New Mining Bill Puts Fees on Claims, Royalties on Profits: Reclamation Fund Launched for Abandoned Sites

The Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025 is shaking up the rules for mining on federal lands. Instead of just promising to do yearly assessment work, claim holders will now pay a $200 annual maintenance fee per site starting in 2027 (Title I). There's a waiver, though – if you have 10 or fewer sites and can prove you did the assessment work, you're off the hook. Plus, every new claim will have a $50 location fee. Think of it like this: if you're a small-time prospector with a few claims, you can avoid the yearly fee if you're actively working them. But if you're sitting on a bunch of claims and not doing much, you'll be paying up. The idea is to make sure people are serious about mining, not just land speculation.

Show Me the Money: Royalties and Where They Go

This bill also sets up royalties on the minerals pulled out of these federal lands, ranging from 5% to 8% of gross income (Title II). The Secretary can cut you a break on royalties if it's the only way to keep a mine operating, but generally, the government's taking a cut. This money, along with the fees, goes into a new Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund (Title IV). This fund is specifically for cleaning up abandoned hardrock mines – think plugging dangerous holes, treating polluted water, and making the land usable again. So, if you're a mining company, you're now paying into a fund that cleans up the messes left behind by past operations. It's like a mandatory cleanup contribution for the whole industry.

New Rules of the Game: Permits and Protections

Getting permission to mine is also changing. You'll need a permit for pretty much anything that disturbs the surface, and those permits will have strict rules about how you operate and how you clean up afterward (Title III). Companies will also have to put up financial assurances – basically, money in escrow – to guarantee they can actually afford the reclamation work. And forget about mining in certain sensitive areas; the bill directs a review of public lands to identify places that should be off-limits. This part is a win for anyone who's worried about the environmental impact of mining. It means more oversight, more protection for sensitive areas, and a guarantee that companies, not taxpayers, foot the bill for cleanup.

Real-World Rollout and Potential Roadblocks

All these changes apply to all mining claims, new and old (Title V). There's a system for dealing with violations, starting with notices and going up to fines and shutdown orders. If you don't like a decision, you can challenge it in court. One interesting detail: the bill orders a study on uranium mining, which could lead to even tighter rules for that specific industry down the line. For example, a uranium mining company might face a temporary halt on new claims while this study is underway, creating uncertainty but also potentially stronger environmental safeguards in the long run. While the bill aims to hold mining operations accountable, there is a risk that smaller operations might struggle with the new fees and paperwork, potentially leading to fewer small players in the field.