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Congress·In Committee·12 months ago

Congress Proposes New 8% Royalty and Cleanup Fees for Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands

Also known as: Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This bill changes how companies mine for minerals like gold, silver, and copper on federal land. It stops the government from selling public land to mining companies and instead requires companies to pay for the right to use the land while keeping it in public hands.
  • For the first time, mining companies would have to pay the government a portion of the money they make from minerals found on public land. This 'royalty' would be between 5% and 8% of their total income from those minerals, similar to how oil and gas companies pay to operate.
  • The bill creates a special fund to clean up old, abandoned mines that are currently polluting the environment. To pay for this, mining operations would be charged an extra fee of 1% to 3% on the value of everything they produce.
  • Companies would be required to get official permits and prove they have enough money set aside to fix any damage to the land or water. This ensures that if a company goes out of business, taxpayers are not stuck paying for the environmental cleanup.
  • Government agencies would be required to have meaningful conversations with Native American Tribes before allowing any mining that might affect their traditional lands, water rights, or cultural sites.
Energy EnvironmentEconomy FinanceAgriculture

Milestones

2 milestones3 actions
Mar 12, 2025Senate

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.

Mar 5, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Mar 5, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Related News

5 articles
Politico·28 days ago

Mike Lee sets markup of land, water, wildfire bills

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will mark up bills including measures to block mineral development on federal lands. Top Democrat Martin Heinrich and Sen. Ben Ray Luján are pushing legislation to reform mining rules and protect watersheds from new extraction projects.

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High Country News·12 months ago

Raúl Grijalva: A patriot for public lands

The late Rep. Raúl Grijalva championed the overhaul of the 1872 Mining Law, arguing it allowed corporations to exploit public lands without paying royalties. His legacy continues with the 2025 Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act aimed at modernizing federal hardrock mining policy.

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KNAU (NPR)·3 months ago

Grijalva introduces bill to repeal Oak Flat land swap and block copper mine

Rep. Adelita Grijalva introduced legislation to halt a massive copper mine in Arizona, continuing her father's work to reform federal mining laws. The bill seeks to protect sacred sites and water resources from multinational mining interests that currently pay no federal royalties.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 859
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(10)
D: 9I: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.