Sen. Jeff Bingamen of New Mexico introduced a Senate version of a Mining Law reform bill, that is being called "kindler and gentler" than the House version.
Mineweb.com says Bingamen's bill "eliminates patenting of federal lands, imposes a federal minerals royalty, establishes a Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund, and requires a review of certain lands within three years to determine if they will be available for future mining."
Other provisions are:
- a reclamation fee of 0.3% to 1% of the production value, to go into a reclamation fund
- royalties of 2-5% of production value, after certain costs, depending on the mineral
- applicable only to new production
- reductions in royalties for marginal operations
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