SUMMARY OF THE HARDROCK MINING AND RECLAMATION
ACT OF 2015
TheHardrockMiningandReclaimationActof2015(S.2254)
wasintroducedbySenatorsTomUdall(D-NM),Michael
Bennet(D-CO),MartinHeinrich(D-NM),EdMarkey(D-MA)
andRonWyden(D-OR).
EliminatesPatenting
Thelegislationpermanentlyrepealstheprovisionofthe
MiningLawthatprivatizespubliclandsforthemining
industryfor$2.50-$5.00peracre.Since1995,Congresshas,
throughtheappropriationsprocess,annuallyapproveda
moratoriumonpatenting,effectivelystoppingthispractice.
Thisbillwouldmakethatannualmoratoriumpermanent.
CreatesanAbandonedHardrockMine
ReclamationFund
Animas River before and after the mine waste spill
Thereareapproximately500,000abandonedhardrockminesitesscatteredaroundtheUnitedStates,primarilyin
theWest.Thebillcreatesaprogramforrestorationofthesemines,similartotheprogramestablished40years
agotocleanupabandonedcoalmines.
ThisprogramwillreceivededicatedfundingfromareclamationfeechargedforallmineralproductionintheWest.
TheInteriorSecretarywillsetthereclamationfeebetween0.6%and2.0%ofthemineral’sproductionvalue.
ProvidesaFairReturntoTaxpayers
Currently,miningcompaniestakepublicmineralsfromfederallandsforfree,withnoroyaltypaidtothetaxpayer.
Thehardrockminingindustryistheonlyextractiveindustrytoreceivethissubsidy–coalminingandoilandgas
companiespayaroyaltyrangingfrom8%to12.5%,Theroyaltyforhardrockminingwillbefornewminesone,
basedonthegrossincomefrommining,andwillbesetbetween2%and5%.
BalancesMineralDevelopmentwithOtherLandUses
Currentlawconsidersminingthehighestandbestuseofpubliclands.Whilethismayhavebeentruebefore
AmericanssettledtheWest,ourfederallandsnowsupportadiversityofusesincludingenergydevelopment,
recreation,conservation,andotherinterests.The1872MiningLaw,however,forbidsouragenciesfromtakinga
balancedapproachtopubliclandsmanagementthatcompeteswithmining.
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Thisbillallowsfederallandmanagersthediscretiontodecidewhetheranyotheruseofpubliclandsismore
appropriatethanhardrockmining.Itwillalsoauthorizeagenciestodenypermitsifminingwouldcreate
irreparableharmtosignificantscientific,cultural,orenvironmentalresourcesthatcannotbeeffectivelymitigated.
Itrequiresmineoperatorstoprevent“unduedegradation”ofthefederallands,providinggreaterclarityand
authorityforlandmanagerstoactuallydenyaminingoperationinconflictwithotherimportantresourcevalues
onourfederallands.
ProtectsSpecialPlaces
Overtheyears,landmanagementagencieshaveidentifiedaseriesofhighvaluenaturalresourcelandsthat
deservespecialmanagementattention–roadlessareasthroughourNationalForests,BureauofLandManagement
orForestServiceWildernessStudyAreas,AreasofCriticalEnvironmentalConcern,WildandScenicRiverstudy
areas,andfederallandswhereminingmayimpactNationalConservationSystemUnits,suchasNationalParksand
WildlifeRefuges.
Thisbillinstructstheseagenciestoconductareviewofthesespeciallandstodeterminewhethertheydeserve
protectionfrommineraldevelopment.GovernorsorTribalchairmenmayalsopetitionthefederalgovernmentfor
areviewofselectedlandsforwithdrawalfrommineralactivities.
ImprovesMiningEnforcementonFederalLand
Underexistinglaw,federallandmanagershavelittleguidanceforhowtoenforceregulatoryviolationsfrom
mineralactivitiesonpubliclands.Forexample,ifviolationsoccurataminesite,theInteriorDepartmentcanonly
assesscriminalpenaltiesagainstacompanyinfederalcourt,whichclogsthefederalcourtsystemanddeters
enforcement.Thisbillcreatesacomprehensiveprogramformanagingmineralactivities,includingpermitting
requirements,inspectionandenforcementatexistingmines.
RetainsInvestmentSecurityforLongTermMineralActivities
Miningcompanieswillretainthecertaintyneededtomakelargeandlong-termcapitalinvestmentsformineral
developmentonpubliclands.Underthe1872MiningLaw,aminingcompanycanestablishaclaimonfederal
lands,maintainthatclaimagainstacquisitionbyotherusers,andacquirefeetitletothelandby“patenting”it.In
thislegislation,miningcompaniesmaystillstakeclaimsonfederallandsand(insteadofapatenttomine)receivea
miningpermitfor30years,withsuccessiverightsofrenewalforthelifeoftheproject.
RiskstoOurNation’sWater
Large-scaleopenpitminesandinsituleachminescausesignificantwaterpollutiontooursurfaceand
groundwaterresourcesthatcanlasthundredsorthousandsofyears.Existingfederallawsdonotadequately
addressthescaleofpollutionfromthesemines.Theproposedlegislationwouldrequiremineoperatorsto
minimizethecreationoftoxicpollutants,andtopostalong-termbondtocoverthecostsoflong-termwater
treatment.
However,thisbilldoesnotsolvetheproblemofperpetualwaterpollution.EnsuringthatdwindlingWesternwater
resourcesarenotpermanentlydamagedandpollutedbyminingremainsasignificantchallenge.
WeurgeyoutosupportSenatorUdall’seffortstoreformtheMiningLawand
worktowardchangestothisstatutethatwillprotectourlands,watersandwildlife.
EARTHWORKS • 1612 K St., NW, Suite 808 Washington, D.C., USA 20006
www.earthworksaction.org • [email protected] • 202.887.1872 x107