Federal policies governing hardrock mineral extraction—covering valuable resources like gold, silver, copper, and uranium—fail to deliver a fair return to taxpayers and often leave us saddled with expensive mine cleanup costs. Unlike other extractive industries, private mining companies are not required to pay royalties on the minerals they remove from federal lands, costing taxpayers billions in lost revenue. The outdated claim-patent system allows companies to stake claims without regard for other land uses, while lax financial assurance requirements frequently leave taxpayers on the hook for abandoned mine cleanups. As demand for domestic critical minerals increases, it’s long past time to bring federal hardrock mining policy into the 21st century.
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