Biden Seeks Mining Law Reform to Compel Extraction Firms to Pay Royalties for Gold, Copper
The Biden-Harris administration is seeking mining law reforms that would require mining companies to pay royalties for extracting minerals from U.S.-owned lands. Led by the U.S. Interior Department, the administration is calling for changes to a century-and-a-half-year-old mining law that governs the mining of gold, copper and other hardrock minerals. These changes include levying royalties on mining companies based on the minerals they extract, a first in the U.S. mining industry; creating a mine leasing system; and coordinating permit issuing efforts across a variety of federal agencies. These recommended changes come at a time when top U.S. leaders are emphasizing…
