This bill would change the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands so that it also covers hardrock minerals. It adds a definition of "hardrock mineral" that lists included deposits (for example, base metals, precious metals, industrial metals, and gemstones) and lists exclusions (for example, coal, oil, gas, sodium, potassium, sulfur, and certain mineral materials). The bill updates several definition and numbering provisions in the Act and adds hardrock minerals to the list of substances covered in section 3.
If the bill becomes law, the federal leasing rules that now apply to certain minerals on lands acquired by the United States would also apply to hardrock minerals. That change would affect how federal officials describe and treat those minerals in the statute. People or businesses involved in exploration, mining, or leasing on acquired lands would see these hardrock minerals explicitly covered by the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands.
No publicly available information.
The bill's short title names renewable industry and critical applications, and the text makes hardrock minerals subject to the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands. From the bill text and title, supporters appear to intend to bring hardrock mineral leasing under that Act's framework.
No publicly available information.