Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

This bill updates how hardrock mining works on public land. It lets a mining company include more than one “mill site” in its approved plan if needed. A mill site is an area on public land used for mine support, like waste rock or tailings, not for taking out minerals. Each mill site can be up to 5 acres and does not give mineral rights. A mill site can be on the same land as an existing mining claim, and adding mill sites does not change the validity of those claims. Mill sites cannot be sold to private owners (no patenting). The bill keeps current protections in place and does not open closed areas to mining or reduce the government’s power to regulate mining and protect wilderness, species, parks, or historic places .

It also creates an Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund in the U.S. Treasury. Certain maintenance fees tied to these mill sites would go into the fund. The Interior Department could use the money, without new appropriations, only for projects under section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, following that law’s rules for how to allocate and transfer the funds.

• Who is affected: Hardrock mining companies operating on public lands; nearby communities; federal land and resource agencies.
• What changes: Allows multiple mill sites if reasonably necessary; limits each to 5 acres; mill sites give no mineral rights and can’t be patented; keeps all existing land and environmental protections; sets up a fund for abandoned hardrock mine projects using certain fee revenue .
• When: Would take effect if enacted into law.