Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025

The Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025 establishes new fees and royalties for hardrock mining operations on federal land. Mining claim holders must pay $200 annually per claim, and operators pay a 5-8% royalty on mineral production. The bill creates a Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund to which these fees and royalties will be deposited for reclaiming abandoned mine sites. It also establishes new permit requirements for mineral exploration and mining, along with financial assurance requirements to ensure reclamation. These provisions directly affect mining operators on federal lands, requiring them to comply with new fee structures, permit processes, and reclamation obligations.