Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act aims to clarify and expand the ability of hardrock mining operators to locate and utilize mill sites on public lands. It amends existing law to permit the proprietor of a lode or placer claim to locate and include within an approved plan of operations as many mill site claims as are reasonably necessary for their mining operations. Each individual mill site location is limited to a maximum of 5 acres . These new provisions clarify that such mill sites do not convey mineral rights to the locator and are explicitly not eligible for patenting . The bill also specifies that a mill site can be located on a tract of public land where the claimant already maintains a lode or placer claim, and its location does not affect the validity of existing mining claims. Importantly, the legislation includes savings provisions to ensure it does not diminish existing rights, create new rights on land closed to mining, or limit the federal government's authority to regulate mining activities. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund in the U.S. Treasury. This fund will receive deposits from claim maintenance fees collected on the newly authorized mill sites. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to use these funds, without further appropriations, specifically for carrying out abandoned mine land reclamation projects as outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.