MINING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
Amendments
Dept. of the Interior: limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (H.R. 3409), H6211, H6212, H6214, H6216, H6217, H6218 [20SE], H6237, H6239, H6240, H6242, H6243, H6245 [21SE]
——— limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (H.R. 3409), consideration (H. Res. 788), H6172 [20SE]
——— set clear rules for development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development (H.R. 3408), H767, H768, H769, H771, H772, H773, H774, H775, H776, H778, H779, H780 [15FE], H820, H821, H822, H823, H825, H826, H828, H830 [16FE]
——— set clear rules for development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development (H.R. 3408), consideration (H. Res. 547), H748 [15FE]
Strategic materials: promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 4402), H4839, H4840, H4841, H4842, H4844, H4845, H4846, H4847 [12JY]
Bills and resolutions
Alaska: authorize establishment of a Niblack mining area road corridor (see S. 3330), S4417 [21JN] (see H.R. 6227), H5327 [26JY]
BLM: conduct study of legal and administrative steps needed to cancel contracts for the sale of Soledad Canyon, CA, mining contracts (see H.R. 6469), H6231 [20SE]
——— convey certain Federal land to Yerington, NV (see S. 2228), S2001 [22MR] (see H.R. 4039), H801 [15FE]
——— convey certain public land in and around historic mining townsites in Nevada (see H.R. 6497), H6274 [21SE]
Clean Air Act: provide that State implementation plans address impairment of visibility relative to emissions from taconite ore processing facilities (see H.R. 6507), H6274 [21SE]
Coal Mitigation Trust Fund: establish by imposing a tax on the extraction of coal to mitigate impact of transportation of coal by rail (see H.R. 6202), H5291 [25JY]
Dept. of Labor: conduct a review of forms related to obtaining workers’ compensation benefits under the Federal Black Lung Benefits Program (see H.R. 4298), H1803 [29MR]
Dept. of the Interior: authorize conveyance of mineral rights in Montana to settle claims of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe (see S. 2110), S699 [15FE]
——— establish goals for an all-of-the-above energy production plan strategy on onshore Federal lands (see H.R. 4381), H1976 [18AP]
——— limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (see S. 3450), S5487 [26JY]
——— limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (H.R. 3409), consideration (see H. Res. 788), H6150 [19SE]
——— set clear rules for development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development (H.R. 3408), consideration (see H. Res. 547), H725 [14FE]
Dept. of Transportation: establish position of Recovered Mineral Component Ombudsman in the Federal Highway Administration Office of Pavement Technology (see H.R. 6492), H6274 [21SE]
Health: place a moratorium on permitting for mountaintop removal coal mining until health studies are conducted by the Dept. of HHS (see H.R. 5959), H3806 [19JN]
Lyon County, NV: designate the Wovoka Wilderness and provide for certain land conveyances (see S. 3701), S8302 [20DE]
National Park Service: authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the National Park System (see S. 3399), S5133 [18JY]
Native Americans: pay Quapay (O-Gah-Pah) Tribe of Oklahoma and its members for trust damages for mismanagement of assets (see H.R. 5862), H3266 [30MY]
——— pay Quapay (O-Gah-Pah) Tribe of Oklahoma and its members for trust damages for mismanagement of assets (H.R. 5862), refer to the Court of Federal Claims (see H. Res. 668), H3266 [30MY]
Nuclear weapons: designate a national day of remembrance for workers of the U.S. nuclear weapons program (see S. Res. 519), S5047 [16JY]
Occupational safety and health: require greater experience of mine safety inspectors (see H.R. 6547), H6276 [21SE]
Postal Service: issue postage stamp in commemoration of coal miners (see H. Res. 743), H5327 [26JY]
Power resources: authorize research, development, and demonstration activities that enable the safe and responsible production of U.S. domestic unconventional oil and gas resources (see H.R. 6603), H6469 [27NO]
——— clarify that a State has the sole authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing on Federal land within the boundaries of the State (see S. 2248), S2166 [28MR] (see H.R. 4322), H1804 [29MR]
——— facilitate domestic energy production to reduce energy costs and spur economic growth and job creation (see S. 3445), S5486 [26JY]
——— permit U.S. companies to participate in exploration and extraction of hydrocarbon resources from a foreign maritime exclusive economic zone contiguous to U.S. exclusive economic zone (see H.R. 4135), H1153 [5MR]
——— recognize primacy of States relative to regulation of hydraulic fracturing on Federal land within the boundaries of the State (see S. 3573), S6454 [19SE]
Safety: improve occupational safety law compliance, empower workers to raise concerns, prevent workplace tragedies, and establish rights for workplace accident victims and families (see S. 3443), S5381 [25JY]
Strategic materials: promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (see H.R. 4402), H2029 [19AP]
——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 4402), consideration (see H. Res. 726), H4774 [10JY]
Strategic Petroleum Reserve: prohibit drawdown of petroleum unless the President has approved oil shale development, certain offshore oil and gas lease sales, and the Keystone XL Pipeline (see H.R. 4211), H1390 [19MR]
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act: repeal a limitation on annual payments (see S. 3514), S5977 [2AU] (see H.R. 6113), H4862 [12JY]
Utah: authorize a land exchange between the Ute Indian Tribe and the State Institutional Trust Land Administration (see H.R. 4027), H725 [14FE]
Letters
Leasing of on-shore, sub-surface mineral rights near Vandenberg AFB, CA: Kevin W. Billings, Dept. of the Air Force, H774 [15FE]
National Park Service Study Act: Ken Salazar, Sec. of the Interior, S5137 [18JY]
Motions
Dept. of the Interior: limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (H.R. 3409), H6254 [21SE]
——— set clear rules for development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development (H.R. 3408), H884 [16FE]
Strategic materials: promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 4402), H4852 [12JY]
Remarks in House
BLM: convey certain Federal land to Yerington, NV, H3760 [19JN]
Business and industry: prohibit mineral exploration or mining permits to companies that have failed to pay taxes, have connections to Iran or China, or are outsourcing jobs, and require equipment be made in the U.S., H4852, H4853 [12JY]
——— require companies that earn a profit mining on public lands to disclose political campaign contributions, H4794 [11JY]
Clark County, NV: provide for conveyance of certain Federal land for environmental remediation and reclamation of the Three Kids Mine Project Site (H.R. 2512), H3434–H3437 [5JN]
Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc.: commend efforts to rebuild Oak Grove Mine and Concord Preparation Plant after destruction by tornadoes in Alabama, E1433 [3AU]
Coal Mitigation Trust Fund: establish by imposing a tax on the extraction of coal to mitigate impact of transportation of coal by rail (H.R. 6202), E1328 [25JY]
Dept. of Energy: prohibit funding to plan or undertake certain sales or other transfers of natural or low enriched uranium in the open market, H3475, H3476 [5JN]
Dept. of the Interior: allow issuance of rules under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act that reduce the prevalence of certain diseases or reproductive problems in pregnant women and children, H6211, H6212 [20SE]
——— assess U.S. capability to meet current and future demands for minerals critical to manufacturing competitiveness and economic and national security (H.R. 2011), H4792 [11JY], H4832, H4833 [12JY]
——— conduct onshore oil and gas lease sales through Internet-based live lease sales, H3887 [20JN]
——— development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development funding, H3355 [31MY]
——— establish goals for an all-of-the-above energy production plan strategy on onshore Federal lands, H3886, H3887 [20JN]
——— limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, H1276 [8MR]
——— limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (H.R. 3409), H6147, H6148 [19SE], H6157, H6196–H6219 [20SE], H6236, H6237–H6257 [21SE], E1608, E1609, E1624–E1626, E1630, E1634, E1635 [21SE]
——— limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (H.R. 3409), consideration (H. Res. 788), H6165–H6174 [20SE]
——— limit authority to issue regulations before a certain date under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (H.R. 3409), motion to recommit, H6255 [21SE]
——— oil shale technology research and development funding, H3413, H3414 [5JN]
——— prohibit leasing of on-shore, sub-surface mineral rights near Vandenberg AFB, CA, H5170 [24JY]
——— prohibit transfer of any Solid Minerals Program function from BLM to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, H3908, H3909 [20JN]
——— set clear rules for development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development (H.R. 3408), H752–H787 [15FE], H810, H820–H834, H880–H886 [16FE], H5173 [24JY], E209, E213, E217 [16FE], E225, E233 [17FE]
——— set clear rules for development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development (H.R. 3408), consideration (H. Res. 547), H740–H744, H746–H750 [15FE]
——— set clear rules for development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development (H.R. 3408), motion to recommit, H884–H886 [16FE]
Economy: importance of job creation, H4793 [11JY]
EPA: prohibit ability to retroactively invalidate water quality permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, H6239, H6240 [21SE]
Government regulations: allow mining projects that have applied for a permit for mining critical minerals and materials access to expedited review process instituted by the lead Federal agency, H4845, H4846 [12JY], E1301 [23JY]
——— authorize lead Federal agency to extend permit review process time period for mining critical minerals and materials if new information is obtained during the review, H4841, H4842 [12JY]
——— permit awarding of attorneys fees to nonprofit entities and individuals in lawsuits against certain Federal agencies issuing a mining permit, H4846, H4847 [12JY]
——— require mining companies to pay a royalty for value of hardrock minerals mined on Federal lands and designate revenues for cleanup of abandoned hardrock mines, H4842–H4844 [12JY]
——— streamline mining development permitting process, H4836 [12JY]
National forests: exempt national forest lands producing critical minerals and materials from the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, H4844, H4845 [12JY]
Native Americans: pay Quapay (O-Gah-Pah) Tribe of Oklahoma and its members for trust damages for mismanagement of assets (H.R. 5862), refer to the Court of Federal Claims (H. Res. 668), H7280–H7282 [19DE], E1987 [21DE]
Natural gas: Marcellus shale drilling for reserves, H108–H112 [23JA], E55 [23JA]
Political campaigns: condition new mining permits on disclosure of Federal political contributions made by applicant during preceding five years, H4835 [12JY]
Public lands: preserve recreational fishing, hunting, and shooting while maintaining prohibitions on oil and gas development, mining, logging, and motorized activities in wilderness areas, H1888, H1889 [17AP]
——— protect opportunities for hunting, fishing, grazing, or recreation from domestic production of critical minerals and materials promotion activities, H4847, H4848 [12JY]
Strategic materials: clarify definition of ‘‘strategic and critical minerals’’ relative to efforts to promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials, H4840, H4841 [12JY], E1245 [12JY], E1258 [17JY]
——— exemption of domestic production of critical minerals and materials from environmental review, H4833–H4835 [12JY]
——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 4402), H4831–H4855, H4856 [12JY], H5173 [24JY], E1245 [12JY], E1258 [17JY], E1301 [23JY]
——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 4402), consideration (H. Res. 726), H4791–H4796 [11JY]
——— promote domestic production of critical minerals and materials (H.R. 4402), motion to recommit, H4852, H4853 [12JY]
Strategic Petroleum Reserve: prohibit drawdown of petroleum unless the President has approved oil shale development, certain offshore oil and gas lease sales, and the Keystone XL Pipeline (H.R. 4211), H1375 [19MR]
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act: require officials proposing rules to publish scientific studies relied upon in developing such rules, H6212, H6213 [20SE]
Utah: authorize a land exchange between the Ute Indian Tribe and the State Institutional Trust Land Administration (H.R. 4027), H3712, H3713 [18JN]
Water: prevent finalization by the EPA of proposed guidance on identification of waters protected by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, H5022 [19JY]
Water pollution: maintain current deadline for comment periods by Federal agencies on water quality permits, H6237–H6239 [21SE]
Remarks in Senate
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund: funding, S4755 [29JN]
Alaska: authorize establishment of a Niblack mining area road corridor (S. 3330), S4420 [21JN]
Bureau of Reclamation: remedy problems caused by a collapsed drainage tunnel in Leadville, CO (S. 1047), S588 [14FE], S8553 [30DE]
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: condemn use of slave labor for mining minerals used in the manufacture of cell phones, S1783 [19MR]
Dept. of Defense: submit report on feasibility of recycling rare earth elements, S7299 [30NO]
Dept. of the Interior: establish onshore oil and gas production goals, repeal production barriers, improve lease issuance, expedite judicial review, report on public land revenues, and encourage oil shale exploration, S2146 [28MR]
——— set clear rules for development of U.S. oil shale resources and promote shale technology research and development, S2145 [28MR]
National Park Service: authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the National Park System (S. 3399), S5136 [18JY]
Nuclear weapons: designate a national day of remembrance for workers of the U.S. nuclear weapons program (S. Res. 519), S5898 [1AU]
Power resources: clarify that a State has the sole authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing on Federal land within the boundaries of the State (S. 2248), S2166 [28MR]
——— facilitate domestic energy production to reduce energy costs and spur economic growth and job creation (S. 3445), S5488 [26JY], S5816 [1AU]
——— provide for offshore and oil shale energy development and energy-related tax incentives, S1523 [8MR], S1596 [13MR], S1650, S1651 [14MR]
SEC: issuance of regulations on the disclosure by mineral companies of payments to foreign countries for commercial development of oil, natural gas, and minerals, S5941 [2AU]
Reports
Report to Congress—Rare Earth Materials in Defense Applications: Frank Kendall III, Dept. of Defense (excerpt), H4838 [12JY]
Reports filed
BLM Federal Land Conveyance to Yerington, NV: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 4039) (H. Rept. 112–525), H3706 [15JN]
BLM Live Internet Auctions Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 2752) (H. Rept. 112–371), H77 [18JA]
Clarify That Uncertified States and Indian Tribes Have Authority To Use Certain Payments for Certain Noncoal Reclamation Projects and Acid Mine Remediation Programs: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (S. 897) (H. Rept. 112–429), H1844 [16AP]
Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 3409) (H. Rept. 112–670), H5999 [13SE]
Consideration of H.R. 3408, Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security (PIONEERS) Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 547) (H. Rept. 112–398), H725 [14FE]
Consideration of H.R. 3409, Stop the War on Coal Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 788) (H. Rept. 112–680), H6150 [19SE]
Consideration of H.R. 4402, National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 726) (H. Rept. 112–590), H4774 [10JY]
Dept. of the Interior Offices and Positions on Energy, Minerals, Ocean Energy and Safety, and Natural Resources Revenue and Minerals Management Service Abolishment: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 3404) (H. Rept. 112–601), H4906 [17JY]
Geothermal Exploration and Technology Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 1142) (S. Rept. 112–145), S388 [7FE]
Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 1047) (S. Rept. 112–122), S41 [23JA]
National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 4402) (H. Rept. 112–583), H4684 [9JY]
Planning for American Energy Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 4381) (H. Rept. 112–530), H3706 [15JN]
Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security (PIONEERS) Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 3408) (H. Rept. 112–392), H691 [9FE]
Soda Ash Royalty Extension, Job Creation, and Export Enhancement Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 1192) (H. Rept. 112–578), H4683 [9JY]
Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 2512) (H. Rept. 112–512), H3404 [1JN]
Ute Indian Tribe and Utah State Institutional Trust Land Administration Land Exchange: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 4027) (H. Rept. 112–509), H3362 [31MY]
Texts of
H. Res. 547, consideration of H.R. 3408, Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security (PIONEERS) Act, H740 [15FE]
H. Res. 668, refer to the Court of Federal claims H.R. 5862, pay Quapay (O-Gah-Pah) Tribe of Oklahoma and its members for trust damages for mismanagement of assets, H7280 [19DE]
H. Res. 726, consideration of H.R. 4402, National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act, H4791 [11JY]
H. Res. 788, consideration of H.R. 3409, Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act, H6165 [20SE]
H.R. 2512, Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act, H3434 [5JN]
H.R. 3408, Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security (PIONEERS) Act, H761–H767 [15FE]
H.R. 3409, Stop the War on Coal Act, H6204–H6211 [20SE]
H.R. 4027, Ute Indian Tribe and the Utah State Institutional Trust Land Administration land exchange, H3712 [18JN]
S. 1047, Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Act, S8553 [30DE]
S. 2248, Fracturing Regulations Are Effective in State Hands Act, S2167 [28MR]
S. Res. 519, designate a national day of remembrance for workers of the U.S. nuclear weapons program, S5048 [16JY], S5898 [1AU]