# 119-hr-1865: Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025 119-hr-1865, Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1865 - As of: 2025-12-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-1865 - Congress: 119 - Title: Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2025-03-05 - Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ) - Cosponsors: 1 - Policy area: Energy - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2025-12-21 ## Summary **This bill would replace the old claim-based system for hardrock mining on federal land with a new, regulated leasing and permitting framework focused on strong environmental safeguards and firm reclamation rules.** It would set fees, royalties, and strict permit and bonding requirements to ensure mines are reclaimed and pay into an abandoned-mine fund. ## Cosponsors (1) - Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Lower-cost leases for small miners: benefit, medium. If enacted, qualifying small miners could lease up to 200 acres for three years at $5 per acre per year. Renewals would be $10 per acre per year. Small miner leases would pay no royalties during the main term and would be exempt from the $200 claim fee and the $0.07‑per‑ton displaced material fee.… - Limits on mining in protected places: benefit, medium. If enacted, agencies could not allow mining that harms National Parks or national monuments. Mineral work would be barred, subject to valid rights, in sensitive areas like critical habitat, wilderness study areas, and roadless areas. The Secretary would decide if other lands are suitable for mining… - Bigger bonds and post-closure liability: cost, medium. If enacted, operators would have to post financial assurance big enough to cover full reclamation and any needed water treatment. The agency would review bonds at least every three years and inspect sites at least quarterly. Treatment‑related funds would stay until discharges stop for five years, a… - Tougher permit standards and plan changes: cost, medium. If enacted, permits would be issued only after written findings, including that no toxic water treatment would be needed 10 years after mining ends. Applicants with certain environmental violations or a pattern of willful violations could be denied or suspended. The Secretary could require permit c… - Higher royalties and new mining fees: cost, medium. If enacted, production from pre‑existing operations would owe at least an 8% royalty; new land added after the bill would owe at least 12.5%. The Secretary could lower rates only with clear proof and not below 6.25%, and interest would apply to late payments. Operators would also pay $0.07 per ton… - Ends new claim patents and updates materials: cost, low. If enacted, no new mining claim or millsite patents would be issued unless the application was filed and complete by September 30, 1994. The bill would repeal the 1892 Building Stone Act and the 1901 Saline Placer Act, subject to valid existing rights. It would also update how certain mineral mater… - Stronger enforcement and public mine records: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Secretary could issue notices with up to 30 days to fix problems and stop work immediately for imminent danger. Civil fines could reach $25,000 per violation per day, and at least $1,000 per day for ignoring a stop order; criminal penalties could apply for knowing false statements o… - New leasing and claim conversion rules: mixed, medium. If enacted, new hardrock mining on federal land would shift to licenses and leases. Known mineral lands not already covered would open only by competitive lease, up to 2,560 acres each. Existing claims would face deadlines to convert to leases, with rentals of at least $10 per acre and at least a 1… - Permits and rules to explore and mine: mixed, medium. If enacted, you would need a permit for any mining that disturbs the surface on federal land; casual use would be exempt. Applications would include site data, an operations plan, reclamation, monitoring, and long‑term maintenance, and must show financial assurance; the EPA would be consulted when… ## Related bills - 119-hr-10421: Transforming Education for the Future Act - 119-hr-2045: Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025 - 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act - 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 - 119-hr-995: No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act - 119-hr-1877: Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act ## Sources - [119-hr-1865 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1865) ## Related - [119-hr-10421: Transforming Education for the Future Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10421) - [119-hr-2045: Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2045) - [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51) - [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20) - [119-hr-995: No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-995) - [119-hr-1877: Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1877) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1865 (as of 2025-12-21).