Search for members, bills, votes, committees, hearings, and nominations
The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act would change federal rules governing how mining companies can use public lands. Currently, a 2022 court decision limits where mining companies can dispose of waste and conduct mining-related activities on federal lands. This bill would allow mining operators to use federal lands for activities like waste disposal even on lands that don't contain valuable mineral deposits themselves. Mining companies could include multiple waste disposal areas (called mill site claims) in their operations plans as needed.
The bill would also create the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund, which would collect fees from mining operations and use that money to clean up old, abandoned mines across the country. If enacted, this could make it easier and faster for mining companies to develop projects on federal lands, while potentially generating revenue for environmental cleanup efforts. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the Senate.
AI-generated summary
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.
Mar 12, 2025
Mar 12, 2025 · 14:00
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on March 12, 2025, to examine six bills addressing domestic mining and critical minerals supply chains. The bills included S.362 (Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification), S.544 (Mining Regulatory Clarity Act), S.596 (Critical Materials Future Act), S.714 (Critical Mineral Consistency Act), S.789 (Critical Minerals Security Act), and S.859 (Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act). These bills represent a range of approaches to U.S. mining policy, from regulatory clarification to supply chain security and environmental oversight. S.544 would allow mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, and would establish the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. S.789 focuses on securing U.S. access to critical minerals and rare earth elements by requiring the Department of the Interior to report on global critical mineral resources and develop strategies for advanced mining technologies. S.714 aims to align federal definitions of critical minerals across agencies. S.859 seeks to modify requirements for mineral claims on public lands and establish royalty requirements for mining operations. The bills reflect bipartisan concern about reducing U.S. dependence on foreign sources, particularly China, for critical minerals essential to national security and emerging technologies. No witnesses were listed for this hearing. The hearing examined these bills but did not guarantee their advancement. The committee later scheduled a business meeting in April 2025 to consider some of these bills for further action.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Apr 9, 2025
Apr 9, 2025 · 14:00
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a business meeting on April 9, 2025 to consider four pieces of legislation and two nominations. The bills addressed mining regulation, critical minerals, and water conservation. S.544, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, would allow mining operators to locate multiple mill sites on federal lands for waste disposal and establish an Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund using claim maintenance fees to support cleanup of abandoned mines. S.714, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025, would align the U.S. Geological Survey's critical minerals list with the Department of Energy's critical materials list to ensure consistent federal treatment of these resources. S.362 would allow certain federal minerals to be mined consistent with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, and S.154 would reauthorize the Colorado River System conservation pilot program. The committee also considered nominations of Katharine MacGregor to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior and James Danly to be Deputy Secretary of Energy. As a business meeting, this session was focused on committee consideration of the bills and nominations rather than hearing public testimony. The bills would now advance to the full Senate for further consideration, though passage is not guaranteed.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.
Feb 11, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.
Feb 11, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.
Mar 12, 2025
Mar 12, 2025 · 14:00
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on March 12, 2025, to examine six bills addressing domestic mining and critical minerals supply chains. The bills included S.362 (Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification), S.544 (Mining Regulatory Clarity Act), S.596 (Critical Materials Future Act), S.714 (Critical Mineral Consistency Act), S.789 (Critical Minerals Security Act), and S.859 (Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act). These bills represent a range of approaches to U.S. mining policy, from regulatory clarification to supply chain security and environmental oversight. S.544 would allow mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, and would establish the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. S.789 focuses on securing U.S. access to critical minerals and rare earth elements by requiring the Department of the Interior to report on global critical mineral resources and develop strategies for advanced mining technologies. S.714 aims to align federal definitions of critical minerals across agencies. S.859 seeks to modify requirements for mineral claims on public lands and establish royalty requirements for mining operations. The bills reflect bipartisan concern about reducing U.S. dependence on foreign sources, particularly China, for critical minerals essential to national security and emerging technologies. No witnesses were listed for this hearing. The hearing examined these bills but did not guarantee their advancement. The committee later scheduled a business meeting in April 2025 to consider some of these bills for further action.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Apr 9, 2025
Apr 9, 2025 · 14:00
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a business meeting on April 9, 2025 to consider four pieces of legislation and two nominations. The bills addressed mining regulation, critical minerals, and water conservation. S.544, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, would allow mining operators to locate multiple mill sites on federal lands for waste disposal and establish an Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund using claim maintenance fees to support cleanup of abandoned mines. S.714, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025, would align the U.S. Geological Survey's critical minerals list with the Department of Energy's critical materials list to ensure consistent federal treatment of these resources. S.362 would allow certain federal minerals to be mined consistent with the Bull Mountains Mining Plan Modification, and S.154 would reauthorize the Colorado River System conservation pilot program. The committee also considered nominations of Katharine MacGregor to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior and James Danly to be Deputy Secretary of Energy. As a business meeting, this session was focused on committee consideration of the bills and nominations rather than hearing public testimony. The bills would now advance to the full Senate for further consideration, though passage is not guaranteed.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.
Feb 11, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. With written report No. 119-105.
Feb 11, 2026