All Roll Calls
Yes: 424 • No: 411
HR1366119th CongressWALLET
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
Sponsored By: Representative Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]
Passed House
Summary
Authorizes new 'mill site' locations on public land for hardrock mining operations. This bill would define mill sites, limit a single mill site to 5 acres, and create a fee-funded Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund to support reclamation and oversight.
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- Mining operators: Operators could include as many mill sites as are reasonably necessary in an approved plan of operations. A single mill site is limited to 5 acres, conveys no mineral rights, and is not eligible for patenting.
- Claimants and public land: Mill sites may be located on tracts with existing lode or placer claims and their location does not affect the validity of those claims. The bill preserves federal authority to regulate mining and to enforce prior land closures or withdrawals.
- Funding and cleanup: The Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund would receive claim maintenance fees from mill sites. The Secretary of the Interior could spend those funds without further appropriations only to carry out the cleanup and allocation rules in section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Dedicated fund for mine cleanup
If enacted, the Interior Department would set up a Treasury fund for abandoned hardrock mine cleanup. Maintenance fees collected on mill site claims would go into this fund. The Interior Secretary would be able to spend the money to carry out cleanup under the infrastructure law, without another appropriation. This would not change tax rates or add new household fees.
New mill site rules for miners
If enacted, mining claim owners would be able to include as many mill sites as are reasonably needed in an approved plan of operations. Each mill site would be limited to 5 acres. A mill site would not give mineral rights and could not be patented. Mill sites would be allowed on land where the operator already holds claims, without affecting claim validity. The bill would not reopen closed lands and would keep federal oversight of mining activities.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]
NV • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 2/14/2025
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 12/18/2025
On Motion to Recommit
Yes: 205 • No: 213
house vote • 12/18/2025
On Passage
Yes: 219 • No: 198