119th Congress Environmental Protection
S. 544: Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
Reported
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- Passed House (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, regardless of whether those lands contain mineral deposits valuable enough to be mined (mineral validity). It also establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund.
The bill addresses a 2022 decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit related to the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona (commonly known as the Rosemont decision, described further in CRS Report R48166). The court held that mining claims are only allowed where mineral validity has been established and that mill site claims are more appropriate means for establishing a mining waste disposal site under the Mining Act.
The bill allows a mining operator to (1) locate and include within its plan of operations as many mill site claims (e.g., areas for waste rock disposal) as are reasonably necessary for its operations, and (2) use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations.
Read the full summary
Additionally, the bill requires any revenue generated from fees for such mill site claims to be deposited into the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. The Department of the Interior must use the fund for certain abandoned hardrock mine reclamation activities.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Michael Crapo R-IDOriginal
- Lisa Murkowski R-AKOriginal
- James Risch R-IDOriginal
- Jacky Rosen D-NVOriginal
Who scored on this bill
- 1Catherine Cortez Masto SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reported3 events+26
See all scorers and every scoring event
Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
Other bills by Catherine Cortez Masto
- S. 1574: Tribal Access to Electronic Evidence Act
- S. 3693: Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act
- S. 91: Western Wildfire Support Act of 2026
- S. 1981: Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act
- S. 3041: Tribal Warrant Fairness Act
- S.J.Res. 128: Disapproval of Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule rule: Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-03: Unlawful and Unenforceable Contract Terms and Conditions
History
- Introduced in the Senate by Catherine Cortez Masto.
Show the full action history (6 actions)
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 334.
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.
- Introduced in Senate
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.