u.s. laws and regulations governing gold mining on private and federal lands

U.S. Laws and Regulations Governing Gold Mining on Private and Federal Lands

Prepared by National Mining Association (NMA)

www.nma.org

October, 2005

Background

U.S. laws and regulations governing gold mining on federal (public) and private lands cover a broad range of environmental, worker safety, materials handling, labor relations, public comment, mandatory land reclamation and land access matters.

Some laws, such as the General Mining Law, are specific to mining of metals on federal lands, while requirements affecting environmental performance and public comment, for example, apply to all of American industry.

Most metals mining in the United States occurs in 12 western states, where much of the land is owned by the federal government.

Federal (Public Lands)

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at the U.S. Department of the Interior is responsible for approximately 700 million acres of Federal mineral

estate. 168 million acres have been withdrawn from entry, leasing and

sale, except for valid existing rights. (First class lands) 182 million acres are restricted. (Second class lands) Remaining lands are accessible, subject to laws and regulations.

(Third class lands)

Withdrawn Lands

National Parks 80.0 million acres Wilderness Preservation System (FWS) 20.0 million acres

Plus total ANWAR wilderness 11.0 million acres Wilderness Preservation System (FS) 34.7 million acres

Plus National Recreation Areas 2.6 million acres Wilderness Preservation System (BLM) 5.3 million acres

National Monuments 5.5 million acres Plus National Conservation Areas 1.0 million acres

Type 1 (reservoir withdrawn lands) 6.9 million acres Plus acquired land

Total 168.0 million acres

Restricted Lands

National Recreation Areas (NPS) 3.7 million acres All Wildlife Refuges (FWS) 63.0 million acres

Except ANWAR Future Roadless Areas (FS) 58.5 million acres Wilderness Study Areas (BLM) 32.2 million acres Acquired Lands (BOR) 1.0 million acres DOD 24.0 million acres

Total 182.0 million acres

Mineral development activities are subject to Federal Surface Management Agency (SMA) approval and only if not in conflict with land use designation.

US Federal (Public) Lands

Regulatory Authority: Federal Lands National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 40 CFR 6

Establishes EPA procedures for complying with NEPA Establishes requirements for contents of Environment Impact

Statement (EIS) Establishes EPA procedures for floodplain management and

wetlands protection

Regulatory Authority: Federal Lands Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Surface

Management Regulations 43 CFR 3802, 3809 Establishes requirements for approval of construction of access

roads and power lines on public lands under BLM jurisdiction Requires Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact

Statement to address existing physical, biological, visual, cultural and socio-economic resources, impacts of proposed activity on these resources and mitigative measures

Requires activities to be conducted to prevent unnecessary and undue degradation

Generally requires plans of operation and reclamation and financial assurance for reclamation

Regulatory Authority: Federal Lands Forest Service (FS) Regulations, 36 CFR 228

Establishes requirements for approval of activities including exploration, mining, construction of access roads and power lines on public lands under FS jurisdiction

Requires Environment Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement to address existing physical biological, visual, cultural and socio-economic resources, impacts of proposed activity on these resources and mitigative measures.

Requires activities to be conducted to minimize adverse environmental impacts where feasible

Generally requires plans of operation and reclamation and financial assurance for reclamation.

Regulatory Authority: Reclamation Current federal regulations provide for mandatory

reclamation of any disturbance on public lands. BLM and the Forest Service have reclamation policies

requiring mining operations to provide financial assurances for all mining activities on lands under their control

All mining states have adopted reclamation laws that take into account local climate, geological and land use conditions

Regulatory Authority: Environment States have primacy for environmental regulation of

mining on federal and non-federal lands through the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

States enforce their own regulatory programs through state water quality standards, among other laws.

Mining Law of 1872 Governs access to federal lands Covers exploration for and development of minerals on

federal (public) lands. Establishes private mining rights to “locatable” minerals

on federal lands. Covers all valuable metallic minerals (e.g., gold, silver, lead, tin,

copper) and large group of nonmetallic minerals (e.g., calcium borates, feldspar, fluorspar and gypsum).

Does not include leasable minerals (e.g., oil, gas, coal, etc.) or salable minerals such as sand and gravel.

Has evolved through series of legislative, judicial and administrative modifications. More than 37 statutes enacted that either directly amend the Mining Law or apply to operations conducted under the Mining Law.

Mining Law of 1872

Patents 3 million acres have gone into private ownership by mineral

claimants. In contrast: 288 million acres converted under agricultural homesteads 94 million acres provided as land grants to railroads

Congressional moratorium placed on further patents in 1994 Applications in process were grandfathered All patents subject to objections

Mining Law of 1872

Maintenance fees Claims fees

U.S. Laws and Regulations at Each Step in Mining Process Exploration

MiningMaterials HandlingProcessingSmeltingRefiningClosure and Reclamation

1.0 Exploration

Environmental/Social Considerations

Protected lands, sacred sites

U.S. Legal Protections

Withdrawn & Restricted Lands Federal Land Planning &

Management Act Section 302(b) requires

compliance with federal & state laws related to protection of environment and cultural resources. Must prevent unnecessary/undue degradation 43 CFR 3809.415(a); 3809.420(b)(8)

National Historic Preservation Program Section 106 (16 U.S.C. 470f)

1.0 Exploration


Air and water safety


Federal & State Clean Air Act State Water Quality Standards Resource Conservation &

Recovery Act Federal Land Planning &

Management Act Air – 3809.420(b)(4) Water – 3809.420(b)(5) Waste – 3809.420(b)(2)

1.0 Exploration


Host community consultation


Public hearings (consultation) at various stages in permitting process

2.0 Surface Mining


Underground water quality/flow

Worker safety


Federal Safe Drinking Water Act & regulations

State groundwater protection requirements

State aquifer protection programs

Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) 30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.

2.0 Surface Mining


Safe use of explosives


Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Regulations on purchase,

storage and use of explosive materials, including training, security precautions and communications among employees when using explosives

30 CFR part 56, Subpart E (MSHA)

27 CRF Part 55S (ATF)

2.0 Surface Mining


Proper development Safe water discharges


Required to prevent unnecessary/undue degradation. Must mitigate 3809.420(a)(4) 3809.420(b)(2)

Must have stormwater management plan

NPDES Permit

2.0 Surface Mining


Safe handling/storage of fuels, hazardous materials


Department of Transportation HAZMAT regulations, MSHA, OSHA & EPA requirements

Superfund Amendments & Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III notice requirements, including Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) requirements

3.0 Underground Mining


Management of mine wastes

Worker and mine safety


Must be managed to prevent unnecessary/undue degradation 3809.420(b)(2) Extensive state requirements,

RCRA imminent hazard authority CERCLA liabilities

30 CFR Parts 48, 57, 58, 62 MSHA regulations re employee

training, operator safety and health and provisions for use of protective equipment as necessary

3.0 Underground Mining


Protection of aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, water supply


Must monitor for and meet state water quality standards/criteria within jurisdictional waters, must have Clean Water Act Section 402 permit for water discharge, 404 permit for discharge of fill material

Safe Drinking Water Act

4.0 Materials Handling

Environment/Social Considerations

Appropriate construction of roads, waste, disposal facilities and other support operations

Protection of ecosystems


All roads and other facilities must be reclaimed 3809.420(b)(1,3,5) and state requirements for reclamation plans must be approved and bonded prior to mining.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process; no unnecessary/undue degradation. State requirements to protect/mitigate adverse effects

4.0 Materials Handling


Safe use or discharge of chemicals


Discharges must be controlled to prevent unnecessary/undue degradation 3809.420(b)(11)

State & Federal Clean Water Act- NPDES (Section 402) Nationwide and Individual

Permits (Section 404) CERCLA Liabilities RCRA imminent hazard authority State groundwater requirements

5.0 Ore Processing/BeneficiationEnvironmental/Social

Considerations Safe operation of heap leaching

facilities and use of cyanide and other chemicals

Safe operation of tailings facilities


Federal & State Clean Water Act requirements; Spill Prevention Control Countermeasures (SPCC) plan required; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Natural Resource Damage (NRD) liability; state requirements. Must minimize the release of leaching solutions in the environment 3809.420(b)(11)

See above

5.0 Ore Processing/BeneficiationEnvironmental/Social

Considerations Safe use of cyanide and other

chemicals

Operator safety and health

Control of acid mine drainage


Federal and state Clean Water Act/NPDES permits; CERCLA NRD liability; CWA SPCC plans; must minimize the release of leaching solutions into the environment 3809.420(b)(11)

30 CRF Parts 48 et al – Employee training and operator safety and health.

Must prevent unnecessary/undue degradation and minimize; state & federal requirements to reclaim mined area with potential to generate AMD

6.0 Smelting


Employee health and safety

Air emissions


30 CRF Part 56, subpart D, H, J, K, M, N, O, Q; 30 CFR Part 62 (MSHA); 30 CFR Part 48

29 CFR Parts 1900-1910 (OSHA) require protection of employees form exposure to safety or health conditions that might endanger them.

State and federal Clean Air Act requirements

7.0 Refining


Tailings, waste residue

Use of cyanide


Federal and state Clean Water Act requirements; SPCC plan required; CERCLA NRD liability

See above

8.0 Closure & Reclamation


Long-term plan, strategy

Physical and socio-economic stability

US Legal Protections

Required to submit reclamation plan with plan of operations and to bond

3809.401(b)(3) Reclamation plan subject to public

comments/hearings

u.s. laws and regulations governing gold mining on private and federal lands

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