Reform Bills by Bingaman, Rahall Differ On Royalties, Reclamation, Wilderness Areas

摘要

The mining reform bills proposed by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) address royalties and mining claims in U.S. wilderness areas, but beyond that the bills have sharp differences.rnBoth bills would revamp the Mining Law of 1872 to create a royalty system for mining on federal lands andrnwould use the royalties to remediate the sites of abandoned mines. Both would make it easier to block mining operations when objections are raised. They also share a name, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009.rnBut the royalties are different, the various fees are different, and each creates different uncertainties that await clarification.