); Base: Gross sales value of the soda ash and sodium 
byproducts sold, which is total consideration received for state 
production; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Wyoming: State lands: Royalty--uranium[C]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Uranium extracted from state lands; 
Type of royalty: Lease-specific, with default gross revenue royalty 
provided in regulation; Rate determination: Statute delegates to Board 
of Land Commissioners to establish in rules and regulations for mineral 
leases Regulations provide the royalty "shall be based on the terms of 
the particular lease agreement," but that specified default rates shall 
apply unless specifically authorized by the board; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Progressive (default rates), case-by-case; 
Current rate: 2.5% to 3%, based on the average price of yellowcake 
based on gross yearly sales realization (default); Base: Sales value, 
which is total consideration received for state production; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Wyoming: State lands: Royalty--zeolite[D]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Zeolite extracted from state lands; 
Type of royalty: Lease-specific, with default unit-based provided in 
regulation; Rate determination: Statute delegates to Board of Land 
Commissioners to establish in rules and regulations for mineral leases. 
Regulations provide the royalty "shall be based on the terms of the 
particular lease agreement," but that specified default rates shall 
apply unless specifically authorized by the board; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Progressive; (default rates), case by case; 
Current rate: $0.55 to $0.60+ per ton, depending on the average sale 
price for bulk zeolite products (default); Base: Tons of mineral 
production; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Wyoming: All lands: Mining severance tax--general[E]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: All "other valuable deposits" (other 
than coal, oil and gas, trona, bentonite, uranium, and sand and gravel) 
extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Gross revenue royalty[I]; Rate determination: 
Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 2%; Base: Value of the 
gross product, which is the fair market value of the minerals at the 
mouth of the mine, after extraction; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: None identified in 
statute or regulation; Limitations: None identified in statute or 
regulation. 

Wyoming: All lands: Mining severance tax--uranium[F]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Uranium extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Modified net smelter returns royalty/standard 
deduction; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform;; progressive under currently active 
provision; Current rate: The statutory tax rate is 4%. However, the tax 
is suspended for all uranium production occurring between January 1, 
1995, and March 31, 2009, except for uranium production beginning with 
the month that follows 6 consecutive months at which the spot market 
price per pound of nonenriched uranium concentrate is at least $14.00 
(according to specified indices). In such case, the tax is 1% to 4% 
depending upon the spot market price; Base: Value of the gross product, 
which is the fair market value of the minerals at the mouth of the 
mine, after extraction, and not including any processing. Fair market 
value is calculated by multiplying the individual producer's sales 
value of yellow cake less all royalties, ad valorem production taxes, 
and severance taxes; multiplied by the industry factor; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: The industry factor 
provides a standard deduction and is an average of all uranium 
producers' ratios of total mining costs to total mining and processing 
costs incurred to produce yellow cake; Limitations: None identified in 
statute or regulation. 

Wyoming: All lands: Mining severance tax--trona[G]; 
Type of mines/minerals assessed: Trona extracted from all lands; 
Type of royalty: Modified net smelter returns royalty/standard 
deduction; Rate determination: Statutory; 
Royalty rate: Rate type: Uniform; Current rate: 4%; Base: Fair market 
value is that at the mouth of the mine, and not including any 
processing; 
Royalty deductions and limitations: Deductions: The value for tax 
purposes is the fair market value of soda ash at the plant (f.o.b.) 
multiplied by the industry factor (32.5%) divided by the individual 
producer's trona-to-soda ash ratio less exempt royalties (the industry 
factor divided by ration represent a percentage deduction); 
Limitations: None identified in statute or regulation. 

Source: GAO analysis of state statutes and regulations. 

[A] Wyo. Stat. ï¿½ 36-6-101; Wyo. Admin. Code Land LC Ch. 24 ï¿½ 2, ï¿½ 7; 
under certain circumstances, the board can reduce a royalty after the 
mine is operating. 

[B] Wyo. Stat. ï¿½ 36-6-101; Wyo. Admin. Code Land LC Ch. 20 ï¿½ 2, ï¿½ 7(a). 

[C] Wyo. Stat. ï¿½ 36-6-101; Wyo. Admin. Code Land LC Ch. 21 ï¿½ 2, ï¿½ 7(a). 

[D] Wyo. Stat. ï¿½ 36-6-101; Wyo. Admin. Code Land LC Ch. 23 ï¿½ 2, ï¿½ 7(a). 

[E] Wyo. Stat. Tit. 39, ch. 14, art. 7; Wyo. Stat. ï¿½ 39-14-701 et seq. 

[F] Wyo. Stat. ï¿½ 39-14-503. 

[G] Wyo. Stat. ï¿½ 39-14-301 et seq. 

[H] Regulations provide the royalty "shall be based on the terms of the 
particular lease agreement," but that specified default rates shall 
apply unless specifically authorized by the board, and subject to a 
minimum. 

[I] For minerals requiring processing before sale (i.e., at the mouth 
of the mine), the royalty would function similar to a net smelter 
returns in which the cost of processing is deducted. 

[End of table] 

[End of enclosure] 

Enclosure III: U.S. Import and Export Trends on Hardrock Minerals: 

This enclosure provides information on trends in U.S. imports and 
exports of hardrock minerals, as measured by USGS's calculations for 
net import reliance. Table 15 shows annual net import reliance for 15 
hardrock minerals. 

Table 15: U.S. Net Import Reliance for 15 Hardrock Minerals, 1975 
through 2007: 

Year: 1975; 
Barite: 32; 
Copper: E; 
Fluorspar: 83; 
Gold: 52; 
Gypsum: 34; 
Lead: 11; 
Magnesium compounds: 4; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 72; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: [B]; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: 30; 
Tungsten: 46; 
Zinc: 61. 

Year: 1976; 
Barite: 45; 
Copper: 12; 
Fluorspar: 77; 
Gold: 76; 
Gypsum: 35; 
Lead: 15; 
Magnesium compounds: [Empty]; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 72; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: [B]; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: 50; 
Tungsten: 53; 
Zinc: 58. 

Year: 1977; 
Barite: 44; 
Copper: 13; 
Fluorspar: 80; 
Gold: 61; 
Gypsum: 31; 
Lead: 13; 
Magnesium compounds: E; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 75; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: [B]; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: 31; 
Tungsten: 52; 
Zinc: 57. 

Year: 1978; 
Barite: 36; 
Copper: 20; 
Fluorspar: 84; 
Gold: 53; 
Gypsum: 32; 
Lead: 12; 
Magnesium compounds: E; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 80; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: [B]; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: 48; 
Tungsten: 56; 
Zinc: 66. 

Year: 1979; 
Barite: 40; 
Copper: 13; 
Fluorspar: 86; 
Gold: 50; 
Gypsum: 35; 
Lead: 5; 
Magnesium compounds: E; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 75; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: [B]; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: 42; 
Tungsten: 58; 
Zinc: 63. 

Year: 1980; 
Barite: 44; 
Copper: 16; 
Fluorspar: 91; 
Gold: 18; 
Gypsum: 35; 
Lead: E; 
Magnesium compounds: E; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 76; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: [B]; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 53; 
Zinc: 60. 

Year: 1981; 
Barite: 40; 
Copper: 6; 
Fluorspar: 87; 
Gold: 15; 
Gypsum: 37; 
Lead: 1; 
Magnesium compounds: 2; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 75; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: [B]; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: 53; 
Tungsten: 50; 
Zinc: 65. 

Year: 1982; 
Barite: 55; 
Copper: 1; 
Fluorspar: 90; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 36; 
Lead: 11; 
Magnesium compounds: 4; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 76; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: [B]; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: 55; 
Tungsten: 42; 
Zinc: 58. 

Year: 1983; 
Barite: 65; 
Copper: 19; 
Fluorspar: 90; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 40; 
Lead: 20; 
Magnesium compounds: 8; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 75; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: 4; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: 59; 
Tungsten: 52; 
Zinc: 65. 

Year: 1984; 
Barite: 69; 
Copper: 23; 
Fluorspar: 90; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 38; 
Lead: 20; 
Magnesium compounds: 13; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 69; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: 5; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 70; 
Zinc: 68. 

Year: 1985; 
Barite: 74; 
Copper: 27; 
Fluorspar: 90; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 38; 
Lead: 12; 
Magnesium compounds: 21; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 71; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: 6; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 68; 
Zinc: 70. 

Year: 1986; 
Barite: 71; 
Copper: 27; 
Fluorspar: 86; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 36; 
Lead: 20; 
Magnesium compounds: 25; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 73; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: 6; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 70; 
Zinc: 73. 

Year: 1987; 
Barite: 65; 
Copper: 26; 
Fluorspar: 90; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 38; 
Lead: 17; 
Magnesium compounds: 24; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 79; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: 5; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 79; 
Zinc: 71. 

Year: 1988; 
Barite: 76; 
Copper: 13; 
Fluorspar: 90; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 36; 
Lead: 13; 
Magnesium compounds: 22; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 74; 
Palladium: [C]; 
Perlite: 4; 
Platinum: [C]; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 86; 
Zinc: 69. 

Year: 1989; 
Barite: 77; 
Copper: 7; 
Fluorspar: 91; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 35; 
Lead: 8; 
Magnesium compounds: 22; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 71; 
Palladium: 84; 
Perlite: 2; 
Platinum: 94; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 84; 
Zinc: 61. 

Year: 1990; 
Barite: 71; 
Copper: 3; 
Fluorspar: 89; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 36; 
Lead: 3; 
Magnesium compounds: 15; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 64; 
Palladium: 81; 
Perlite: 5; 
Platinum: 92; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 81; 
Zinc: 41. 

Year: 1991; 
Barite: 66; 
Copper: E; 
Fluorspar: 88; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 31; 
Lead: 6; 
Magnesium compounds: 18; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 61; 
Palladium: 84; 
Perlite: 5; 
Platinum: 90; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 91; 
Zinc: 24. 

Year: 1992; 
Barite: 52; 
Copper: 2; 
Fluorspar: 91; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 31; 
Lead: 10; 
Magnesium compounds: 24; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 59;
Palladium: 83; 
Perlite: 6; 
Platinum: 92; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 86; 
Zinc: 30. 

Year: 1993; 
Barite: 72; 
Copper: 7; 
Fluorspar: 89; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 31; 
Lead: 15; 
Magnesium compounds: 35; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 63; 
Palladium: 85; 
Perlite: 7; 
Platinum: 89; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 81; 
Zinc: 45. 

Year: 1994; 
Barite: 64; 
Copper: 13; 
Fluorspar: 91; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 31; 
Lead: 19; 
Magnesium compounds: 41; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 64; 
Palladium: 87; 
Perlite: 6; 
Platinum: 89; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 95; 
Zinc: 35. 

Year: 1995; 
Barite: 65; 
Copper: 7; 
Fluorspar: 91; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 30; 
Lead: 17; 
Magnesium compounds: 43; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 60; 
Palladium: 92; 
Perlite: 6; 
Platinum: 92; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 90; 
Zinc: 35. 

Year: 1996; 
Barite: 70; 
Copper: 14; 
Fluorspar: 99; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 29; 
Lead: 17; 
Magnesium compounds: 31; 
Magnesium metal: E; 
Nickel[A]: 59; 
Palladium: 93; 
Perlite: 11; 
Platinum: 93; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 89; 
Zinc: 57. 

Year: 1997; 
Barite: 76; 
Copper: 13; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 28; 
Lead: 14; 
Magnesium compounds: 34; 
Magnesium metal: 16; 
Nickel[A]: 56; 
Palladium: 90; 
Perlite: 12; 
Platinum: 91; 
Silver: [C]; 
Tungsten: 84; 
Zinc: 59. 

Year: 1998; 
Barite: 80; 
Copper: 14; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 28; 
Lead: 18; 
Magnesium compounds: 44; 
Magnesium metal: 25; 
Nickel[A]: 64; 
Palladium: 90; 
Perlite: 14; 
Platinum: 94; 
Silver: 43; 
Tungsten: 77; 
Zinc: 58. 

Year: 1999; 
Barite: 66; 
Copper: 27; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 25; 
Lead: 20; 
Magnesium compounds: 41; 
Magnesium metal: 38; 
Nickel[A]: 63; 
Palladium: 92; 
Perlite: 12; 
Platinum: 96; 
Silver: 39; 
Tungsten: 65; 
Zinc: 62. 

Year: 2000; 
Barite: 84; 
Copper: 37; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 27; 
Lead: 13; 
Magnesium compounds: 48; 
Magnesium metal: 43; 
Nickel[A]: 55; 
Palladium: 84; 
Perlite: 17; 
Platinum: 78; 
Silver: 43; 
Tungsten: 66; 
Zinc: 60. 

Year: 2001; 
Barite: 86; 
Copper: 22; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 27; 
Lead: 8; 
Magnesium compounds: 39; 
Magnesium metal: 44; 
Nickel[A]: 53; 
Palladium: 87; 
Perlite: 18; 
Platinum: 90; 
Silver: 49; 
Tungsten: 64; 
Zinc: 59. 

Year: 2002; 
Barite: 78; 
Copper: 37; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 27; 
Lead: E; 
Magnesium compounds: 46; 
Magnesium metal: 55; 
Nickel[A]: 48; 
Palladium: 82; 
Perlite: 26; 
Platinum: 91; 
Silver: 60; 
Tungsten: 69; 
Zinc: 62. 

Year: 2003; 
Barite: 77; 
Copper: 40; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 25; 
Lead: E; 
Magnesium compounds: 46; 
Magnesium metal: 53; 
Nickel[A]: 45; 
Palladium: 82; 
Perlite: 30;
Platinum: 91; 
Silver: 65; 
Tungsten: 63; 
Zinc: 58. 

Year: 2004; 
Barite: 78; 
Copper: 43; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: 8; 
Gypsum: 28; 
Lead: E; 
Magnesium compounds: 52; 
Magnesium metal: 61; 
Nickel[A]: 49; 
Palladium: 83; 
Perlite: 28; 
Platinum: 92; 
Silver: 53; 
Tungsten: 73; 
Zinc: 60. 

Year: 2005; 
Barite: 84; 
Copper: 42; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: 4; 
Gypsum: 27; 
Lead: E; 
Magnesium compounds: 54; 
Magnesium metal: 60; 
Nickel[A]: 48; 
Palladium: 84; 
Perlite: 24; 
Platinum: 93; 
Silver: 61; 
Tungsten: 68; 
Zinc: 55. 

Year: 2006; 
Barite: 81; 
Copper: 38; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 27; 
Lead: E; 
Magnesium compounds: 57; 
Magnesium metal: 53; 
Nickel[A]: 49; 
Palladium: 75; 
Perlite: 32; 
Platinum: 90; 
Silver: 65; 
Tungsten: 68; 
Zinc: 64. 

Year: 2007[D]; 
Barite: 83; 
Copper: 37; 
Fluorspar: 100; 
Gold: E; 
Gypsum: 26; 
Lead: E; 
Magnesium compounds: 57; 
Magnesium metal: 47; 
Nickel[A]: 17; 
Palladium: 73; 
Perlite: 30; 
Platinum: 94; 
Silver: 59; 
Tungsten: 70; 
Zinc: 58. 

Source: USGS. 

Notes: E = Net exporter. Net import reliance shows the amount of net 
imports of a particular mineral as a percentage of U.S. apparent 
consumption. USGS calculates apparent consumption as production plus 
imports minus exports with adjustments for changes in government and 
industry stocks. For example, a net import reliance figure of 50 for a 
particular mineral would indicate that 50 percent of the domestic 
consumption of that mineral was supplied through net imports. A net 
import reliance figure of E represents a negative percentage, which 
indicates that the United States was a net exporter of that particular 
mineral in that year. 

[A] Import reliance figures for 1991 to 2002 were recalculated by USGS 
to incorporate more complete data. Data for stainless steel scrap 
consumption were included in the net import reliance calculation 
beginning in 1980. 

[B] No trade reported. 

[C] Not available. 

[D] Estimated. 

[End of table] 

[End of enclosure] 

Enclosure IV: Hardrock Mining Data That Are Either Not Routinely 
Collected or Not Consistently Maintained by Federal Agencies: 

During the course of our work, we noted that BLM, the Forest Service, 
and USGS either do not routinely collect or do not consistently 
maintain data on the amount of hardrock minerals being produced on 
federal land and the amount of hardrock minerals remaining and the 
total acreage of federal lands withdrawn from hardrock mining 
operations. 

* According to officials with BLM and the Forest Service, they do not 
have the authority to collect information from mine operators on the 
amount of hardrock minerals produced on federal land, or the amount 
remaining. 

* USGS collects extensive data on hardrock mineral production through 
its mineral industry surveys and reports these data in monthly, 
quarterly, and annual reports. However, mine operators' participation 
in these surveys is voluntary, these data do not include the hardrock 
mineral uranium because it is also a fuel mineral, and USGS does not 
collect land ownership data that would allow it to determine the amount 
of hardrock mineral production on federal lands. As a result, it is not 
possible to determine hardrock mineral production on federal lands from 
the USGS data. In addition, although USGS does publish the total amount 
of hardrock mineral production by mineral type, it is prohibited by law 
from reporting individual mine production and other company proprietary 
data unless the mine operator authorizes release of that information. 
In some cases, mine operators that respond to these surveys report 
consolidated data that covers production from several mines. Therefore, 
information on hardrock mineral production for every mine is not 
available to the public. 

Some hardrock mineral production data are available from state sources 
and through financial reports filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission. However, these data may not always provide the level of 
detail necessary to determine the amount of mineral production on 
federal lands. BLM also does not centrally maintain data on the amount 
of land withdrawn from hardrock mining operations. BLM documents lands 
withdrawn from hardrock mining operations on its master title plats-- 
detailed paper maps maintained at BLM's state offices.[Footnote 10] 
These maps contain land survey information on federal lands, including 
ownership information, land use descriptions, and land status 
descriptions. BLM's annual publication, Public Land Statistics, does 
report the total number of acres withdrawn each year, but these data do 
not account for instances in which multiple withdrawals may have 
overlapping boundaries, which can result in double-counting the number 
of acres withdrawn. Furthermore, the reason for withdrawing the land is 
not always indicated, making it difficult to determine whether it was 
withdrawn from mining or from other purposes. 

[End of enclosure] 

Enclosure V: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments: 

GAO Contact: 

Robin M. Nazzaro, (202) 512-3841 or [email protected]: 

Staff Acknowledgments: 

In addition to the individual named above, Andrea Wamstad Brown 
(Assistant Director), Elizabeth Beardsley, Casey L. Brown, Charles 
Egan, David Martin, Kristen Sullivan Massey, Anne Stevens, Rebecca 
Shea, and Carol Herrnstadt Shulman made key contributions to this 
report. 

[End of enclosure] 

Footnotes: 

[1] Under U.S. mining laws, minerals are classified as locatable, 
leasable, or saleable. Locatable minerals include those minerals that 
are not leasable or saleable, for example, copper, lead, zinc, 
magnesium, gold, silver, and uranium. Only locatable minerals continue 
to be "claimed" under the Mining Act. For the purposes of this report, 
we use the term "hardrock minerals" as a synonym for "locatable 
minerals." Leasable minerals include, for example, oil, gas, and coal. 
The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, 41 Stat. 437 (codified at 30 U.S.C. ï¿½ 
181) created a leasing system for coal, gas, oil and other fuels, and 
chemical minerals. Saleable minerals include, for example, common sand, 
stone, and gravel. In 1955, the Multiple Use Mining Act of 1955, 69 
Stat. 367 (codified at 30 U.S.C. ï¿½ 601) removed common varieties of 
sand, stone, and gravel from development under the Mining Act. 

[2] Mining operations consist of three primary stages--exploration, 
mining, and mineral processing. 

[3] The 11 other western states are Arizona, California, Colorado, 
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and 
Wyoming. 

[4] A severance tax is generally a tax or fee that a state imposes on 
the extraction of natural resources, including hardrock minerals; a 
mine license tax generally is a tax assessed in conjunction with a mine 
license for the privilege of mining; and a resources excise tax 
generally is a tax a state imposes on the extracting or processing of 
natural resources. 

[5] Nonfuel minerals generally include all minerals except those that 
can be used for fuel, such as coal, oil, and gas. Most hardrock 
minerals are also nonfuel minerals. 

[6] USGS calculates apparent consumption as production plus imports 
minus exports with adjustments for changes in government and industry 
stocks. 

[7] GAO, Hardrock Mining: Information on Abandoned Mines and Value and 
Coverage of Financial Assurances on BLM Land, [hyperlink, 
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-574T] (Washington, D.C.: Mar. 
12, 2008). 

[8] These states are the principal hardrock mining states and contain 
nearly all the land subject to the General Mining Act of 1872. 

[9] The actual royalty amount owed for a particular mine may depend not 
only on the type of royalty and its rate, but also such factors as the 
processing requirements of the mineral, mineral markets, mine 
efficiency, mine location relative to markets, and others. 

[10] Some of the 12 BLM state offices manage BLM programs in more than 
one state. For example, the BLM Montana state office manages BLM 
programs in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and the BLM Oregon 
state office manages BLM programs in Oregon and Washington. 

[End of section] 

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