Oppose S. 1281, the so-called “Mining Regulatory Clarity Act.”

The document is a formal statement of opposition to S. 1281, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act. The authors argue that the bill would allow mining claimants to permanently occupy federal lands, construct waste dumps, and build infrastructure without the permits or fair market value payments currently required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). They contend that the bill could be weaponized to block renewable energy projects and would threaten environmental and cultural resources. The coalition suggests that critical mineral needs for the energy transition should instead be met through a circular minerals economy and carefully sited mines with high environmental standards.

• S. 1281 would grant mining claimants a permanent right to occupy federal public lands, which the authors argue could be used to block other developments such as renewable energy projects, recreation, and traditional cultural uses.
• The bill would eliminate requirements under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) for mining companies to obtain permits for infrastructure like pipelines and roads, and would remove the requirement to pay fair market value for using public lands.
• The authors argue that the bill is a reaction to court rulings, such as the Rosemont case, which held that invalid mining claims do not confer the right to occupy land unless a valuable mineral is discovered.

APA

Earthjustice (2023). Oppose S. 1281, the so-called “Mining Regulatory Clarity Act.”. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dec-enr-hearing-opposition-mining-regulatory-clarity-act-2-1.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Oppose S. 1281, the so-called “Mining Regulatory Clarity Act.”. 2023. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dec-enr-hearing-opposition-mining-regulatory-clarity-act-2-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Earthjustice |title=Oppose S. 1281, the so-called “Mining Regulatory Clarity Act.” |date=8 December 2023 |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dec-enr-hearing-opposition-mining-regulatory-clarity-act-2-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{earthjustice2023oppose, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Oppose S. 1281, the so-called “Mining Regulatory Clarity Act.”}}, publisher = {Earthjustice}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dec-enr-hearing-opposition-mining-regulatory-clarity-act-2-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }